Andrew McIntyre

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Andrew McIntyre, [1]

There is another Andrew McIntyre. He married Christina and immigrated to Australia on the Success in 1852. They also settled in Ballarat, Victoria.

See Andrew McIntyre (2)


"Official form on blue paper - evidence - Michael Lawler, sergeant major police, 17 October 1854, p.1, PROV, VPRS5527/P0 Unit 1, Item 80
Be it remembered, that on 20th day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty four Michael Lawler of Ballarat in the Colony of Victoria Sergeant Major Police personally came before me one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said Colony, and acknowledged himself to owe to our Sovereign Lady the Queen the sum of one hundred pounds, of good lawful money of Great Britain, to be made and levied of the goods and chattels, lands and tenements, in the use of our said Lady the Queen, her Heirs and Successors, if the said Michael Lawler shall fail in the condition indorsed.
Taken and acknowledged the day and year of your first above mentioned at Ballarat in the said Colony before me
J. Johnston George Webster JP
"Official form on blue paper - evidence - Michael Lawler, sergeant major police, 17 October 1854, p.2, PROV, VPRS5527/P0 Unit 1, Item 80 The condition of the within written Recognance is such, That Whereas Andrew McIntyre was the 17 day of Oct 1854 at Ballarat in the Colony aforesaid, was concerned in the riot at the Eureka Hotel it therefore be the said Michael Lawler shall appear at the Circuit Court to be holden at Geelong in and for the Colony of Victoria, on the 26 day of Oct A.D., 1854, and there give such evidence as he knoweth upon an information to be then and there preferred against the said Andrew McIntyre for the offence aforesaid, as the Jurors who shall pass upon the trial of the said Andrew McIntyre then the said Recognizance to be void or else stand in full force and virtue.

Background

Andrew McIntyre was born in 1828. He married Margaret Graham Kerr on 19 May 1850 at Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland.[2]

The 1851 Census of Scotland places Andrew and Margaret McIntyre, both aged 19 years, as living at 80 Eglington St, Glasgow. Jean Kerr aged 47 (who was born 29 December 1803 to James Kerr and Jean Muir) was listed as Head of the House. Jean Graham Kerr had married Bryce Kerr on 27 April 1822 at Dairy, Aryshire, Scotland. Also living with Andrew and Margaret McIntyre in 1851 were Bryce Kerr aged 10 years, James Kerr aged 6, William Kerr aged 4 and an infant McIntyre aged one month. Because Andrew McIntyre's wife's surname was KERR it is assumed the people they were living with were her mother Jean Kerr and her nieces and nephews.More research needs to be done to ascertain the death of Bryce KERR, the father of Margaret, and the husband of Jean.

Andrew and Margaret McIntyre emigrated to Australia. Their daughter, Margaret Eureka McIntyre was born in a tent on 22 February 1855.

The family returned to Scotland by September 1859.[3] There is a record of Margaret MacIntyre (sic) returning from Victoria, Australia on the vessel White Star in January 1859. Her destination was Liverpool. The ship's master was Thomas C. Kerr.[4]

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

By 1854 Andrew McIntyre was a miner at Ballarat. He was arrested for the burning of the Eureka Hotel. On 29 March 1855 he wrote a letter to his brother-in-law, Mr A.C. Kerr, describing the Eureka Stockade events.[5] In the letter he describes how he helped douse the flames (unsuccessfully) to the fire at Bentley's Eureka Hotel. He spoke at the time to Robert Rede, but was arrested soon afterwards, taken to Geelong and then to Melbourne for trial where he was given three months in gaol.

McIntyre was associated with Peter Lalor. He was arrested with Thomas Fletcher on 21 October 1854 and committed for trial at Geelong on 6 November 1854.[6]

The men accused of destroying the Eureka Hotel, Henry Westerby, Thomas Fletcher and Andrew McIntyre, were convicted and sentenced to gaol on 20 November 1854. J.B. Humffray, Black and Kennedy, representing the Ballarat Reform League demanded the release of these prisoners on 27 November. It was a fatal mistake, as the use of the word “demand” strengthened Governor Hotham’s resolve for control.[7]

McIntyre was imprisoned for three months in Melbourne goal for riotous behaviour prior to the Eureka Stockade battle, namely for his part in the burning of Bentley’s Eureka Hotel. The Argus newspaper concluded that by sentencing the men, the law had been upheld, but the Government had been disgraced.[8]

