John O'Malley (1839 - 1863)

Born 1839 in Gaylong, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Died 19 Nov 1863 at about age 24 in Eugowra, New South Wales, Australia

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WikiTree Australian Bushrangers

John O'Meally was an Australian bushranger. He was one of the Frank Gardiner - Ben Hall gang who robbed the gold escort coach at Eugowra. This was Australia's biggest gold robbery

Biography

John O'Malley was an Australian Bushranger

John O’Meally worked as a stockman, looking after cattle and sheep on his father's farm, Arramagong Station. His father, Paddy O'Meally, also ran a shanty called The Weddin Inn. The inn was the only hotel in the district. His cousin was , Patsy Daley, who was also a Bushranger. John OMeally, and another one of Gardiner's gang, Alex Fordyce, sometimes worked at the shanty. This is where he also met Frank Gardiner.

On 15 June 1862 the Ben Hall- Frank Gardiner gang robbed the gold escort coach that took the gold from the goldfields of Forbes to Bathurst. This was one of Australia's biggest robberies. ^[1].week after the robbery the police, led by Sir Frederick Pottinger, captured two of the robbers, Henry Manns, and Charlie Gilbert. Charlie Gilbert was the brother of gang member John Gilbert. John Gilbert together with Ben Hall and O'Meally, captured the police and released the prisoners.

In July 1863, O'Meally and Gilbert tried to rob the bank at Carcoar in broad daylight.On 30 August 1863, ^[2] O’Meally tried to rob John Barnes near Wallendbeen station. O'Meally tried to take Barnes saddle. As Barnes rode off to try and get away, O'Meally shot and killed him.

On the 19th November, 1863 O’Meally was shot and killed while trying to rob Goimbla station near Eugowra. This became known as the "Battle of Goimbla." The Campbell family and the Ben Hall gang had a two hour gun battle.

John O'Meally is buried in an unmarked grave in the Anglican cemetery at Gooloogong.

Sources

1. ↑ The Golden Age (Queanbeyan, NSW : 1860 - 1864 p.3; 13th August, 1863 Article LATEST TELEGRAMS.;From the Empire. BATHURST, Thursday To INSPECTOR-GENERAL of POLICE, SYDNEY
2. ↑ Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875) p.8; 8th September,1863 Article MURDER OF MR. JOHN BARNES BY BUSHRANGERS, AND ATTACK BY THE POLICE ON THE GANG

• Goulburn Herald (NSW : 1860 - 1864) p.3; 9th September, 1863 Article THE MURDER OF MR. BARNES OF MURRUMBURRAH.

• Sydney Mail (NSW : 1860 - 1871) p.4; 31st October, 1863 [Article REWARD FOR THE APPREHENSION OF BUSHRANGERS. FOUR THOUSAND POUNDS REWARD FOR THE Apprehension Or John Gilbert , John O’Mealley, Benjamin Hall, and John Vane, AND ONE HUNDRED POUNDS REWARD FOR ACCOMPLICES.

• Sydney Mail (NSW : 1860 - 1871) p.5; 12th December, 1863 Article THE LATE BUSHRANGER, JOHN O'MEALLY.

• The Newcastle Chronicle and Hunter River District News (NSW : 1859 - 1866) p.4; 2nd December, 1863 Article DEATH OF O'MEALLY. MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY. (From the Dathurst Timti.)

• The Bathurst Times (NSW : 1909 - 1925) p.4; 20th November, 1913 Article DEATh OF O’Meally NOT0RiOUS OUTLAW 'SHOT From Bathurst. Times,

• Ben Hall bushranger.com - The Ben Hall - Frank Gardiner gang
• Aussiegenes.net