Ben Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ben Hall
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Ben Hall
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| Born | 9 May 1837 |
| Died | 5 May 1865 At Billabong Creek, near Forbes New South Wales
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| Cause of death | Shot |
| Spouse(s) | Bridget Walsh |
Ben Hall (born May 9, 1837 – died May 5, 1865) was a famous Australian bushranger. A bushranger was like a thief who rode horses. They often escaped on horseback, similar to a highwayman. Many bushrangers were just criminals. But Ben Hall, like Ned Kelly, became known as an outlaw hero.
Ben Hall lived when gold was found in New South Wales and Victoria. Many people went to the goldfields to get rich. Ben Hall and his gang often robbed coaches carrying gold. He avoided being caught by the police for many years. This was because he had many friends and family who helped him.
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Ben Hall: An Outlaw Hero
In old stories, an outlaw hero is often a good person. They are forced into crime by unfair police or government actions. Ben Hall is like heroes such as Robin Hood from England and Jesse James from the United States. These heroes are said to be kind to the poor. They are also said to be good to women and children. They are often seen as enemies of the rich. People believe they died bravely fighting against the law. Some Australians see Ben Hall as such a hero. Others see him as a very clever criminal who stole a lot of money.
Early Life and Family
Ben Hall was born on May 9, 1837. This was near Maitland in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. His parents were Benjamin Hall and Eliza Somers. Both of his parents were convicts sent to New South Wales. They got married in 1834. Ben was their fourth child. After leaving prison, they moved to the Hunter Valley.
His father worked on a farm and later started a butcher shop. The family worked hard. But they had problems with the police about stolen cattle and horses. Around 1850, Ben's father moved to the Lachlan River area. He took Ben and his other children with him.
Starting a Family and Farm
Ben left home and worked on many cattle farms. He was known as a hard-working and honest stockman. On February 29, 1856, Ben married Bridget Walsh. She was a farmer's daughter. They had a son named Henry on August 7, 1859. One of Bridget's sisters was the partner of bushranger Frank Gardiner. Another sister married John Maguire.
In 1860, Ben Hall and John Maguire rented a large farm. It was called "Sandy Creek" and was about 50 km south of Forbes. Hall built a house and yards for animals. He raised cattle and sold them at the Lambing Flat goldfield. He also met Frank Gardiner there.
Becoming a Bushranger
Historians are not sure why Ben Hall's life changed. By early 1862, his marriage was having problems. Bridget left Ben and moved in with a neighbor, taking their son Henry. Many criminals lived in the area where Hall lived. He became friends with Frank Gardiner. Gardiner was already wanted for robbery.
On April 14, 1862, Gardiner and Hall robbed three wagon drivers. A week later, the drivers saw Hall at the Forbes horse races. Police Inspector Sir Frederick Pottinger ordered Ben's arrest. He was accused of using guns in a robbery with Gardiner. But the jury at the courthouse in Orange said there was not enough proof. After he was released, the police watched Ben Hall closely.
The Big Gold Robbery
On June 15, 1862, Gardiner and ten other men, including Hall, robbed the Forbes gold coach. This happened near Eugowra. The coach was carrying gold from the goldfields and had police guarding it. The gang stole over £14,000 in gold and money. This was worth about US$4 million in 2003. It was Australia's biggest gold robbery.
Hall and others were arrested in July. Again, the police could not prove Hall was one of the robbers. They let him go in late August. When Hall returned to his farm, he found his house burned down. His cattle had died from hunger. Some people say Inspector Pottinger did this to punish Hall. Hall and John Maguire had to sell their farm to pay for their legal costs.
With his wife, son, and farm gone, Ben Hall slowly became a full-time bushranger.
Ben Hall's Gang
Frank Gardiner went to Queensland to hide after the Eugowra robbery. Hall then became the leader of the gang. For three years, Hall and his gang carried out many daring crimes. They mainly robbed farmhouses, mail and gold coaches, and country hotels.
