By this time it was late afternoon, the table had been cleared and drinks had been served on the veranda. They all agreed it had been a reunion never to be forgotten. Maeve invited Michael to stay the night, which he accepted. He had a few drinks and was in no hurry to return to the farm. He was content to just sit with his family and chat. He also told them of his new name, Michael Somerset; Michael Keogh was no more. He would return to Woodlea tomorrow. When he told John where Woodlea was located, John laughed and said, “Maeve and I passed your place when we returned from Malmsbury. We know where it is.”
¶
Frederick started to pack his belongings the day after his trial. The housemaid’s husband helped. He had the job of wrapping the small chest in canvas and sewing the seams. The chest would not be opened for four more months. He would be home in England when he discovered that the Irish treasures were no longer in his possession. He had sailed from the colony within three weeks of his trial, to return to England and the family home, where he sat at an upstairs window for the next twelve months before depression eventually overcame him and he committed suicide.
¶
Paul Lang felt no emotion on leaving the Victorian Police. He had accepted his fate and would be his own man from now on. He would become a retired gentleman and would use his old military rank — Colonel Lang, retired — on his visiting card. His wish to retire to Victoria was now dashed forever.
Virginia was pleased to be going home. She’d had enough of Paul’s career disasters and Frederick’s dishonesty. All she wanted was to have her window seat and her garden in England. She could not understand how Paul could have been so totally oblivious to the turbulent effect he had had on peoples’ lives. Paul just moved on never looking back.
Others around Paul were waving, crying or gazing at the now distant port. The ship’s sails were filling with a northerly breeze, increasing speed and creating a symmetrical bow wave. The teak decks were creaking and groaning but he enjoyed the sounds and the smell of the tarred ropes and the sea air. He stood on deck watching the town of Melbourne disappear and finally the Macedon Hills.
Paul retired for a few hours at noon before coming back up on deck in the late afternoon. Virginia remained asleep and did not join him. The ship sailed down the east coast of Port Phillip Bay to avoid the sandbanks and the shoals, eventually turning to a westerly heading to prepare to enter and sail through the notoriously treacherous seas of the Heads. The sea started to churn and the ship pitched and rolled uncomfortably.
The captain had furled the topsails due to the strengthening north wind. The waves were choppy and spraying over the main deck. Paul was soon drenched but he was determined to see the ship exit the bay and set course for England. He could see the line of foam from the hidden reef line, and then all of a sudden they were out into Bass Strait. The pilot was lowered to his boat to return and perform the same service for the next ship to arrive at the Heads. Paul stayed on deck until dinner time when he went to his cabin and changed. He was now on his way home. He pondered — should he write his story telling all or just enjoy the remainder of his life and dwell on his successes as a retired gentleman?
¶
Michael was mending the shearing shed door when he heard the geese and the dog loudly advising the arrival of a visitor driving up the farm road. He walked out to see who it was. It was a gig with two people — one who was Russell Carroll, the other a lady about his own age.
Russell waved. “Good morning, Michael. You have a welcome visitor. Guess who?”
Michael nodded to them and stepped forward to help the lady alight. “Welcome and good morning to both of you.” The lady was slim and dressed in country attire. He could see she was a country person by her complexion.
Russell said, “Allow me to introduce Mary Kirwan.”
Michael could not believe what he was hearing. He stood there with his mouth open.
Mary laughed. “Yes, it’s me.”
Michael stepped to her and gave her a hug. “At long last. It is good to finally meet you.”
Russell interrupted, “I took the liberty of bringing her luggage as I know you have plenty of rooms.”
“Yes, of course, the farm is half yours,” answered Michael. “Please do come in.” He took Mary’s arm. Russell declined, pleading urgent business in town.
Mary could see that the farm was productive by the condition of the crops and livestock. Her late husband had been a farmer and she had spent plenty of time in the fields. Michael had impressed her within those first few minutes. He obviously had been genuinely pleased to see her.
Michael took her on a tour of the farm. They had plenty of time to talk about their lives and, in particular, Seamus, at a later date. The farmhouse was now completed with a large parlour and separate kitchen, four bedrooms and a study.
It was twice the size of her house in Limerick and had a veranda surrounding the entire house. She was happy with her room and delighted with the view from her window which overlooked the river. They spoke for hours, about everything and nothing, until Mary started to show how tired she was, it had been a long voyage. Michael showed her to her bedroom and she retired early.
