Ben Hall Historical Background

Ben Hall was born in the British penal colony of New South Wales in May 1837, at Maitland in the Hunter Valley. Both of his parents were convicts who were transported to Australia for stealing goods exceeding the value of one shilling. His father was Benjamin Hall born in 1805, Bristol, England and his mother was Eliza Somers born in 1807, Dublin, Ireland. (See The Hall 's page.) Ben Hall whilst a young child moved with his father and mother from his birthplace of Maitland, NSW to a remote farm in the vicinity of an area referred to today as Ben Hall 's Creek, as squatters. Ben Hall 's Creek is situated close to the 'Ben Hall Gap National Park ', a distance of 90 miles north of Maitland, the closest accessible township was Scone, (Ben Hall 's old squattage is accessible today via the Scone/Nundle Rd.) Ben Hall 's Creek flowed into the Barnard River, known as a very wild and inhospitable place with extreme cold during the winter and was often covered in

On 4th of October 1845, William was moved from Murrurundi to Parramatta Gaol, where William was held to await his trial, which would be held in March 1846 and was transported to Parramatta with Charles Taylor.(see below) William Hall 's court appearance is described as follows in extracts from the 'The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser ', March 1846; “William Hall, twelve or thirteen years of age, was taught his prayers in Parramatta Gaol by the Ladies of Charity, and understood the consequences of false swearing..." The Sisters of Charity cared for young William whilst held at Parramatta Gaol. In the witness box William went on to tell all he knew of the killing of the horses and at first was reluctant to give his father 's name as an accomplice, for this hesitation William was admonished by the Judge as follows; "... is the son of Benjamin Hall, of Murrurundi, lives close to the lock-up; knew Abbott 's run, and went there with prisoner and another man,