Hall's main helper was John Gilbert. In 1863, other members included John O'Meally and John Vane. Michael Burke, who was only 20, was killed during a robbery in October 1863. O'Meally was also killed in November. Vane gave himself up and went to prison. Later, John Dunn joined the gang around October 1864.
The police seemed unable to stop Ben Hall's gang. The gang was very active in 1864. They robbed many mail coaches and farms. They stole horses, saddles, and food. They even had gunfights with the police.
Canowindra Robbery
Hall's gang once robbed Robinson's Hotel in Canowindra. They held everyone in the town for three days. No one was hurt. Hall even got people to play music and dance. The local policeman was locked in his own cell. When the people were set free, Hall paid them money. The gang also paid the hotel owner for the food and drinks they used. This event is famous in a song called John Gilbert.
Jugiong Robbery
The gang often robbed people and mail coaches south of Goulburn. On November 15, 1864, they tried to rob the Gundagai-Yass mail coach near Jugiong. While waiting, the gang captured and robbed over 60 travelers. A policeman, James McLaughlin, was captured.
During the robbery, John Gilbert shot and killed Sergeant Edmund Parry. Constable Roche escaped. The gang quickly took all the money and valuables and rode away. Sergeant Parry is buried at Gundagai. His headstone says he died bravely trying to catch Gilbert. Two days later, the gang robbed another mail coach.
Binda Robbery
On Boxing Day, 1864, Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn rode into Binda with three local girls. The girls were Christina McKinnon (believed to be Hall's girlfriend), Ellen Monks, and Margaret Monks. The gang robbed a shop and locked everyone in the Flag Hotel. They made everyone dance to celebrate Boxing Day.
The shop owner, Edward Morriss, escaped and went to tell the police. Gilbert shot at him. Hall got angry and burned down Morriss's shop. The gang and the girls then left town. Christina McKinnon and the Monks sisters were arrested for helping the bushrangers.
Police Efforts to Catch the Gang
The police were under great pressure to catch Ben Hall's gang. The gang traveled freely and made the police look foolish. Sir Frederick Pottinger tried a plan to catch them at horse races. But the gang did not show up, and Pottinger lost his job.
On January 26, 1865, the gang robbed people near Goulburn. They were chased by police. Later, in Collector, Hall and Gilbert robbed a hotel. John Dunn stayed outside. When Constable Nelson arrived, Dunn shot him dead. Two of Nelson's children saw the shooting. Gilbert took money and Nelson's gun. The gang quickly left.
The police increased their efforts. They found the gang's hiding place near Queanbeyan. They arrested friends of the gang to stop warnings. The police surrounded a farm where the bushrangers were. A gunfight started, and one policeman was shot. The bushrangers escaped, but Ben Hall was shot as he ran.
The Araluen Robbery
On March 4, 1865, the gang robbed a mail coach. A few days later, they stole horses. On March 13, the gang tried to rob the Araluen gold coach. This coach was heavily guarded with many policemen. The gold was kept in a safe bolted to the floor.
The bushrangers started shooting. Constable Kelly was badly hurt but kept shooting back. Another policeman was shot in the foot. The police managed to keep the bushrangers away. Miners with guns arrived from the town, and the bushrangers quickly left.
Declared Outlaws
In two years, Ben Hall's gang had reportedly robbed ten mail coaches. They held up 21 properties and stole 23 racing horses. They even took over the village of Canowindra three times.
In early 1865, the government made a new law. It was called the Felons Apprehension Act. This law said that Hall and his gang would become "outlaws" if they did not surrender within 30 days. This meant anyone could kill them without warning. The government also offered a reward of £1000 for Ben Hall's capture.
The bushrangers continued robbing. They robbed a farm and Chinese gold miners. Gilbert shot one miner in the leg. The next day, police found the gang trying to steal horses. In a gunfight, Gilbert was shot in the arm. The gang escaped and found a shepherd's hut for help. Hall and Dunn then robbed another farm for horses, guns, and food.
On March 25, the gang robbed the bank in Forbes, taking £81. More police were sent to the area with better guns. The gang was seen near Marengo a month later. Two days later, they took horses and food from another farm. This was their last robbery.
