Benjamin Hall, bushranger - a timeline

Wood carving of Benjamin Hall (1837-1865)

• 9 May 1837 Benjamin Hall  was born at Maitland, New South Wales. His father was also named Benjamin Hall and his mother was Elizabeth Somers.  Both of his parents were ex-convicts. Read more about his early life.
• became a stockman. 
• 29 February 1856  married Bridget Walsh.
• 7 August 1859 their son Henry was born.
• July 1856 detained for his share in the Eugowra gold robbery.  
• 1860 leased a run, Sandy Creek, near Wheogo with John Macguire. 
• April 1862 arrested for armed robbery with Frank Gardiner but was acquitted. 
• 15 June 1862 robbed the gold escort coach at Eugowra Rocks with 7 others including Frank Gardiner, John Gilbert and John O'Meally. It was the biggest gold robbery in Australian history.
• 14 March 1863 Hall's home was burnt down. 
• Hall joined  became leader of the gang of bushrangers when Frank Gardiner left for Queensland.
• 12 October 1863 held the entire town of Canowindra for ransom for 3 days.
• October 1863 daring raid on the town of Bathurst.
• 24 October, 1863  raid on Henry Keightley's homestead at Dunn's Plains.
• 1864 conducted robberies on the Sydney-Melbourne Road south of Goulburn
• 15 November 1864  robbed sixty travellers near Jugiong
• May, 1865 Hall and his companions were declared outlaws 
• £1000 on his head
• Hall decides to quit bushranging
• 5 May, 1865 he was ambushed and shot by the police near Goobang Creek in New South Wales
• 7 May 1865 buried at Forbes Cemetery

SOURCES:

Sydney Mail, Newspaper - 30 July, 20 Aug 1864 and 20 May 1865
Australian Stories by the Australian Government
Eugowra Historical Museum and Bushranger Centre