Surname:
King Ben (Indigenous)
Source:
Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition During the ..., Volume 2 By Charles Wilkes
Details:
During our travellers stay, two natives of some note arrived: King Ben and King Shingleman. The natives had no distinctions of rank among themselves, but when a native had performed any great service for one of the settlers, he was rewarded by giving him a large oval brass plate, with his royal title inscribed thereon. At first the natives were greatly pleased and proud of this mark of distinction, but as is the case every where, when the novelty was over, and these honorary medals became common, they began to hold them in disrepute, and now prefer the hard silver.
Surname:
King Ben (Indigenous)
Source:
Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition During the ..., Volume 2 By Charles Wilkes
Details:
Inquiries for their implements of the chase and warfare, caused McGill, King Ben, and Shingleman, to set to work to furbish up their arms, including spears, shields, boomerengs, clubs, &c The natives are seldom seen without arms, for they have not only to fear attacks from other tribes, but assaults from their own. This not unfrequently happens; and it is not long since the brother of King Ben was speared while asleep, for some private grudge, by Dismal; and it is said that Big-headed Blackboy, who has already been introduced to the reader, has committed several murders, and not long since burnt his mother nearly to death, in revenge for the loss of his brother, who died whilst under her care. This was not because he had any suspicions of unfair conduct, but simply from one of the unaccountable customs or superstitions of these people, which holds the nearest relative of a person accountable for his death, if it takes place under his care
Surname:
King Ben (Kungkamama) (Indigenous)
Details:
Chief of the Lake Macquarie tribe