| Notes |
- Death
Henry died at age 33 from "drowning in Lake Burrumbeet".
Henry came to an untimely end as the result of an accident. He went sailing one Thursday morning to pay a visit to his brother, James, who lived on the other side of Lake Burrumbeet. Some other sailing boats noticed the upturned boat in the afternoon. His body was later found and an inquest was held.
The Star (Ballarat) Friday, February 27, 1863:
Another sad accident, resulting in the loss of the life of one of the Bros. Paynter, occurred on Lake Burrumbeet, on Thursday morning. It seems that Mr Paynter, who is a farmer in the locality, took the sailing boat "Vivid", belonging to Mr Miller, of the Burrumbeet Hotel, for the purpose of paying a visit to his brother, who resides on the opposite side of the lake. Nothing further was heard from him until about half past three o'clock yesterday afternoon, when three boats started for the sailing match announced to come off. Mr Usher, the occupant of one of the boats, was the first to observe the “Vivid”, in which Mr Paynter had started early in the morning, turned keel upwards, and, suspecting that an accident had occurred, he and the other persons engaged in the match, made all sail for the capsized boat, but could discover no trace of Mr Paynter. This circumstance, combined with the squally state of the weather, put an end to the match, and after some difficulty the various boats were got alongside the jetty, when inquiries were made for Mr Paynter at his brother's house, and it was found that he had not been there; so that there can be no doubt that he has been drowned. The rowing matches, and other aquatic sports of course, under the melancholy circumstances, did not take place. Search will be made this day for the body of the deceased, who was much respected in the neighbourhood.
Inquest, 4 March 1863
The Inquest was held by Dr John Creelman, Coroner, and a jury of twelve men on day that Henry’s body was found, which was six days after he disappeared. The only two deponents or witnesses were Henry’s brother, James Camborne Paynter, and his cousin, James Edward Paynter.
Examination of James Paynter of Burrumbeet:
I am a farmer residing at Lake Burrumbeet and brother of deceased. I remember the 26th day of February last. I went to the residence of deceased and learned that he had gone over in a boat to my place across Lake Burrumbeet.
On looking over the Lake Burrumbeet I saw the boat deceased went out in about ¼ of a mile from land.
I then went to help a neighbour named Usher to get out his boat as he was going to the boat race that day. I was occupied with Usher for about 2 hours and kept looking out towards the boat the deceased was in to see how it was going on. I could observe there was a reef in the mainsail and she seemed to be going on all right. The last time I saw the aforesaid boat she appeared to me to be nearly across the lake and on looking again I could not see her. I thought at first that she had ran in towards the land at my residence.
I then went across the Lake Burrumbeet towards my residence with Usher in his boat, and as we could not see any thing of the aforesaid boat I felt uneasy and went to my place, where I ascertained that deceased had not been there that day. When I found deceased was not there, I sailed across to the Pic Nic Hotel across the Lake but found he was not there.
Myself, Usher and my brother Francis, then sailed towards Pic Nic Point, when about ¼ of a mile from that point, we saw a boat bottom upwards. Having no oars we put back to get them. Myself and James Edward Paynter the persons aforesaid went to Mr Miller of the Burrumbeet Hotel, got a boat from him and went onto the Lake Burrumbeet and fetched the boat in to land, bottom upwards. We found on examining the boat both gunwales were broken. The masts, sails and rudder were gone. The two oars were in the boat.
I have seen the body of deceased and recognise that to be the body of my brother.
Evidence of James Edward Paynter of Burrumbeet:
I am a labourer residing at Burrumbeet and a cousin of deceased. I remember the 26th day of February last. I went down to Lake Burrumbeet about 8 of the clock in the morning, when I saw deceased go out in a boat by himself, which he had got from Mr Miller of the Burrumbeet Hotel, to visit his brother who lives at the other side of the Lake. Deceased appeared to be [in] good health when he started.
The boat is generally termed a small gig boat, capable of holding 7 persons. It appeared in good condition on starting. It was rigged with a jib, mainsail and jigspar.
After she sailed I went up to the hut of the deceased about 400 yards from the edge of the Lake, where I remained for a few minutes, and then went down to the watering place of the Lake. I saw the boat. The deceased was in it and I thought all was right. In the afternoon of the same day between two and three of the clock, I went down to that part of the Lake Burrumbeet where a boat race was to take place that day. I found that the boat deceased went out in was not there. I then came back to see if the deceased had returned and found that he had not. Shortly afterwards I met two brothers of deceased named James and Francis Paynter, who told me they had seen the boat deceased went out in, bottom upwards in Lake Burrumbeet.
In company with James and Francis Paynter I got a boat and went in to the Lake Burrumbeet and brought the boat which was bottom upwards on shore.
On the evening of the same day I found the rudder washed on shore. I found the masts and sails of the boat were gone and both gunwales were broken.There were two oars at the bottom of the boat and some loose boards. I have been searching for the body daily since the occurrence took place. I was walking round the corner of the Lake Burrumbeet this morning. I saw a dead body floating on the water back upwards about a yard from the land. I have seen the body this day and identify it to be the body of Henry Paynter.
It was blowing a very stiff breeze at the time deceased went out in the boat. He had on a shirt, trousers, shoes, sou’wester hat and a bit of flannel round his neck. When I found deceased this morning he had on trousers, waistbelt and flannel round his neck that he had on went he went out, but the shirt and boots and hat were missing.
The verdict of the Coroner: The Deceased Henry Paynter was Found Dead in Lake Burrumbeet on the 4th March 1863 and that his death was caused by drowning on the 26th February last.?1
1 VPRS 24, P0, Unit 124, Item 1863/202. Public Record Office of Victoria.
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AIGS/FHC Member's - Family Trees
Abt 1831 - 1863 (~ 32 years)