Capture and Death
By May 1865, Ben Hall decided to leave New South Wales. But a man named Mick 'Goobang' Coneley, who had helped the gang before, told the police where Hall was hiding.
During the night, eight policemen found Hall sleeping under a tree. This was at Billabong Creek, near Forbes. The police had powerful shotguns and rifles. Led by Sub-Inspector Davidson, they surrounded Hall's camp. When Hall woke up at dawn on May 5, 1865, he was shot in the back 30 times as he tried to run away.
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Newspaper drawing of Ben Hall's death
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The site of Ben Hall's death at Billabong Creek
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Ben Hall's grave at Forbes
Ben Hall's body was wrapped in his poncho. It was tied to a horse and taken back to Forbes. An official investigation was held to find out how he died. Ben Hall was buried in Forbes Cemetery on Sunday, May 7, 1865. Many people came to his burial.
The first wooden grave marker was burned in a bushfire. Two brothers from Forbes put a headstone on the grave in the 1920s. The tree Hall slept under became a famous spot. People could still see bullets in its trunk in the 1920s. The tree was destroyed in a bushfire in 1926. His grave is still cared for, and many people visit it. Ben Hall's gun, a Colt pistol, is now in the National Library of Australia.
Gilbert and Dunn were almost caught a week later. Gilbert was shot dead trying to escape. Dunn got away, but was caught six months later. He was tried for murder and hanged in Sydney on March 19, 1866.
Ben Hall: Still Remembered
In 2007, Peter Bradley, a relative of Hall's brother, wanted to reopen the investigation into Hall's death. Bradley said the Felons Apprehension Act was not yet law when Hall was killed. The law was passed on April 12 but became law on May 10. This was five days after Hall was shot.
There is a memorial called "Ben Hall's Wall" at Breeza. "Ben Halls Gap National Park" is a small forest area. It is named after Ben Hall's father, Benjamin Hall, not the bushranger.
Ben Hall in Popular Culture
Music
Many folk songs celebrate Ben Hall's life. These include:
- "The Streets of Forbes": This is the most famous song. It may have been written by Hall's brother-in-law, John Maguire. Many singers have recorded it.
- "The Ballad of Ben Hall's Gang"
- "Brave Ben Hall": Also known as "The Death of Ben Hall." The words are the same, but the tunes are different.
- "The Ghost of Ben Hall"
- "Ben Hall": Collected by John Meredith.
- "Dunn, Gilbert and Ben Hall": Edited by Banjo Patterson in his book, Old Bush Ballads.
Movies
- The Legend of Ben Hall: An Australian movie from 2016. It stars Jack Martin as Ben Hall.
- Ben Hall, Notorious Bush Ranger: Made in Sydney in 1911. No copies exist today.
- Ben Hall and His Gang: Made in 1911. It was a silent black and white movie.
- Ben Hall: A television show made in 1975. The BBC and the ABC worked together on it. Jon Finch played Ben Hall.
Art
Hall's story has been shown in many artworks:
- Patrick William Marony painted The Death of Ben Hall (1894). It is kept in the National Library of Australia.
- Marony also painted Night Raid on Bathurst (1894).
- Another painting by Marony is Bushrangers attacking Goimbla Station (1894).
- Marony also painted a picture of the gang members (1894).
Theatre
Hall's story has also been told on stage:
- Lester Bellingham wrote Bail Up. It was a play about Mrs. Keightley's ride to Bathurst to save her husband.
- Australian writer, Barry Dickins, wrote a play called "The Epiphany of Ben Hall." It was performed in several towns in 2007.
Books
- Peter Bradley – The Judas Covenant – the betrayal and death of Ben Hall
- Frank McClune – Ben Hall the Bushranger. (1947)
- Edgar F. Penzig – The Sandy Creek Bushranger – a definitive history of Ben Hall, his gang and associates (1985) ISBN: 978-0-9588836-1-0
- Edgar F. Penzig – Ben Hall : the definitive illustrated history. (1996)
