Samuel Perry

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Samuel Perry, Courtesy Ballarat Heritage Services.

Background

Perry was a miner who lived in Ballarat and was recorded in the 1855 Electoral Roll. Perry's daughter Georgina was born at Ballarat in 1852.

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

Post 1854 Experiences

Obituary

EUREKA VETERAN PASSES - Very great regret was expressed when it was announced that one of the sturdy band of early pioneers of the State had passed away, this being Mr Samuel Perry, of Rocky Lead. The deceased was born in Bristol, England, in the year 1834, and was thus 83 years of age. He reached this country from the Homeland in the year 1852, at once proceeding to the Ballarat goldfield, where he took a very active interest in public matters of the day, and was one of those who participated in the fight at the Eureka Stockade. He was afterwards arrested for his connection with the rebellion, but was liberated. He had most interesting experiences during that time, and was able to give a very vivid chronicle of that, memorable event. So far as has been ascertained, Mr Perry was the only one who actually fought on 3rd December, 1851, who was present at the Ballarat home-coming last Easter, when a representation of the Eureka riot was given. His mining operations being of a successful nature, Mr Perry paid a visit to his native land in the year 1855, but returned to Victoria in the following year. At one time he was a property owner in Ballarat. For 54 years he resided at Rocky Lead, and through being a man of sterling qualities he endeared himself to all his acquaintances, being most highly respected. A widow, four daughters and five sons are left to mourn their loss, and for them widespread sympathy is felt in their sad bereavement. One of the sons, Albert, enlisted in New Zealand, and is on war service abroad. The district will miss such an old identity—a colonist of 65 years standing.[1]
His daughter stated in her later life that Samuel Perry her father had had a sword broken across his back at the Stockade.[2]

Newsworthy

Eureka Pageant, 1917

...The digger present who fought within the stockade was Mr. Samuel Perry, of Rocky Lead, near Daylesford. He came to Ballarat in 1852 a stalwart young man, 19 years of age. When responding to the toast of "The Pioneers," the old man passionately expressed the indignation of the miners at the treatment of the miners by the police. "We were hunted worse than dogs," he said. "The police poked us behind with their bayonet. One fellow nearly rode over me, and I caught his horse by the bridle, throwing it back on its haunches. The trooper 'lambasted' me over the back, and broke his sword in two. There were only about 130 of us in the stockade, which was formed of anything about-timber from the holes, carts, drays, or anything. By jingo, it was a cold morning when we were attacked. We had logs burning at night to keep us warm. We were bosses for about 10 minutes, and then I saw the game was up. We were euchred. I put a gold nugget that I had into flour in a baker's trough when I saw that I would be caught. But I did not get the nugget again. It was explained that Mr. Perry had been taken to the "logs" or police camp, where he was kept for a week for identification purposes, as one who had been in the stockade. At the end of the week he bolted, and regained his liberty. [3]

See also

Eureka 63, 1917

Further Reading

Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.


References

  1. Creswick Advertiser, 28 December 1917.
  2. dorothy Wickham notes, 2009, BER, PR
  3. The Argus, 11 April 1917. ...

External links