Australian Historical Medals

Lot 666    Session 3 (2:30pm Tuesday)    Australian Historical Medals

Estimate $750
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $900

PRESENTATION MEDAL TO POLICE OFFICER, 1876, in gold (tested to at least 14ct; 21.10g; 34mm), a plain disc with ring surround and suspension loop, obverse inscribed, 'Presented to/Sub Inspector/Thomas Kerrigan/by the residents of the/district of Maitland/as a mark of/esteem', reverse inscribed, 'Presented/By/June 30th/1876./H.S.Badgery, Mayor'. Good very fine.

At West Maitland, on Monday 30 June 1876 in the coffee room of Fullford's Family Hotel the subscribers to a testimonial to Sub Inspector Thomas Kerrigan gathered to witness the presentation. The testimonial included the address printed below, which had been beautifully decorated by Mr. W W. Arndell, and nicely framed and a very handsome gold watch, hunting case, to which was attached a massive albert guard with cornelian key. To the guard also was hanging a heavy dull-gold medal, made to the order of the subscribers by Mr. Snow, of West Maitland, and bearing on one side the inscription, 'Presented to Sub-inspector Thomas Kerrigan, by the residents of the district of Maitland, as a mark of esteem', and on the other side, 'June 30 1876'. On the inner case of the watch, the following words were engraved, 'Presented to Sub-inspector Thomas Kerrigan, by the residents of the district of Maitland, as a mark of esteem. 30th June, 1876'. There was also an oaken case, containing a complete dessert set. The watch, chain, and dessert set were purchased by the committee from Messrs. B. Griffiths and Son, of West Maitland.

The Mayor, Mr H.S.Badgery, presided over the gathering and the testimonial address details were as follows,

Dear Sir,- We regret to hear that the Government of New South Wales have transferred the sphere of your labours as an officer in the Police Department of the colony, to Port Macquarie, and we take advantage of the occasion to present you with the accompanying testimonial as conveying as faint proof of the esteem and regard in which you are held as a citizen and an officer.

During twenty-three years of eminent and zealous service amongst us, we have ever observed in you those qualities which would endear you to us as a friend, and command our respect and admiration for you in your responsible public position. We have found that you have ever taken a broad, intelligent, and comprehensive view of your duties; and whilst remembering the claims of your office, you have never forgotten those gentler claims which entitle you to the name of gentleman; and we have no hesitation in saying that you have occupied the rare position of being a terror to evildoers, and of obtaining the respect of both the evil and the good.

We feel that your departure from amongst us will be experienced as a loss by all classes of this community; and while congratulating you on your deserved promotion, we cannot forget that we are being deprived of the presence of one who has rendered this colony good service. We wish you and your respected family all health, prosperity, and happiness, wheresoever God in his Good Providence may cast your lots.
Yours faithfully,
(A number of gentlemen had appended their signatures to the address.)

The proceedings were brought to a close by the company singing a verse of the National Anthem.

In March 1866 Senior Sergeant Thomas Kerrigan, his rank at the time, arrested Mary Ann Bugg, the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt's wife and accomplice and as she titled herself, 'the Captain's Lady', charging her with vagrancy. He took her to Stroud Police Station where she was tried, convicted and sentenced to 6-months imprisonment at Maitland Goal.