John Gilbert (bushranger)
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Johnny Gilbert was an Australian bushranger shot dead by the police at the age of 25 near Binalong, New South Wales in 1865.
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[edit] Early life
He was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1842; his mother Eleanor (nee Wilson) died shortly after his birth. His father William remarried, Eliza Cord, a girl only slightly older than his eldest surviving daughter, Eleanor. In 1852 John accompanied his family to the Victorian goldfields. Nine members of the Gilbert family arrived in Port Phillip on board the Revenue in October 1852. They included William and Eliza, Eleanor (Ellen), Frank, James, Charles, Thomas Charbonnelle and Nicholas Wiseman.
It has been suggested that Gilbert accompanied his uncle, John Davis, to the Victorian goldfields, however there is no mention of Davis on the passenger list for the Revenue, although there is a ten year old John Gilbert. Roy Mendham in his book "The Dictionary of Australian Bushrangers" asserts that Gilbert was responsible for the murder of his uncle. In 1854, Davis was found shot dead, and a Joseph Roberts, an alisas of John Gilbert, was tried for Davis's murder but acquitted. Roberts was later tried for horsestealing. Roberts however was said to be about seventeen, Davis's murder occurred at the Waverley Arms at Bondi Junction, New South Wales. It would seem that Roberts, although possibly an alias for a John Gilbert, is not the same John Gilbert. The Gilbert family history does not include the names Roberts or Davis in Australia, although Wilson was used as an alias by Charles, his older brother who fled first to New Zealand's gold fields then to California to avoid arrest.
When he was only twelve, Gilbert worked as a stablehand at Kilmore, Victoria for his sister Eleanor and her new husband, John Stafford, for a time before moving on to the Kiandra goldfields in New South Wales.
[edit] Bushranging career
In 1862, he became the accomplice of Frank Gardiner. In that year Gardiner and Gilbert were identified as being involved in robberies in the Forbes, New South Wales area. In June 1862, Gardiner, together with Ben Hall and others held up the Forbes gold escort coach at Eugowra; this hold up is still considered to be the largest ever gold robbery in Australia's history.
In 1864, Gilbert killed a police sergeant, Sergeant Parry, near Jugiong in a hold up of the mail coach. Apparently this was the first murder for which Gilbert was responsible.
In January 1865, Hall, Gilbert and John Dunn were at Collector, near Lake George. Dunn shot the local policeman, Constable Nelson, while Hall and Gilbert were holding up the hotel. In May 1865, Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn were proclaimed outlaws. Hall was surrounded by police in the bush near Forbes and shot dead. Some days later, Gilbert was shot by the police at the home of John Kelly, Dunn's grandfather, on 13 May.
At the time of his death he was regarded as Australia's worst criminal as he had been involved in more than 630 hold-ups. He had, however, never been imprisoned and was only ever indicted for one killing. Unusually for a bushranger, Gilbert could read and write. As well as being known as "Flash" Johnny Gilbert, he was also known as "Happy Jack", as apparently he had a happy disposition.
[edit] Gilbert's capture and death based on the report from Constable Hales
Senior Constable Charles Hales of the Binalong Police Station received information at 8 p.m. on the 12th May 1865 that the two bushrangers had "stuck up" the Woolshed near Murrumburah. He suspected that they would be in the area of Binalong due to John Dunn's relatives living in the area. He thought they might visit John Kelly, Dunn's Grandfather.
Senior Constable Hale immediately gathered Constables John Bright and Michael King and headed out to watch Kelly's house. They watched most of the night and saw no one enter Kelly's place and returned to the police station about half a mile away.
The next morning at 8 a.m., John Kelly (who was under the influence of alcohol) informed Senior Constable Hales that Gilbert and Dunn were at his hut. Hales immediately gathered Constables John Bright, Michael King and Henry Hall and headed to Kelly's place. Two parties were formed, Bright and Hall went to the back of the hut and were stationed in the creek. Hales and King were stationed at the front of the hut.