It was said that McIntyre did his best to restrain the diggers at Bentley’s. Gilbert Amos spoke on Mcintyre’s behalf, but McIntyre was sentenced to three months imprisonment. Amos testified that McIntyre had done all he could to save property in the hotel.[9]


Names of persons arrested in connection of having been connected in the riot at Eureka (being the burning I'd Bentley's Hotel).
Date of Arrest Name How disposed of
Oct 21, Andrew McIntyre, Committed for trial Geelong 26 Nov.
Oct 21, Thomas Fletcher, Committed for trial Geelong, 26 Nov.
Oct 26, Henry Westerby, Committed for trial Melbourne, 15th Nov.
Oct 26, Manestra Flatow, discharged
Oct 26, Samuel Butler, discharged
Oct 26, Albert Hurd, Committed for trial Melbourne 15th Nov. On bail
Oct 27, John Balderston, discharged
Oct 27, George McIntosh, discharged
Oct 27, Charles Stewart, discharged
Oct 27, John van Der Byl, discharged[10]

Trial of McIntyre

Recognizances

Official form on blue paper - evidence - Michael Lawler, sergeant major police, 17 October 1854, p.1, PROV, VPRS5527/P0 Unit 1, Item 80 Be it remembered, that on 20th day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty four Michael Lawler of Ballarat in the Colony of Victoria Sergeant Major Police personally came before me one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said Colony, and acknowledged himself to owe to our Sovereign Lady the Queen the sum of one hundred pounds, of good lawful money of Great Britain, to be made and levied of the goods and chattels, lands and tenements, in the use of our said Lady the Queen, her Heirs and Successors, if the said Michael Lawler shall fail in the condition indorsed. Taken and acknowledged the day and year of your first above mentioned at Ballarat in the said Colony before me J. Johnston George Webster JP

The condition of the within written Recognizance is such, That Whereas Andrew McIntyre was the 17 day of Oct 1854 at Ballarat in the Colony aforesaid, was concerned in the riot at the Eureka Hotel it therefore be the said Michael Lawler shall appear at the Circuit Court to be holden at Geelong in and for the Colony of Victoria, on the 26 day of Oct A.D., 1854, and there give such evidence as he knoweth upon an information to be then and there preferred against the said Andrew McIntyre for the offence aforesaid, as the Jurors who shall pass upon the trial of the said Andrew McIntyre then the said Recognizance to be void or else stand in full force and virtue.

McIntyre Letter

Charles A. Doudiet, watercolour on paper, 1854, watercolour, on paper.
Courtesy Art Gallery of Ballarat, purchased by the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery with the assistance of many donors, 1996.

This letter lay in obscurity in the Ballarat Council Archives until it was found by Ian, the archivist, around 1996.

