FISHER'S CREEK GHOST
“… a ghost – a form of eerie white light – and it had blood dripping… “
Campbelltown, in New South Wales, was, in its year of foundation (1820), largely a community of convict farmers.Known as “ticket-of-leave” men – or paroled convicts – the rural residents had initially been enshipped to the Australia colony to serve out their sentences, often for very petty offences, such as stealing a loaf of bread or a handkerchief.
Among the “convict” farmers of early Campbelltown were the two Englishmen who figure in this extraordinary incident of our early Australian history.
Thirty five year old Frederick George James Fisher was a ticket-of-leave man who was transported on a ship called “Atlas” to the shores of New South Wales, arriving in 1816.
Being well-behaved, he was, in 1822, permitted to purchase 30 acres of land at Campbelltown and allowed to farm it in lieu of imprisonment.
His neighbour, George Worrall, rented the adjoining property and the two ticket-of-leave men were commonly regarded as friends.
Fisher was born in London on August 28, 1792. He was thought to have been a “shop-keeper” until charged for forgery on July 26, 1815, and was subsequently sentenced to 14 years in the Australian colony.
Frederick Fisher is also believed to have been the first person to make paper in old Sydney Town.
From his holding in Campbelltown, Fisher obviously prospered; he later purchased additional farming country at Cabramatta, Nepean and Appin.
Sometimes described in the records as Fisher’s “ confidant … and overseer,” it would appear Worrall might have envied Fisher’s success and prosperity.
In 1825, Frederick Fisher had an angry exchange with a local carpenter and, as a result, litigation ensued, with Fisher receiving “a light sentence.”
Frightened that his Campbelltown farm might be seized by the court and sold to cover debts, Fisher relied heavily on his friendly relationship with his neighbour, and he signed over the deeds of his land to George Worrall in a fake sale, the motive being to give the impression he possessed no assets.
While Fisher languished in gaol for six months, Worrall was overheard boasting that he had legally acquired 30 more acres, saying: “It’s all mine now … all that was Fred’s … he give it to me afore he went to prison.”
Released by the authorities on June 17, 1826, Frederick Fisher was astounded to learn that his trusted friend had seriously taken full possession of his property and the two men argued heatedly over this abuse of trust.
In a short while Frederick Fisher vanished from the local scene.
The last person to have seen Fisher on June 17, 1826, was a Jane Hopkins; she claimed she had observed Fisher giving money to several labourers who had completed work on his farm.
Wearing a known pair of Fisher’s trousers, Worrall walked around Campbelltown brazenly claiming the missing man had sailed back to England on the vessel, “Lord St. Vincent,” and he had resumed ownership of his 30 acres.
An enquiry determined, however, that no such a ship had ever docked in Sydney harbour.
A local resident, James Coddington, grew even more suspicious when, a few weeks later, George Worrall offered him for sale a horse and timber of Fishers, presenting as evidence as ownership what was recognised as a forged receipt.
In September, 1826, the Colonial Secretary, Alexander MacLeay, advertised a twenty pound ($40) reward in the Government Gazette, for information on Frederick Fisher’s whereabouts, or “the discovery of the body.”
When the story first appeared in Tegg’s Monthly Magazine (1836), the report stated that a wealthy Campbelltown farmer, James Hurley (reported as “Farley” in all later accounts), was walking late one night along Queen Street, when, about 400 metres ahead, he noticed a figure resembling Frederick Fisher sitting by himself on a post and rail fence of a bridge crossing a creek.
To his horror, the observer came to realise that the “man” was really a ghost – a form of eerie white light – and it had blood dripping from its head. Farley said he heard the ghost moan mournfully; it raised one arm and pointed meaningfully towards the creek flowing behind Fisher’s property.
At this point Farley claims he fainted with shock.
When he awakened, the ghost had disappeared. He returned to his home, was put to bed, and he “lay in a swoon for nine days,” after which his experience was related to a magistrate.
A Campbelltown constable, George Leonard, later told a court that on October 31, 1826, he started to search for the missing man at a “place where some blood was said to have been discovered“on the rails of a timber fence.
The policeman was aided in his search by two Aboriginal black trackers. One man, Gilbert, saw something unusual in a nearby creek. With a leaf, he scummed the water’s surface, tasted it, and then declared it had the taste of “white man’s fat.”
He urged that a further search be conducted on the nearby creek bank.
A metal rod was plunged into the earth, revealing potential evidence.
The spot was dug up, exposing “the left hand of a man lying on his side. The body had been interred 90 metres below the surface. By this time Fisher had been missing for 16 weeks.
With the authorisation of a coroner, the body was completely unearthed, even though it was badly decomposed, “particularly under the jaw.” It was positively identified as Frederick Fisher.
“The Monitor” (November 3, 1826) reported that “the face was completely flattened” and “the head fractured …”
The corpse, it was said, was discovered by a George Luland, ignoring the Aboriginal tracker, Gilbert.
Ultimately, the prime suspect, George Worrall, was arrested on September 17, 1826, by Campbelltown’s chief constable, Robert Burke.
Worrall told police he had seen Fisher murdered by four men with whom he had been living. The men were arrested, interrogated, then later released when the allegation against them could not be substantiated.
Tried by a jury, on February 6, 1826, the Chief Justice, Sir Francis Forbes, found Worrall guilty of murdering Frederick Fisher, and he was sentenced to be hanged until dead.
Up until about 5am on the morning of his execution, Worrall insisted on his innocence. Then, towards the end of his final hours, he broke down and admitted to having perpetrated the murder, though it had not been his intention to do so, he said.
On October 27, 1826, Frederick Fisher’s remains were finally buried in the cemetery at St. Andrew’s Anglican church, in Campbelltown. No headstone was erected on the site. Its exact location remains unknown to this day.
Worrall’s remains were interred near The Rocks, overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Today, the area where Fisher’s body was hidden, is a picnic spot and a children’s playground.
A theatre stands on the spot where Worrall’s house once existed. It, too, is said to have its own ghost whose name is “Ginger.”
Footnote: As an afterthought, one might wonder if Mr Farley/Hurley concocted the ghost story in order to convey information to the police without incriminating his source. Did anyone bother to enquire if this gentleman claimed the financial reward offered by the Colonial Secretary?
Additionally, were the blood drops allegedly left on the timber fence rail (and which Constable Leonard apparently sighted), ever subjected to any type of analysis to determine their origin?
Apart from the references mentioned in the text, other sources were “Australian Ghosts” by Frank Cusack, “Colonial Days In Campbelltown” by Verlie Fowler, “Mysterious Australia” by Joe Nickell.