The next morning she awoke early and decided to go for a walk. She headed down to the river. The dog followed her, running to and fro chasing the plovers hiding in the lush green foliage. The day was fresh and cloud covered but she enjoyed the walk in the long grass near the river. Suddenly she heard a gunshot and looked back towards the farm. Michael was waving her back. What was wrong?
He ran down to her, shouting to come away from the river. Mary was to have her first lesson in the colonies about its wild life. Don’t walk near rivers with long grass because of the snakes. Victoria had some of the most deadly snakes in the world and they were most prevalent near rivers and creeks.
Mary decided to have Michael with her whenever she went outdoors again. They had formed an immediate friendship and enjoyed each other’s company, talking about their past lives. Whenever Seamus’s name came up Mary would cry at his memory.
They made a good team. The farm was being constantly improved by them. Mary was a good cook and had a green thumb regarding the orchard and the gardens. Michael was good with the livestock and farm repairs. They both helped with the sowing of the crops.
Three months after Mary’s arrival, Michael realised he had developed a deep affection for her and had tried to pluck up courage to ask her if she felt the same way. His answer came after having Sunday lunch at John and Maeve’s. They arrived back late at Woodlea and as he was helping Mary from the gig when she slipped and fell into his arms. Looking up into his eyes, Mary took the initiative and kissed Michael. He put his arms around her and kissed her in return. They said not a word but walked to the veranda. Mary sat with Michael’s arms around her, both looking out into the moonlit night. Michael proposed that very night and Mary happily accepted.
The next morning Michael walked up their farm road, by himself, still not believing how his life had turned around. Even though he was still technically an escaped convict, he had beaten the odds to become a successful married farmer in a new country. Together with his father, his sister, Maeve, lived nearby, happily married to John Hall, a military officer, and another successful farmer. How all their lives had changed!
Without Paul Lang’s involvement in their lives, Michael wondered where each of them would have been now — in particular he and John.
A convict and a soldier.
Historical Notes
The Popery Act of the old Penal Law had allowed Catholics to divide inherited land between sons but all knew what the all-powerful local landlords would stoop to, if they wanted the land. On the eastern side of the coast road from Liscannor Bay to Galway Bay, the landlord had obtained title for as far as the eye could see, all the land and all the tiny cottages, some being only hovels.
The Potato Famine of 1845 to 1848 was a disaster for the people of Clare. It was worse than the famine one hundred years before wh
en the potato crops failed due to extreme cold and wet weather for two successive years. Over the course of the five or six years, millions either died or immigrated. Many tenant farmers were evicted by their landlords.
One of the distant Keogh families risked their lives and sailed the dangerous and long voyage to Australia. Another family immigrated to New York, with the third family obtaining work at the local town of Kilrush, as caretakers of the property of an absentee English landlord. Fortunately they had had basic education and obtained employment. Only around one in ten persons of County Clare could be considered literate. Very few ever had the opportunity and many accepted that to be uneducated was their destiny.
In 1646 General Owen Roe O’Neill led the Irish Army into battle at Benburb County Tyrone against a superior Scottish Army led by General Monroe. O’Neill drew up his army between two hills with a river one side and a marshland on the other. The Irish routed the Scots who fled across the deeper part of the river “that one might have crossed dry shod on the bodies”. General Monroe’s hat, cape and sword were amongst the spoils.
The Potato Famine of 1845-48 was the worst period in the history of Ireland. Amid the horrors of 1847 the Irish lay dead in hundreds on the highways and in the fields. There was food in abundance but the Government said it could not be touched, unless in accordance with the teachings of Adam Smith or the “laws of political economy”. The corn exported from Ireland that year would, alone, have sufficed to feed a larger population. Over 2 million persons died or immigrated. The west coast was most affected. Complete settlements vanished.
The original Hall family settled in Kyneton in 1849. Joseph Hall owned the Windmill Farm, the White Hill Farm (now Sunbury Lodge) and the Park Hall Farm, all on the Metcalfe Road. In 1836 Major Mitchell, the explorer, crossed the south-west boundary where White Hall Farm was established some thirteen years later.