TRANSCRIPT OF LETTER DATED 29th MARCH 1855 – BAKERY HILL

Dear Brother
I have no doubt I any have got many cursings from you and others, for not answering letters, now long past due and perhaps doubly cursed when you learned the cause of then not being answered, to plead justification to you at the present time is not my intention, but merely to make a statement of the facts of case and then you may judge for yourself.
The General facts are now all over the world, and no doubt you will have earned them long ago, but still a few particulars as regards myself may not be altogether uninteresting to you. I don’t think it necessary to enter into the details of the gross Maladministration of the offices of the Colony generally, these are also are patent to the world, but as regards the Gold Fields, and particularly Ballarat where I have had the best opportunity of judging[.] I would say a few words.
From the construction of the Legislative Assembly of this Colony we have had the worst laws in the world palmed upon us and from the same cause still worst carried out, we had a lot of Boys[.] half military[.] half school Boys as Magistrates[.] JP’s (not at all inaccessible to “Tip”) to carry out what were in themselves “Bad Laws” . Such Individuals had been the lords of Ballaarat up to the time when I appear on the stage. “Tip” was the ruling passion with the Ballaarat Camp Officials from the highest to the lowest. The chief Magistrate of Ballaarat had shares in nearly all the Hotels on Ballaarat, which he had for granting them Licences. But he was more particularly interested in Bently’s[.] In the Hotel has been committed a great many Robberies and several people found dead near the Place[.], all of which was somehow or other hushed up, Bently himself was known to be a doubly convicted felon, although a great companion of the Commissioner’s [,] in whose house they were nightly.
On the morning of the 7th October last a Scotchman named “James Scobie” from Auchterlarder was murdered near the Hotel, and on the inquest it was discovered that Bently was one of the Murderers, he of course was examined at Ballaarat and you can guess the result, the chief Magistrate (Dewes) presiding, with sufficient evidence to commit him for trial[.], he was discharged, and at the Same time told he ft the Court without the slightest imputation on his conduct or Blemish on his character. This was considered by the people of Ballaarat as a direct insult, and a meeting was called for [,] to be held on the 17th October, on the spot, where the man was murdered. I intended to have attended the meeting, but my mates would not go unless all the holes around about dro]p]ed work and went, they all agreed[,] but one or two, so it was knocked on the head. After Dinner I went down the Hole but found it was giving way. I came up to the top for timber to repair it, just as I reached the top I heard a fearful noise, and went with the crowd towards Bently’s Hotel [,] about ½ [half] mile from my hole[,] it turned out that [the] cause of shouting was Bently flying off on one of the Commissioner’s horses, I reached the Hotel when there was about 1,000 persons present, [but] the meeting was over[.]
All the Military and Police were stationed around the Hotel to guard it, the Commissioners were up in one of the Broken windows trying to pacify the people, telling them they had ben diggers themselves, and they would see justice done to the diggers and a lot of Other “Bosh”, I mounted one of the windows alongside the Commissioners, and was cried upon by the diggers to speak, I spoke for a few minutes against the conduct of the officials on Bently’s examination, but never said, nor never had any intention to advise them to take the law into their own hands.
In the confusion and noise, they may have misunderstood me, however before I got done Bottles, stones, Books and all sorts of missiles came flying at the Commissioners’ heads, Resident Commissioner Reed Robert Rede then handed me his whip and requested me to try and get them to desist. (the whip was his scepre or Baton of Office.) I did not believe at the time in destroying the property as Bently had a good many creditors that must become sufferers, I tried to get them to desist [from] destroying the property, but in a minute a cry of fire was raised, and I went round with Mr Reed, The fire had just been lighted and I drew down the linning from the Bowling Alley (Paper and Canvas) no water being handy, and threw [it] on the flames and trampled on it, till I burnt myself, but failed in extinguishing the flames, I was expecting some of the Police or Soldier might say that I had been hastning on the flames, and came back and told Mr Reed so, his answer was [“] there is no danger[,] I can swear you have done your duty like a man,[“] I assisted in saving property and guarding it when saved[.] in half an hour the whole affair was in a heap of ashes (valued £27,000) Mr Reed and Captain Carter, and I had a nibbler of rum when all was over and I [was] going off to my work, as I proceeded, I was arrested by two sergeants of Police. [They] arrested me and I said I would go [,] but wanted to see their Warrant for my Apprehension [.] they said they had none[.] then I said I would be damed if I would go till they got one [.]the moment I said that the Diggers round about rushed and the Police and shuved me away, I went home, next day I intimated to parties about the Hole, my intention of proceeding to the camp, to see what they wanted with me[.] they volunteered to go with me in a body but I only took one[,] My mate, and went up and asked Mr Reed if he Remembered his words[.] he did not deny it, he and us went to Captain [-----s] and he had nothing to say against me. Reed told me I might go, saw the parties that arrested me but they said nothing. [During the] next two days there was reinforcements of troops arriving from Melbourne and on Friday night one of the detectives came to inform me as a friend to get out of the way as I was going to be arrested in the morning.
