A botched execution

March 1863, a train from Sydney pulls into Campbelltown carrying the body of convicted bushranger Henry Manns.
The son of William Manns, a ticket-of-leave man and his wife Mary, Henry was baptised at St Peters, Campbelltown in 1839. The family went to the Adelong goldfields where Henry worked as a carrier before becoming involved with bushranger Frank Gardiner.
At just 24, Manns, with nine other members of Frank Gardiner's armed gang took part in the holdup of the gold escort at Eugowra on 15 June 1862.
Captured in Wombat (near Young) he stood trial with three other members of the gang on 3 February 1863 but was the only one sentenced to death at Darlinghurst Gaol on 26 March 1863.

The residents of Campbelltown tried in vain to save Henry's life, seventy one had signed a petition for mercy and ultimately fifteen thousand signatures were obtained, but to no avail. Henry Manns had confessed to his crime and was to be hung, but he suffered a terrible death in a botched execution that was reported in graphic and awful detail by the Sydney Morning Herald the following day:

         "When at length...the bolt was drawn, there ensued one of the most appalling spectacles ever witnessed at an execution. The noose of the rope, instead of passing tightly round the neck, the knot coming round in front of the face, while the whole weight of the criminal's body was sustained by the thick muscles of the poll (head). The rope in short, went round the middle of the head and the work of the hangman proved a most terrible bungle. The sufferings and the struggles of the wretched being were heartrending to behold. His body swayed about, and writhed evidently in the most intense agony. The arms repeatedly rose and fell, and finally, with one of his hands the unfortunate man gripped the rope, as if to tear the pressure from his head, a loud guttural noise proceeding from his throat and lungs, while blood gushed from his nostrils, and stained the cap with which his face was covered. The awful scene lasted for more than ten minutes when stillness ensued, and it was hoped that death had terminated the culprit's suffering..."

Darlinghurst Gaol (courtesy https://www.nas.edu.au/place/old-darlinghurst-gaol/

Unfortunately Henry's suffering wasn't over, thought to be dead, his body then started convulsing and at the risk of another sickening scene, the doctor present, with the aid of four confines, held the dying man up in their arms while the executioner readjusted the rope and the drop was completed. Further indignities followed with the gaoler caught trying to steal the new boots from the corpse.

At his mother's request, the body was handed over so he could be buried in his birthplace of Campbelltown. Manns' body was taken by train, where he was buried at St John's Cemetery by Father Roche on 27 March 1863 in an unmarked grave.
In one final act of indignity, while his grave was being prepared, it is believed that his body was put on show in one of the hotels (reportedly the Sportsman's Arms - later know as Lack's Hotel) in Queen Street as a terrifying deterrent to the local young men of Campbelltown of the fate of bushrangers.

Written by Samantha Stevenson
Sources:
Henry Manns Local Studies Pamphlet File
Campbelltown : the bicentennial history by Carol Liston
Gold : the fever that forever changed Australia by David Hill
Sydney Morning Herald 27 March 1863

John Madden

The life of convict John Madden is a fascinating story. Let me briefly describe it to you.

John Madden was born in 1792 in County Galway, Ireland. Records disclose that at the Galway Assizes on 31 March, 1820 he, together with three other prisoners, were indicted for appearing in arms as Ribbonmen, and for administering unlawful oaths. Ribbonmen were a 19th-century popular movement of Catholics in Ireland. They were active against landlords and their agents, and were ideologically and sometimes violently opposed to the Orange Order. The name is derived from a green ribbon worn as a badge in a button-hole by the members.

In Madden's defence, one of the jury is reported to have said, "... that Madden was in his company as a soldier, in the Galway Militia, and that he was a well-conducted man." Yet another, who gave evidence, swore on oath that he knew "... all the prisoners, and never heard anything against them until this business." Nonetheless, Madden and two other prisoners were found guilty and the fourth was acquitted. Madden and another was sentenced to be transported for life.

He arrived as a convict in the colony on the Dorothy on September 19, 1820. John's description in the convict register describe him as 5 feet 4 inches tall, of sallow complexion, having dark to greying hair, hazel coloured eyes and a scar over his left eyebrow. He was a shoemaker and labourer.

