James Gillis McDonald

James Gillis McDonald (26 January 1872 - 17 April 1937) was born at Cobborah near the Talbragar River to Thomas McDonald and Eliza McNabb. He was a prominent aboriginal tracker who worked in the Mudgee region during the late 19th and early 20th century, living in a four-room hut in the police paddock. He also worked as a tracker in Rylstone & Cobborah.
His most famous case was the pursuit of Jimmy and Joe Governor (the title characters of Thomas Keneally’s The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith). He married Harriet Cooper at Mudgee in October 1904 and the couple had 13 children. Before he met Harriet, he had met Jane Bailey whom with he had a child. Not much is known about Jane; it's believed she died during childbirth or not long after. The child, Minnie Bailey, stayed in the Mudgee region and had 10 children of her own. She was raised by her aunt, Letitia Bailey Carr, who had a wood peg leg. The story goes when the Governor brothers terror was at its peak in around August 1900; the family was hiding under the bed and Letitia’s leg was injured when shots were fired accidentally.
His youngest son, Malcolm, later recalled that his father told him about tracking the Governor brothers. James knew Jimmy and didn’t shoot him when he had the opportunity to do so, instead he fired a warning shot at James’ saddle. He described how the children later played with the saddle when growing up in Mudgee.
He died in his sleep at Mudgee in 1937. A well respected citizen, he was mourned by many. The local police force acted as pall bearers which is basically unheard of in that time and show’s the true natural and achievement of James.
He served as a tracker for more than 40 years and along with this achievement of being one of the most prominent trackers in the region, he was a noted athlete, boxer and swimmer and had even won the famous botany foot running handicap.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu