Joseph Byrne
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Joseph Byrne (abt. 1856 - 1880)

Joseph "Joe" Byrne
Born about in Woolshed Valley near Beechworth, Colony of Victoriamap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , , , , and
Died at about age 23 in Glenrowan, Colony of Victoriamap
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Joseph Byrne
Joseph Byrne

Contents

Biography

Joseph Byrne was an Australian Bushranger

Early Life

Joseph (Joe) Byrne was born at Woolshed, near Beechworth in northern Victoria, as the eldest child of Irish Catholics Patrick Byrne and Margaret White.[1]

Little is known of Joe's early life. He showed promise at school but left as a 12 year old, following his father's death.[2] Prior to his death Patrick Byrne had established a dairy farm at Sebastopol, where his widow and a number their children continued to live afterwards.[3] Joe became very good friends with Aaron Sherritt, the son of Irish Protestant parents.[4] He also became friendly with some of the local Chinese gold miners, picked up their passion for smoking opium and learned to speak a form of Cantonese.[3]

In Trouble with the Law

From a young age Joe and Aaron associated with horse and cattle thieves.[2][5] In September 1873 Joe was found guilty of illegal use of a horse and fined 20s.[6] In May 1876 Joe and Aaron were convicted of stealing a cow, originally reported as a bullock, which they subsequently killed, and as they had a number of previous fines and convictions, they received the heaviest punishment the law allowed, namely six months' imprisonment with hard labor in Beechworth Gaol.[7][8]

The pair possibly met Dan and Ned Kelly in February 1877, whilst awaiting trial at the Beechworth General Sessions. Dan was charged with stealing a saddle at Benalla and Ned was one of his witnesses. Dan was acquitted and discharged. Later in the day Joe Byrne and Aaron Sherritt pleaded not guilty to unlawfully wounding a Chinese man, Ah On. Their case was adjourned until the following day.[9][10] It appears Ah On took exception to the young men bathing in his dam. During the subsequent altercation, he received severe wounds to his face. Despite considerable evidence given against the defendants, Joe was found not guilty, whilst Aaron was guilty of a common assault, committed in self-defence.[11]

The Kelly Gang

Joe and Aaron became quite friendly with the "Greta mob" - a group of young men, including Ned and Dan Kelly and some of their relatives, who engaged in widespread horse and cattle theft. Many of the mob had spent time in prison.[12][13]

On 15th April 1878 Constable Alexander Fitzpatrick attempted to arrest Dan Kelly at Greta for horse stealing, when he was shot in the wrist by Ned, and assaulted by their mother, Ellen, with a shovel. Ned and Dan escaped, it was assumed to New South Wales, and a £100 reward was offered for Ned's capture.[14][15] The incident initiated their life on the run, which came to an end over two years later at Glenrowan.[16][17][18] Ellen Kelly received a three year prison sentence for her part in the incident.[19]

The Stringybark Creek Ambush
The Stringybark Creek Ambush

The next police encounter with the Kelly Gang came on 26th October 1878, when together with Joe Byrne and Steve Hart, Ned and Dan Kelly surprised a patrol of four officers, who were on their trail, at Stringybark Creek. Three of the officers were murdered: Sergeant Michael Kennedy, Constable Thomas Lonigan and Constable Michael Scanlan. Only one, Constable Thomas McIntyre, escaped. The Victorian Government proclaimed the gang as outlaws and a reward of £200 per bushranger, £800 in total, was offered for their apprehension.[20][21] As the Kelly Gang prepared to leave the camp, Joe removed the distinctive dress rings from the fingers of Lonigan and Scanlan and placed them on his own fingers.[22] Constable Scanlan's ring would be recognised on his finger when his body was removed from the Glenrowan Inn almost two years later.[23]

Following the murders at Stringybark Creek, they made their way back to the Woolshed Valley, where they were helped by Joe's oldest friend, Aaron Sherritt. He took them to a cave where they could rest, have a meal and get dry, and he stood guard while they slept. When they left that place to head further north, Aaron went on ahead as their scout for the first leg of the journey.[24] Within days, the reward for the capture of the outlaws was increased to £500 per person, and the Felons Apprehension Act 1878 was passed through the parliament. This allowed any member of the public to lawfully shoot them on sight. The Act also provisioned for harsh penalties to those who assisted outlaws.[25][26]

While Joe guarded a group of captives, the Kelly Gang robbed the Euroa branch of the National Bank of Australia in December 1878, stealing over £2,200.[27] On behalf of Ned, Joe wrote a manifesto letter, now known as The Cameron Letter, which was sent soon after the robbery by Ned to Donald Cameron, a parliamentarian. In the letter Ned denounced the police, the Victorian government and the British Empire, giving his own account of the events leading up to the Stringybark Creek massacre. Demanding justice for his family and the rural poor, he threatened dire consequences for those who defied him.[28]

On 10th February 1879, dressed as police officers, the Kelly Gang robbed the Bank of New South Wales branch at Jerilderie, netting over £2,000.[29][30] Prior to the raid Joe wrote the Jerilderie Letter, dictated by Ned, which detailed written justification of his actions in the year before his death and supported the creation of a Republic of North eastern Victoria.[31] Ned tried unsuccessfully to have local newspapers publish his letters, to counter what he claimed were lies told by the police and others about him.[32] The booty from the Euroa and Jerilderie robberies were split up amongst the gang's family, friends and supporters.[33]

After the Jerilderie raid, the gang laid low for 16 months, evading capture. An official description issued by police in March 1879 described Joe as "24 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, thin build, fair complexion and hair, small whiskers, beard, and moustache of same colour, grey eyes, active appearance, has a peculiar swagger when walking; dressed in light tweed paget suit, and light felt hat with turned-down crown."[34] In February 1879 the New South Wales Government offered £8,000 reward for the capture of the Kelly Gang, or £1,000 for an individual. This was in addition to a similar reward of £4,000 from the Victorian Government.[35]

In March 1880 mouldboards began to disappear from ploughs on the farms in the Greta area. Puzzling at the time, they were used to make the Kelly Gang's armour.[36] Some sources claim that Joe designed the armour, however this is unlikely. During the Glenrowan seige he was overhead to say to Ned that he "always said this armour would bring us to grief."[37]

By June 1880 the Kelly Gang were becoming concerned about Aaron Sherritt who they suspected was a police informant, so on the 26th June 1880 Joe Byrne murdered him.[38] The next day, the Kelly Gang took over the town of Glenrowan and held over 60 people hostage in the Glenrowan Inn. Their plan was to derail and ambush the train that would be bringing police reinforcements to Glenrowan in response to Aaron's murder. During the night, Ned released the Curnow family as Mrs Curnow was ill. Her husband Thomas promptly flagged down the approaching police train and warned them of the derailment, thus thwarting the gang's plans. The police officers from the train surrounded the Inn around 3am, as the gang put on their homemade armour and prepared to fight. Many people were injured in the gunfight that followed and eventually the women and children were released. Joe was shot in the femoral artery and bled out. Ned went out of the rear of the Inn, intending to circle behind the police and attack. Dan and Steve continued shooting at police from inside the Inn.[32] 

The Glenrowan Inn before the fire
The Glenrowan Inn before the fire
The Glenrowan Inn after the fire
The Glenrowan Inn after the fire

At dawn on 28th June Ned approached the police from behind, shooting at them while wearing his armour. He was shot in his legs and captured alive. The siege continued with Dan and Steve holding about 30 hostages. After the last of the hostages were released in the afternoon, police set fire to the Inn. Dan and Steve died in the last hour of the siege, although it is unclear if they were shot by police or took their own lives to avoid surrendering or being burned alive.[32]

When Joe's body was removed from the Inn, it was suspended on the door of the Benalla police station and photographed by the press.[39] A magisterial inquiry was held very quickly and quietly, so many were unaware it had taken place until it was over. Constable Canny identified Byrne's body and deposed that he had known Joe for over eight years from the Woolshed, Beechworth and other places.[40][41] Joe's body was buried that same day in the Benalla Cemetery.[1]

Joseph Byrne's grave
Joseph Byrne's grave
Posthumous photo of Joseph Byrne
Posthumous photo of Joseph Byrne

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Victoria. Online index - Death (https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history : accessed 15 October 2021) index entry for Byrne, Joseph (Father: Patrick, Mother: White, Age: 23, Death Place: Glenrowan, Registration number/year: 6231/1880). PDF copy of death certificate in the possession of Leandra Ford. Cause of death: Magisterial Inquiry held on 29 June found that deceased met his death from a gun shot wound. Buried 29 Jun 1880 Benalla Cemetery.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Joe Byrne (1857-1880) National Portrait Gallery, https://www.portrait.gov.au/people/joe-byrne-1857 : accessed 15 Oct 2021)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 FitzSimons, Peter. Ned Kelly. Random House Australia, 2013. ISBN: 9781742758916. Page 119.
  4. ↑ The Herald, Melbourne, Victoria, 11 November 1880, page 3, column 3, SHERRITT'S MURDER. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  5. ↑ Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Victoria, 1 August 1874, page 3, column 1, BEECHWORTH POLICE COURT. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  6. ↑ Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Victoria, 23 September 1873, page 2, column 5, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  7. ↑ Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Victoria, 25 May 1876, page 2, column 6, THE UNITED KINGDOM. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  8. ↑ Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Victoria, 1 June 1876, page 4. BEECHWORTH POLICE COURT. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  9. ↑ Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Victoria, 1 March 1877, page 2, column 7, BEECHWORTH GENERAL SESSIONS. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  10. ↑ "Victoria, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1855, 1864-1924". Ancestry Sharing Link • Ancestry Record 60885 #90511 (accessed 15 October 2021). Name: Joseph Byrne; Year: 1877; Place: Victoria, Australia; Reference Description: AU7103-1877 Victoria Police Gazette 24 Jan 1877, page 20.
  11. ↑ Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Victoria, 3 March 1877, page 1, column 2, BEECHWORTH GENERAL SESSIONS. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  12. ↑ Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Victoria, 30 May 1878, page 2, column 1, THE GRETA MOB. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  13. ↑ Weekly Times, Melbourne, Victoria, 10 July 1880, page 6, column 4, WHAT IS KNOWN OF JOSEPH BYRNE (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  14. ↑ "Victoria, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1855, 1864-1924". Ancestry Sharing Link • Ancestry Record 60885 #197213 (accessed 15 October 2021). Name: Edward Kelly; Year: 1878; Place: Victoria, Australia; Reference Description: AU7103-1878 Victoria Police Gazette 17 Apr 1878, page 115.
  15. ↑ Reward of 100 pounds to be offered for information leading to Edward Kelly Reward of 100 pounds to be offered for information leading to Edward Kelly. (Public Record Office Victoria, https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/reward-of-100-pounds-to-be-offered-for-information-leading-to-edward-kelly-public-record-office-victoria/6wFvBwqnL9iGDQ?childassetid=OAF34_JhbXgmFA : accessed 15 Oct 2021)
  16. ↑ The Australasian, Melbourne, Victoria, 20 April 1878, page 20, column 5, SHOOTING A CONSTABLE. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  17. ↑ The Ballarat Star, Victoria, 3 May 1878, page 2, column 6, NEWS AND NOTES. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  18. ↑ "Victoria, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1855, 1864-1924".  Ancestry Sharing Link • Ancestry Record 60885 #197218 (accessed 15 October 2021).  Name: Ellen Kelly; Year: 1878; Place: Victoria, Australia; Reference Description: AU7103-1878 Victoria Police Gazette 17 Apr 1878, page 115.
  19. ↑ The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria, 14 October 1878, page 7, column 5, BEECHWORTH ASSIZE COURT. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  20. ↑ Manuscript of Constable Thomas McIntyre. (Victoria Police Museum, https://www.policemuseum.vic.gov.au/collections : accessed 15 Oct 2021)
  21. ↑ Supplement to the Victoria Government Gazette, No. 111, 28 October 1878, page 2599.(Victoria Government Gazette Online Archive 1836-1997, http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1878&class=general&page_num=2599&state=V&classNum=G112&id= : accessed 15 Oct 2021)
  22. ↑ FitzSimons, Peter. Ned Kelly. Page 204.
  23. ↑ Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Victoria, 1 July 1880, page 2, column 1, THE COMBAT AT GLENROWAN. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  24. ↑ FitzSimons, Peter. Ned Kelly. Pages 215-216.
  25. ↑ The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria, 31 October 1878, page 9. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1878. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  26. ↑ "Victoria, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1855, 1864-1924". Ancestry Sharing Link • Ancestry Record 60885 #204886 (accessed 15 October 2021). Name: Edward Kelly; Year: 1878; Place: Victoria, Australia; Reference Description: AU7103-1878 Victoria Police Gazette 20 Nov 1878, page 317.
  27. ↑ FitzSimons, Peter. Ned Kelly. Chapter 7.
  28. ↑ Edward Kelly gives statement of his murders of Sergeant Kennedy and others and makes other threats. VPRS 4966 Consignment P0 Unit 1 Item 3 Record 1 Document: Euroa letter. 14 Dec 1880. (Public Record Office Victoria, archived at Wayback Machine 28 Feb 2012, retrieved 15 Oct 2021)
  29. ↑ FitzSimons, Peter. Ned Kelly. Chapter 9.
  30. ↑ Bendigo Advertiser, Victoria, 12 February 1879, page 2, column 6, ANOTHER DARING OUTRAGE BY THE KELLY GANG. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  31. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Jerilderie Letter," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jerilderie_Letter&oldid=1048614336 (accessed October 15, 2021).
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Ned Kelly's last stand (National Museum of Australia, https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/ned-kelly : accessed 15 Oct 2021)
  33. ↑ FitzSimons, Peter. Ned Kelly. Page 306.
  34. ↑ "Victoria, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1855, 1864-1924". Ancestry Sharing Link • Ancestry Record 60885 #278859 (accessed 15 October 2021). Name: Joseph Byrne; Age: 24; Birth Date: abt 1855; Year: 1879; Place: Victoria, Australia; Reference Description: AU7103-1879 Victoria Police Gazette 5 Mar 1879, page 51.
  35. ↑ New South Wales Government Gazette, Sydney, NSW, 18 February 1879, page 807, £8,000 REWARD. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  36. ↑ FitzSimons, Peter. Ned Kelly. Pages 419-420.
  37. ↑ The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria, 21 September 1881, page 7, column 5, POLICE COMMISSION. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  38. ↑ The Goulburn Herald and Chronicle, New South Wales, 30 June 1880, page 2, column 6, MURDER OF AARON SHERRITT. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  39. ↑ Powell, Rose. First Australian press photo shows body of Kelly Gang member Joe Byrne. Published 20 Mar 2015. (Sydney Morning Herald, https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/first-australian-press-photo-shows-body-of-kelly-gang-member-joe-byrne-20150322-1m3xio.html : accessed 15 Oct 2021)
  40. ↑ The Age, Melbourne, Victoria, 29 June 1880, page 3, column 3, INQUEST ON BYRNE. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 15 October 2021)
  41. ↑ "Victoria, Australia, Coroner Inquest Deposition Files, 1840-1925". Public Records Office Victoria; Victoria, Australia; Coroner Inquest Deposition Files (1840-1925). Ancestry Sharing Link • Ancestry Record ausprovinquest #30832 (accessed 15 October 2021). Name: Joseph Byrne; Gender: Male; Death Place: Australia; Inquest Date: 29 Jun 1880; Inquest Place: Benalla; Cause of Death: Gunshot wounds in encounter with police at Glenrowan.

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Images: 5
Kelly Gang
Kelly Gang
Joseph Byrne
Joseph Byrne
The Kelly Gang
The Kelly Gang
8000 pound reward notice 15 Feb 1870
8000 pound reward notice 15 Feb 1870
Steve Hart, Dan Kelly and Joe Bryne
Steve Hart, Dan Kelly and Joe Bryne


Comments: 3

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Georgina Stones
No problem Gillian, thank you.
posted by Georgina Stones
Georgina Stones
There’s a a lot of incorrect information stated here, which is unfortunate.

Firstly, Patrick Byrne died on the 7th of November 1870 and after his death the family did not move to a Chinese gold mining site, as they were already there, in Sebastopol. Secondly, Joe took Anton Wick’s horse in September 1873, not 1871 as stated above. Furthermore, it was not his first appearance in court, as he had previously been called to give evidence at the trial for the murder of Ah Suey, in 1872. Joe also learnt to speak Cantonese, not Mandarin, as the miners Joe befriended, such as Ah Nam and Ah Suey, were from Hong Kong. The El Dorado School cow Joe and Aaron butchered in Ned Kennedy’s yard in late May 1876, which earned them 6 months in gaol, was a white heifer, not a bullock. Lastly, it is difficult to state definitively if Joe designed the armour, as at Glenrowan he told Ned, “I always said this bloody armour would bring us to grief.” Highlighting his lack of faith in Ned’s plan.

posted by Georgina Stones
edited by Georgina Stones
Thomas-7679 Gillian Thomas
Thanks Georgina. Really appreciate your feedback.
posted by Gillian Thomas

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Categories: Jerilderie, New South Wales | Beechworth, Victoria | Benalla General Cemetery, Benalla, Victoria | Australia, Project Managed Profiles | Australia, Bushrangers