Many family historians hope to find a convict or someone famous in their heritage, but few find a famous Indigenous ancestor from our colonial past.

Krishna Methven is a seventh-generation descendant of Mannalargenna, a leader of the Pairrebeenne/Trawlwoolway clan of north-eastern Tasmania, near Cape Portland.

He was born around 1770 and was held in high regard by his people for being a great warrior, a wise leader and, in the 1820s, had led his warriors against the European occupation. However, by 1830 he agreed to help British Government officials persuade the remaining First Nations people to move from their country to the Bass Strait islands on the promise that it would protect his people, would be temporary and they could return to their homeland to resume their traditional lifestyle.

He hoped, that by putting his people under the Governor’s protection, they would not be indiscriminately killed. He himself moved to the Wybalenna Aboriginal establishment on Flinders Island in 1835.

However, he soon realised that he had been deceived and the move was permanent. In response, and as a symbol of betrayal, he cut his long hair and beard which was coated in red ochre and died of pneumonia within the year. Hundreds of his people suffered a similar fate on these islands.

The lineage of Mannalargenna survived as three of his daughters and his sister, were exchanged for dogs, seals and flour to European sealers and lived with them on Bass Strait islands. Sealing was a very profitable enterprise in the eastern Bass Strait at this time and Aboriginal women were prized not only as companions and domestic servants but for their amazing ability to catch seals.

Krishna is descended from Mannalargenna’s daughter, who was born Wyerlooberer known as Margaret. Her great granddaughter, Viola, married Gus Lindner, who was from Germany. They had met when Gus went to Flinders Island for the mutton bird season. They are Krishna’s grandparents.

Mannalargenna is seen as an ancestral grandfather for Aboriginal Tasmanians today and is celebrated as an honoured ancestor and a symbol of unity for all Tasmanians on Mannalargenna Day at Cape Portland every year.

Research your family history

Are you descended from royalty or perhaps your family comes from “Australian royalty” namely a convict?

Would you like to discover your ancestors?

Phillip Island and District Genealogical Society Inc has resources available to help you.

Everyone is welcome to come in for a chat, discuss their issues and use the society’s resources.

Assistance is free for members and the fees for joining the Genealogical Society are $65 for a family and $45 for a single membership. Casual visitors are charged $10 a session.

The Phillip Island and District Genealogical Society is located at 56 Chapel Street (next to Waterboy Café). Open Tuesday 10am-1pm, Thursday 10am-4pm, Friday 1pm-4pm and Saturday 10am-1pm.

Research rooms opened at other times by appointment.

For more information contact Malcolm Swaine (secretary) on 0418 178 343.