John was assigned to Thomas Reddall in 1823 on his Smeaton property and later on his Glen Alpine property. His good behaviour earned him the privilege of a Ticket-of-Leave which, on the recommendation of the Airds Bench, was granted on 22 June 1831.

In 1834 John purchased three-quarters of an acre of land on Menangle Road, part of Paul Huon’s grant. A year later, on 16 November, 1835, John petitioned His Excellency, Major General Sir Richard Bourke, KCB, Governor and Commander in Chief, to be "re-united to the Family from which he was separated at the Time of Transportation". Subsequently, sons Patrick and John embarked on the Elphinstone, a convict ship which left Kingstown Harbour, Dublin on 8 September 1838 bound for New South Wales. Bridget, his wife, sailed from Dublin one week earlier aboard the Margaret but, according to shipping records, daughter, Mary, by this time, had already died. They were all lated re-united with John in Campbelltown. Imagine how exciting this wouldv'e been for them all after so long apart!

John and his wife Bridget lived at Madden's Hill on Menangle Road on land which, today, is in the vicinity of the Sydney Water Supply Channel, north of the Sugarloaf Tunnel, Campbelltown.

John Madden died in 1851 aged 58 years and is buried in St John's Catholic Cemetery. Unfortunately his headstone has recently fallen over.

 

John Madden's headstone in St John's Cemetery in Campbelltown before it tumbled over (Verlie Fowler Collection).

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

https://sites.google.com/site/ourfamilysitegroup/Home/madden/madden-john

Campbelltown Pioneer Register 1800-1900

 

 

Hugh Vesty Byrne

Hugh Byrne was famous for his role as lieutenant to Michael Dwyer in the 1798 Irish Rebellion. This was an uprising against British rule lasting from May to September that year. He fought at the battles of Arklow, Vinegar Hill and Hacketstown. After being transported for his actions, Byrne eventually settled and died in Campbelltown.

Hugh Vesty Byrne was born around 1777 in County Wicklow in Ireland. He used the name Vesty in honour of a forebear who fought for Irish independence in the 17th century.

With the retreat of the rebel force into the Wicklow Mountains, Dwyer and a small band of loyal followers including Byrne held out against the British and Protestant forces. However, Dwyer ended up surrendering and Hugh was imprisoned at Wicklow Gaol. He managed to escape and re-joined Dwyer in the mountains. He surrendered to English authorities in 1803 and was sent back to gaol.

It was decided that Dwyer and his four lieutenants, including Hugh Vesty Byrne, would be sent as exiles to New South Wales. They became known as the 5 Wicklow Martyrs or Wicklow Rebels. In 1806 they arrived on the convict ship "Tellicherry".

Byrne was promised and given land and freedom once in Australia. Originally given land along Cabramatta Creek, Hugh later sold this and acquired more fertile land at Airds (today's Campbelltown).

Hugh Byrne's good luck turned against him however when Governor Bligh had him and the other rebels arrested on charges of seditious activities. They were cleared by the court only to be re-arrested by Bligh and sent to various convict depots including Norfolk Island and Van Diemen's Land. After Bligh's arrest and release from office, Byrne and the others were released and pardoned.

Hugh returned to his land at Campbelltown. He made a comfortable living and in 1835 had another 100 acres granted to him. By now he was a respectable law-abiding citizen, a far cry from being an exile and one of the Wicklow Rebels.

Hugh Vesty Byrne died in 1842 and is buried in St John's Cemetery in Campbelltown next to his wife Sarah. There is no headstone.

Wicklow Gaol where Hugh Vesty Byrne was gaoled for his part in the 1798 Rebellion

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

http://home.earthlink.net/~billbyrns/page6.html

Read A Story/ Immigration Bridge Australia Website at www.immigrationplace.com.au

Campbelltown Pioneer Register 1800-1900

Update

An alert reader, Janine, has brought to my attention that Hugh Vesty Byrne has an above ground vault at the cemetery which he shares with members of his family.