Banjamin Hall and Family
There are many reports of the activities of Banjamin Hall the bushranger who was shot by the police in 1865 but little or nothing has been written as to his family background or his father, also Benjamin who arrived as a convict, died a small farmer.
My urge to investigate the family’s history was created when one day many years ago the officer in charge of Police at Murrurundi whom I knew well stopped me near the Post Office and announced that he had the warrant for the arrest of Benjamin Hall in his pocket. I asked to see it and he produced the warrant but I pointed out that the date 1845 meant it must relate to the father not the son. He then told me that the document had been found among a mass of ancient records from which I gleaned much information of the father and of his family.
From title records, I knew that the father had owned land in Haydonton (now the shopping centre of Murrurundi) and a farm at Blandford and that the mother, several sons and daughters were buried in St. Joseph’s Churchyard, Murrurundi. I began to write up the family story from the information I had collected and what had appeared in certain articles at Quirindi Historical Society and Mr Ware’s publication relating to Werris Creek.
A few years back I received a letter from Albury asking for and supplying information and discovered that John Lionel Hall, a great grandson of Benjamin Hall the father had already collected a great deal of information. I decided to combine what I had received from Mr Hall with what I had and submitted the combined article to him for criticism. He did criticise and supplied additional information and from my draft and his researches, the story which follows originated.
One thing is clear namely that the identification of Benjamin Hall Junior, who became the bushranger, with Breeza is erroneous. As to the rest of the story, a large number of salient facts are accurate but as these have gaps surmise has been used to fill in what, while it is hoped is accurate, could be erroneous in detail.
The two photographs of the hut on Ben Hall’s Creek and the house in Haydonton give some idea of the family living conditions.
A.A. McLellan LL. B B.Litt
NOTE Web ed: In this tome holding the cursor over italics will reveal the footnote notation and source of the statement. The only exception is a ship's names which are normally in italics.
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