The troopers watched for about an hour in the rain. At some stage Kelly's son Thomas approached the stockyard, Hales called him over to ask if there were any strangers in the house to which he said "No". Hales and King approached the house, the dogs started barking, John Kelly and his wife came to the door of the hut, upon seeing Trooper Hales, Kelly called out "Look Out, the hut is surrounded by bloody troopers". As Hales entered the hut two shots were fired, Hales looked through the slabs of the bedroom wall to see the shadows of two men. Hales immediately fired and retired to the front room of the hut. He then called out "Men surround the hut, the bushrangers are inside". Hales warned Kelly if he did not immediately turn out, they would burn the hut.
Hales then heard firing in the paddock at the end of the hut, he ran out to the area and saw the bushrangers firing at Constables King and Hall. The bushrangers kept up the fire as they got through a bush fence which led to the creek. The bushrangers took up position behind a large tree. Gilbert proceeded to use his revolving rifle on Hales and Bright but it misfired, meanwhile King and Hall took up their positions. Dunn and Gilbert started firing with their revolvers at Hall and King and ran down to the creek. Hales and Bright immediately fired at the bushrangers, at which time Gilbert dropped, Hales ordered his men to follow and to chase Dunn. King was left to guard Gilbert's body as King was wounded in the foot.
The three constables chased Dunn for about a mile and a half, they were exhausted and had to give up the pursuit.
Dunn escaped, but was caught later and was hanged on 19 March 1866.
The 3 constables returned to Gilbert's body. Constable Henry Hall was put in charge of the body. The body was searched, various monies, jewelry, powder flask, guns and bullets were found. One of the guns was a Tranter revolving rifle as well as a government issue revolver was found.
Gilbert's body was taken back to the Binalong Police Station and deposited at the court house. John Kelly and his son were apprehended and brought before Majistrate Campbell of Yass. They were remanded for 8 days and released on bail.
An inquest was held on the 14th May 1865 and it was generally agreed that Constable John Bright fired the fatal shot. It was also agreed that Gilbert had died instantly. The verdict of the jury at the inquest was "Justifiable Homicide". The jury also stated "that Senior Constable Hales and Constables Bright, King and Hall were deserving of great praise for the gallant and courageous manner in which they acted". Gilbert's body was buried in the police paddock behind the station.
The Government reward for the dead bushranger was divided up as follows. The informer £500; Hales £150; Bright £130;King £120 and Hall £100.[1]
[edit] Folklore
As a member of Ben Hall's gang, Gilbert is mentioned in a number of songs about Hall's life and exploits. For example, in the chorus of a song called "The Morning of the Fray", also called"Eugowra Rocks", the chorus runs:
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- You can sing of Johnny Gilbert Dan Morgan and Ben Hall
- But the bold and reckless Gardiner he's the boy to beat them all[2]
In the song "Ben Hall", the fifth verse references Gilbert and Dunn:
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- With twelve revolving rifles all pointed at his head
- Where are you Gilbert? where is Dunn? he loudly did call
- It was all in vain they were not there to witness his downfall[3]
There is a similar song about "Frank Gardiner", where the third verse gives a slightly different version of Gilbert's death to the history books:
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- Young Vane, he has surrendered, Ben Hall's got his death wound
- And as for Johnny Gilbert, near Binalong was found
- He was all alone and lost his horse, three troopers came in sight
- And he fought the three most manfully, got slaughtered in the fight[4]
Gilbert is also mentioned in "The Streets of Forbes", another song about Ben Hall.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ The description of the above capture of Gilbert comes from 2 sources, these being Senior Constable Charles Hales Police Report Dated 15th May 1865, Yass Courier dated 17th May 1865.
- ^ Australian Folk Songs
- ^ Australian Folk Songs
- ^ Australian Folk Songs
- ^ Bushrangers in Song
[edit] External links
- Biography of Gilbert
- Wild Colonial Boys - Frank Gardiner, Ben Hall, and John Gilbert
- Death of John Gilbert - bush ranger: Grandpa Pencil's Australian Colonial Intelligence
- John Gilbert
- Waverley Library - Items of Historical Interest - "Murder at Waverley Arms"
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