Representational photo by Charles P. Mountford,held at the National Library of Australia. (1)
Merriman’s father was Hone.ie.ap, otherwise known as King Billy of Barwidgee and his mother was Bo.en.ger.ner, which, according to GA Robinson the meaning was Mitta Mitta or belonging to Mitta Mitta. (2)
Merriman was a Waywurru Pallanganmiddang man and his recorded names were Min.nup and Al.low.wer.row. The white people called him Merriman. (3)
GA Robinson took down this information when he interviewed indigenous people on the Murray River. He recorded Merriman as being born in 1823. (2)
On pg 269 GA Robinson wrote that Merriman’s ground or country was Bowman’s station, now Moss’s station which is the location of modern-day Murmungee. (2)
According to AA Andrews, Murramungee or Murmongie was located on the Ovens river adjoining Barwidgee. There is no record of the formation of this run but in 1847 it was held by Thomas Mitchell. (4)
(1) Photo by National Library of Australia Commons on Flickr Mountford, Charles P. (Charles Pearcy), 1890-1976. Title devised by cataloguer from inscription.; In album: Central Australia photograph album.; Inscriptions: “Native child asleep in wooden dish”–Below image.; Condition: Faded, yellowing, silvering.; The photograph published by Mountford has been cropped differently.; Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4900623; Published in: Aborigines and their country / Charles P. Mountford. Rigby: Adelaide, 1969, p. 101, with caption: As baby’s cradle. Persistent URL nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4900623
(2) GA Robinson Journal 1839 to 1852, pg
(3) Megan Carter, family blog, Djimbi Ngai – “Here I am”. https://dhudhuroaandwaywurruancestors.wordpress.com/
(4) AA Andrews, First Settlement on the Upper Murray