Cork sits on the Lee River and is divided by two water ways. In the 1800s, the harbour side was lined with warehouses, shipping agents’ offices and their residences. It was a major port for all points of the compass.
The name Van Diemen’s Land was changed in 1855 to Tasmania. The name was more in keeping with the discoverer, Abel Tasman, and to delete its reference to its convict past.
Macquarie Harbour (1821-1833) contained the Sarah Island Prison and was remote from civilization. The most notorious of prisoners were sent here. The narrow opening to the harbour was called Hell’s Gates and was surrounded by dense forests and snow covered mountains. Escape to freedom was almost impossible. Gruesome stories of murder of fellow prisoners and half crazed men were plentiful. The costs eventually outweighed the value of the prison and it closed in 1833.
Cessation of transportation of convicts to Australia occurred in 1840 in New South Wales, Queensland 1850, 1853 in Tasmania and 1868 in Western Australia. Victoria was trialled with exiles and prisoners were kept in hulks for several years in the mid 1840’s, but Victorian did not have a penal settlement nor did South Australia.
Port Phillip Bay is a drowned basin with Melbourne sited around thirty-five miles, at the northern end. The entrance is S shaped and is only twelve hundred yards wide and forty-five feet deep. With a tide run of about eight knots, it is renowned for its extremely turbulent eddies and has claimed many sailing ships.
The Eureka Stockade was the site of Australia’s only armed rebellion. In 1854 the incompetent administration and excessive costs of miners’ licences caused the miners to riot. They armed themselves with a motley collection of weapons and assembled behind a stockade consisting of slabs and pickets. The army defeated them in a matter of minutes. The eventual consequence was that the miners received cheaper licences, franchises and better administration.
Bushranger is the Australian term for Highway Men (English) or Outlaws (USA). The Bushrangers fell into four categories:
Escaped convicts (Bolters). Mainly in Van Diemen’s Land in the first part of the 1800s.
The Gold rush period 1850s in Victoria, many were ex Van Diemen’s Land convicts.
The sons of convicts or poor settlers in New South Wales. All through the 1800’s.
In Victoria 1878-80 - The Kelly Gang - they transplanted hatred of the Irish Catholic for the English Protestant.
The last bushrangers were the Governor Brothers who, in 1900, murdered nine people. They were half caste Aborigines goaded by racial prejudice.
Brothers Joseph (Jnr) and John Hall were awoken by bushrangers when returning from Bendigo, but had hidden their money in a tree. This is a true story.
In the 1850’s, the gold rush period, Victoria’s population rose from 400,000 to 1,100,000 in ten years. The British Government provided assisted passage for countless thousands of Irish from the west coast of Ireland such as County Clare where the famine was worst.
The employment of ex-convicts was necessary, as manpower was short. Many proved of value, particularly those with skills in farming, stonework, blacksmiths etc. and they helped Australia to get started. However, some without skills found their way into the police force and caused untold damage within the community. The Kelly Gang saga was caused by one constable who was later sacked.
The Australian Aborigines are renowned hunters and have exceptional bush skills. One is their incredible tracking skills either by eyesight or observance of disturbed environment, i.e. broken or bent grass.
Mt Diogenes (locally named Hanging Rock) was named by the explorer Major Mitchell. He was a student of ancient Greece. He also named Port Phillip Bay, Alexander Road and Mt Macedon, to name a few.
About the Author
John P. F. Lynch has written several local history books and the history of his maternal ancestors. His mother’s great great grandparents all settled in the Kyneton area of Victoria in the 1840-50’s. He is a member of both the Kyneton and Romsey Historical Societies, both of which helped with his research for his books.
John is a member of the Order of Australia, a Knight Hospitaller of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and a Justice of the Peace. He is also the former President of the Romsey/Lancefield RSL Sub Branch, President/Secretary of the Romsey Football/Netball Club as well as Chairman of the Macedon Ranges Legacy Group.
Also by John P. F. Lynch
Joseph Hall (1804-1871) Kyneton Pioneer: Including Park Hall, Windmill Farm & Sunbury Lodge
Celebration of the Catholic Parish of Lancefield and Romsey Centenary 1906-2006
History of the Romsey Football/Netball Club, founded 1879: Remembering 120 years of Competition (1888-2008)
Romsey-Lancefield RSL Sub-Branch: 75 years (1933-2008)
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