I went home and went to bed in the expectation of being roused in the morning, in which I was not disappointed. About two in the morning we heard then marching around the tent[.] I allowed then to remain there for two hours, then went out and asked them in to have a nible, there was 10 Detectives and the Sergeant Major of Police, but before we went in the diggings we were joined by three troops of mounted Police (a fairish escort). All the police and Soldiers had been under arms all night in case of a second rescue, I was bought up for examination at 9 0’clock and committed to take my trial in Geelong on the following Thursday, (this was on Saturday) [.] as I was taken prisoner at 4 o’clock few knew anything about it, but as the day advanced they collected, then held a meeting, where they agreed to go and demand Fletcher and I out on Bail and if refused to have us out by force (they had previously refused Bail for me). The committee then formed tryed to prevent the crowd from approaching too near the camp while the deputation was making arrangements with the authorities for to get us out on bail, but they were so long that the crowd rushed up to the points of the Bayonet and swords of the troops[.] there was about 7,000 diggers present[.] most of them armed[.] one Irishman had 6 six Barrelled revolvers in his breast. in all 36 shot. There was one man wounded through the accidental discharge of a pistol. I was ultimately Bailed out in £1,000 by parties whom I had never seen before. When I came out the people wanted to carry me shoulder high and had a German band there but I got them advised to desist such a Demonstration, amongst the first Committee was Fred Vern (now Colonel Vern) [.] you will recollect of me writing to you when he was a mate of mine of Lord ‘God knows who’ he was a witness to all my actions at the Hotel and as such he was subpoenaed to Geelong as well as “Captain Ross” of whom I will speak afterwards, we had benefits at the Theatre, Assembly Rooms etc and in the interim on Wednesday. Fletcher and I and 12 witnesses started for Geelong in the conveyances with silk flags (that were presented to us as starting) flying with the words on them Liberty and Justice for All. on the Thursday we appeared at Geelong for trail, but they would not try us there but Remanded us to appear at Melbourne on the 15th Nov. I had to find new securities, and got a Jew in Geelong for one and Mr Holyoake, a brother of George Jacobs as the other, who was also a witness in the case, We came back to Ballaarat [and] had other meetings where the diggers determined that we should not go of[f] Ballaarat and but for ourselves would have taken us prisoners and kept us themselves[.] we however started for Melbourne on 13th Nov but were not tried till the 20th[.] it took from Ten in the morning till 9 at night to try us. I could have easily got out of it, but for the counsel taking too political a view of the matter, and pleading Justification and not examining my principal witness[.] I had one of the Commissioners swore I was the most efficient man for saving the property that was there, the other would have cleared me of the matter, but the counsel just made a fool of him, so that I was brought in guilty – with a special recommendation to mercy on account of my praiseworthy conduct while the place was burning[.] we were sentenced the following morning [.] me there months, Fletcher 4 + Westerby 6 months imprisonment[.] the Judge remarking that as he believed all were men of good character he would not degrade us by giving us labour. When the news reached Ballaarat that we had got sentenced they sent down a deputation to the Governor to “demand” our release, the Governor would not accede to the word ‘demand’ ( a very absurd word) so the deputation went back to Ballaarat where a meeting was held on 29th Nov[.] Strong resolutions were put and carried and at the windup they made bonfires of their licences and vowed they would take out no more, in the meantime the Governor sent all the policemen and soldiers in the country to Ballaarat[.] The marines[,] sailors and cannons were taken out of the men of War and dispatched also, the day after the meeting they sent around troopers with drawn swords and soldiers with loaded muskets in skirmishing order to collect licences[.] the diggers Joe’d and threw bottles & stones a them when the troopers fired on them[.] one or two of the diggers that had firearms on them fired back on them[.] the diggers met again in the afternoon and agreed to arm themselves [They] went round all the stores collecting firearms etc, horses, saddles + Bridles and retired to the Eureka and erected a stockade[.] meantime they had Barricaded all round the Government Camp, even the Goal in Melbourne was all Barricaded with sand bags and troopers guarding it, at first there were about 1500 men in the insurgent mob but by Saturday morn the most of them [,] thinking nothing was going to be done[,] went home and in the evening there was not over 200 in the stockade[.] of course the Government spies reported how things stood at the camp so they dispatched about 500 mounted troopers + Soldiers before day-break on Sunday morning (3 Dec.) few of the diggers were […….] They showed the stuff they were made off ...[11]

Post 1854 Experiences

McIntyre lived at Ballarat, and was recorded on the 1855 Electoral Roll, under the electoral qualification of Miner’s Right.[12] McIntyre’s daughter, Margaret Eureka[13] (later Lady Fairweather), was born on 26 February 1855,[14] in a tent soon after the fight at the stockade. This would mean that Margaret was heavily pregnant when the fighting took place and when her husband was gaoled. At the time of Margaret Eureka's birth, her father was still in gaol in Melbourne. [15]

Andrew McIntryre wrote a letter describing events, which was dated 29 March 1855, which has been preserved and is still in existence in 1998. McIntyre supported Lalor’s electoral nomination. He is thought to have returned to Glasgow in comfortable circumstances. [16]

The 1861 Census of Scotland places Margaret Mcintyre, aged 29 years, wife of Andrew McIntyre and born at Beith, Ayrshire at 265 Eglington Street, in the Civil Parish of Glasgow Govan, County of Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Household members are listed as: Andrew McIntyre aged 29, Margaret Watt aged 18, Archibald McIntyre aged 10, Jane McIntyre aged 7, Margaret E (Eureka) McIntyre 6, John B (Bryce) McIntyre aged 3, and George McIntyre aged one year.

More children were to arrive. Marion Stewart born 1862, Joan born 1864, Andrew born 1866, Bryce born 1867, Thomas born 1871, Jessie born 1872, and Henrietta Howard McIntyre born 1874.

Margaret Graham McIntyre (Kerr) died on 7 August 1880 at Kilmalcolm, Renfrewshire, Scotland. Andrew McIntyre her husband, died 3 August 1885 in Bute, Scotland.

Family

Death of Dame Margaret V Fairweather.
BALLARAT, Monday. — An interesting link with- Eureka was broken by the death at Glasgow on 4th August of Dame Margaret Eureka McIntyre Fairweather, wife of Sir Wallace Fairweather.
The "Glasgow Herald" in reporting her death, says: — Lady Fairweather was born in Australia, and was the daughter of Mr. Andy Mclntyre, of Glasgow, who was one of the pioneers in gold mining in that Dominion. He settled at Ballarat, Grenville County, in Victoria, where, in the fifties, trouble arose between the mining community and the authorities. This episode is believed to be one of the few occasions in the history of Australian gold mining in which bloodshed was involved. The trouble centred on Eureka Hill, where miners had erected a stockade, and it was within the enclosure, while the firing was going on, that Lady Fairweather was born. On that account Eureka was included in her name. She married Sir Wallace Fairweather in 1877.[17]

Newsworthy

Ballarat Reform League Deputation to Governor Charles Hotham from The Revolt at Eureka’ by R. Wenban. Schools Publishing House, 1959.
THE BALLARAT DEPUTATION.
On Monday His Excellency received Messrs. Black, Humphreys, and Kennedy, the three gentlemen appointed as a deputation from this locality to "demand" the liberation of Fletcher, M'Intyre, and Westbury, convicted of burning of the Eureka Hotel. The deputation handed His Excellency certain representations on paper, agreed to at a meeting of the diggers, and a prospectus of the Ballarat Reform League, by which the political and administrative claims of the diggers were brought in review. At the outset of the proceedings, however, His Excellency said the deputation had used a term which, as the representative of majesty, he could not allow, viz., the word " demand." and asked if the deputation " demanded" the liberation of the men convicted of burning the Eureka Hotel. Mr. Black had no other explanation to offer than that they had stated their business in the terms furnished them by the diggers. The diggers did not consider the three convicted men more guilty than others present at the fire, and justified the act of burning the hotel by the fact that the magistracy at Ballarat had become so corrupt as to require some such signal act to recall them to a sense of their duty; and if the constitutional mode of petitioning His Excellency had been adopted, time would thereby have been afforded for the escape of the offenders.
His Excellency said that the deputation must be aware that whenever the Government heard of the acquittal of Bentley, a new trial was ordered. On the instant, orders were issued, and the most active measures taken to apprehend Bentley, and try him again. A government did not identify itself in all cases with the verdict of its own officials. In this case it judged that the verdict was not correct, and ordered a new trial immediately.
Mr. Black said that the announcement by Mr. Johnstone that he had forwarded the depositions to the Attorney-General, and that he, with the approval of His Excellency, had ordered a new trial, and that the parties should be re-arrested, had been received by the meeting with a great cheer.
His Excellency said that the diggers were taking the law into their own hands, and setting aside the most important principle of the British Constitution.
Mr. Humphreys thought His Excellency might extend an act of grace to the:prisoners.
His Excellency said he could not depart from the verdict of the jury. After a patient and careful hearing, the jury had decided. That decision all were bound to respect, and were he to depart from it he should inflict the greatest possible blow on the welfare of the colony.
Mr. Kennedy entreated His Excellency to allow the men to return with them and then any further riot and disturbance would cease.
His Excellency thought the course suggested subversive of all government, and, as the Queen's representative, it was impossible for him to do what they asked. He further remarked that, as to the management of the gold fields, he had selected the most liberal and popular men to form a commission of enquiry, and was prepared to carry out any measure of reform which that com- mission may recommend, as far as his power went; and he expressly desired the deputation to tell the diggers that he was most anxious to give full justice to the diggers as well as any other class in the community, and he hopped they would give him credit for such intentions, but that at present his power of doing so was limited.
The Colonial Secretary and Attorney-General were present during the interview, and occasionally took part in the discussion.
At the close of the interview, the question was put— "If a memorial is presented on behalf of M'Intyre and the other prisoners, to Your Excellency, may we indulge in the hope that its prayer would be granted?" His Excellency replied — "Present your Memorial."
The interview lasted for some time, and the deputation expressed their high satisfaction at the candid manner in which their questions were answered, and an impression that the Governor is an honest man, and will eventually do the diggers justice.[18]
THE EUREKA VETERAN. - He entered the bar at the Bushman's Arms at Sheeptrack, and dropped his swag behind the door, then he looked at the young miners gathered at the bar, and sighed heavily, he passed his hand over his mourn, and sighed again. Moi body seemed to be deeply interested in him except Cadden, the proprietor, who was eyeing him suspiciously. The others were all interested in their beer".Good day," said the newcomer." It's a dreadful dry, tryin' sort o' day fer travlin'." One or two answered "good day" in a dubious way, the others were not disposed to be friendly. "I see none o' youse blokes know me," continued the stranger. "I'm Andy M'Intyre." "An' who the flames is Andy M'Intyre when he's at home asked one youthful miner. "What!" cried M'Intyre, "you an Australian and a miner, and you ain't heard tell o' Andy McIntyre? ' Wybrow looked a trifle abashed. Perhaps there was something to be ashamed of. "Who is Andy McIntyre?" he said, more respectfully. "Andy M'Intyre's the man what was Peter Lalor's right-hand man at the Eureka Stockade. Andy M'Intyre's the man who fought light through, got a bullet in his side, and then carried Peter Lalor off the field of battle, cutt n' his way through two hundred soldiers. Now you know who Andy M'Intyre is." "Oh, yes," said Wybrow, with diffidence, " I Lalor put me up to it. 'We must rouse the miners, Andy,' he says, 'we must get the honest diggers to fight fer their rights and liberties. There ain't any class in Australia more deserve of their rights and liberties than the honest miners,' sez he."Ave another drink, matey," said Carrol. Andy McIntvre had another drink, and then told the young miners a lot more ventures at, the Stockade. "You'll have one along me won't you?" said Holloway. Andy had one with Holloway' and waxed more eloquent. The miners learnt more of the history of the riots than they had heard before in the whole course of their lives. Each miner thought it his duty to shout for - the hero. Then, when the crowd "had run dry;" -Andy's eloquence tailed off, and he took up his swag, and bade them an affectionate adieu. Presently, Sid Collins the veteran entered the bar. "You orter been here a minute ago," said Wybrow. "Did you see that bloke what went out just afore you comc in ? He was at the Ballarat riots. He's been tellin' us all about it." "I saw him. About thirty years old, wasn't he ?" "About that." "Then didn't it strike you he was a sort o' 'uman miracle ?" "How's that?" "Why, he was at the Ballarat riots, twenty year afore he was born." Then the young miners silently drifted out.[19]

Newsworthy

PUBLIC MEETING ON BAKERY HILL Pursuant to public notice, a large and numerous public meeting was held on Bakery Hill, on the 22nd instant. At about 12 o'clock groups of men, twelve or twelve in number, might be seen in different directions, between the camp and the Hill, eagerly discussing together, and by their gesticulation and passionate manner, it was clear there was a question of some grave import which engrossed their attention. By degrees they began to move slowly along towards the Bakery, and the swarming bills gave notice that a monster meeting was immediately to be held. From every point of the compass, one might have seen groups of men comning eagerly up, and by two o'clock, the time appointed to meet, there could not have been less than fifteen thousand men on the spot. When the different speakers ascended the platform prepared for the occasion. After some preliminary arrangements, and a desultory conversation between the different gentlemen who were to address the meeting, the gentlemen of the press were requested to come forward and take a seat. On these gentlemen making their appearance, three cheers were given for the Ballarat Times, and three groans for the Argus, and loud and long were the shouts of indignation raised against the once popular journal, after which the proceedings of the day were commenced by Mr. H. T. Holyoake's proposing the following resolution :
"That we the Diggers of Ballarat in public meeting assembled, viewing the late demonstration of public feeling as arising from the mal-administration of the law, and sympathising with Messrs M'Intyre and Fletcher, who stand committed for trial at Geelong on the 26th instant, on are bar of aiding and abetting in the wilful destruction of the Eureka Hotel, feel it our duty to subscribe the necessary funds to secure the best counsel and defraying the general expenses of the trial." This was seconded by Dr. Levison, and unanimously adopted by the meeting.
The second resolution, proposed by Mr. Kennedy, and seconded by Mr. Alexander Tough, was also unanimously adopted. "That this meeting looks with feelings of indignation at the daily violation of the personal liberty of the sub jest, and hereby express their unqualified condemnation of the manner in which the laws are enforced at Ballarat." The third resolution was moved by Mr. Humffray, and seconded by Mr. Sylvester. That this meeting is of the opinion that if the laws has been fully and impartially carried out, the burning down of Bentley's hotel would not have occurred, and the entire responsibility rests with the Camp Officials; and that this meeting pledges itself to support the Committee in all their endeavors to obtain the fullest investigation into all the facts connected with the late enquiry into the murder of James Scobie, and to petition for the immediate removal of all Camp officials who have acted so unconstitutionally in the matter."
The object of the meeting being to sympathise with those who were alleged to have been unjustifiably committed for trial by the Ballarat Bench, and to raise funds for their defence in a court of law, the different speakers--the movers and seconders of the resolutions-spoke long to some purpose. It was an observable feature that the speaker who most condemned the present government, and insinuated the possibility at a future day, of a better one, was the most vehemently cheered, and evidently the most appreciated. Whenever the speaker (as some of them did) dwelt with tender enthusiasm upon the English Government and British Constitution , a perceptible ennui and lassitude seemed to pervade the meeting. On hearing "the oft-told tale," however, some of the spectators evinced their sympathy on the spot with the object of the meeting by handling in their subscriptions for the defence of the two contmitted for trial; and for those who came unprepared to do so, stores were named over the diggings, at which they might leave their subscriptions at their convenience. At the close of the proceedings it was announced that the Committee would meet at the Star Inn, Red Hill Flat, for the purpose of taking down in writing the testimony of M'Intyre's witnesses, relative to the burning of the Eureka Hotel, in order, as many of them could not go to town, to have their depositions read before the Judicial bench at Geelong. All of these (some half-dozen or so) tended in a stronger or lesser degree to exonerate the prisoner. At the close of the business it was found that theparties had not sufficient for the present emergency, when one young gentleman, Mr. Vern, came forward and magnanimously offered to lend the Committee the sum of £100, which was grate fully accepted, and the Committee adjourned.[20]

See also

Andrew McIntyre (2)

Richard Calvin

Thomas Crowther

Thomas Fletcher

Benjamin Hawkshaw

William McEvoy

Andrew McIntyre

Margaret Eureka McIntyre, daughter

Margaret McIntyre, wife

Richard Ireland

William Nolan

James Pepper

Michael Quigley

William Thompson

Alexander Tough

Frederick Vern

Edward Viret

Michael Wigley

Further Reading

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

Dorothy Wickham, Women of the Diggings: Ballarat 1854, BHS Publishing, 2009.


See also

References

  1. BHS, Eureka Research Directory 1998
  2. Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
  3. Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
  4. https://www.prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/passenger-records-and-immigration
  5. Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
  6. Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
  7. Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
  8. Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
  9. Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
  10. PROV, VPRS 1189, Unit 153, File J54 12-469.
  11. Transcribed by Christine Stancliffe (Note that original spelling mistakes have been left as written)
  12. Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
  13. Beggs Sunter, Anne, The Significance of Eureka: Myths and Legends
  14. Beggs Sunter, Anne, The Significance of Eureka: Myths and Legends
  15. Beggs Sunter, Anne, The Significance of Eureka: Myths and Legends
  16. Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
  17. The Age, 10 September 1935.
  18. The Age, 29 November 1854.
  19. Melbourne Punch, 9 August 1906.
  20. Goulburn Herald and County of Argyle Advertiser, 11 November 1854.

External links

http://www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/art/1855-let.htm