Ben Hall Family 1802-1977
Towards the end of the year Benjamin was preparing an application to the Governor for permission to marry Eliza but possibly the combination of difficulties in meeting Benjamin and with her master caused Eliza to abscond again.
Benjamin persuaded her to return but probably because of the hostile reception she received on her return immediately after the New Year 1834, she absconded again and joined Benjamin.
He persuaded her to go to the Female Factory and give herself up which she did — doubtlessly being now placed in the second class.
Her absconding also wrecked her chances of getting a ticket of leave for which she would otherwise have been eligible in the middle of the year.
Benjamin first applied to the Superintendent of Convicts for her release to him as presumably an assigned servant but this application was refused. He then on 27th February, 1834 applied to the Governor for permission to marry her. The application was approved on April 1 and he immediately applied to the Incumbent of St. John's Parramatta to publish the banns of marriage. Benjamin was a Protestant but Eliza a Roman Catholic.
The banns were published and the marriage took place in the chancel of St. John's on April 16, 1834. The celebrant was Rev. Samnuel Marsden.
After marriage Eliza returned to the Female Factory as she was still under sentence but it would appear in the first class.
Benjamin continued in his then occupation wherever it was— probably still at Stonequarry.
On May 9, Eliza gave birth to her third child who was named William (right). After the birth she remained at the Factory where from time to time Benjamin visited her. It appears also that from marriage Benjamin paid the fees for all the children as laid down by the management of the Factory. The fees were to cover the cost of the children's maintenance .
About May 1835 Eliza became pregnant again and on 7th February, 1836 gave birth to another son Edward (left).
This is contrary to a number of accounts which state Benjamin was the fourth child and that Edward was born after Benjamin. However, Benjamin was the fourth child of his father but the fifth of his mother. In any case Benjamin was born in 1837 whereas if Edward's age is correctly recorded on his death certificate and tombstone he must have been born in 1836.
As Eliza's sentence would terminate on June 2, 1836 it is likely that from the beginning of the year Benjamin was seeking employment where he could have his wife and children with him.
According to a report, in 1836 Samuel Clift of Wallis Plains Maitland advertised for an overseer to look after a property on the Liverpool Plains called variously Doona or Dono Range which he had bought in 1835-6. Benjamin applied for the job and obtained it.
While the advertisement has not been located Benjamin did obtain employment from Samuel Clift and was on the property known as Doona in 1836.
What is likely to have happened is that Benjamin may have seen such an advertisement or have heard of it and applied to Samuel Clift for the post. He would not have been unknown to Samuel Clift but it is likely that he was asked to visit Maitland to discuss the job.
Benjamin could easily have ridden there by the Great North Road from Parramatta in three days or from Stonequarry in four. Samuel Clift agreed to engage him and desired that he start immediately but Benjamin asked to bring his family with him and arranged for their accommodation possibly on Samuel Clift's property at Wallis Plains Maitland, again possibly by offering his wife's services in Samuel Cliff's household. Samuel Clift agreed.
By the time Benjamin returned from Maitland and brought his existing employment to an end Eliza's sentence would have expired.
It seems that she left the Female Factory immediately she was able to do so and without applying for her certificate of freedom which would have taken some time to issue.
At this time Eliza had with her the children Thomas aged 5, Mary about 4, William 2 and Edward a baby. The easiest and quickest method of getting from Parramatta to Maitland in those days was by sea and possibly it was also the cheapest as the fare Parramatta to Sydney was one shilling and sixpence and the fare Sydney to Green Hills steerage on the best ships was 12 shillings and sixpence.
If the family travelled this way they would have walked from Parramatta to the wharf on the river and then travelled in the ferry to Sydney — several hours journey. At Sydney they would have boarded one of the regular steamers which would take them to Green Hills in a day. From Green Hills they would have walked to Wallis Plains about five miles, possibly carting their luggage on a cart.
It is likely that Benjamin left for Doona soon after their arrival at Wallis Plains, — he could have ridden there in about four days. At Doona in addition to the usual duties of attending to the stock on the property, preventing stock wandering off and sending back neighbours' stock found on the property ∼ for there were no fences ∼ Mr Clift required to be erected a solid four room house on the property. Then too, from time to time, stock would have to be driven from Maitland to the property or cattle for sale at the Maitland markets would have to be driven there.
The property Doona is located near Caroona to the west of the present highway between Quirindi and Gunnedah.
It appears that Benjamin was often back in Maitland and on May 9, 1837, Eliza gave birth to another son Benjamin.
Many accounts give Breeza as Benjamin's birthplace but firstly Breeza was in 1837 not Samuel Cleft's property, secondly there is no evidence that Eliza was ever north of the Liverpool Range and thirdly and most importantly when Benjamin-junior registered the birth of his own son in 1859 he gave Maitland as his birthplace.
Back to the contents