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The first successful circus in Australia actually originated from Hobart by an Englishman Robert Avis Radford in 1847. He used acts such as equestrianism, acrobats, and clowning, which mimicked the Astley circus in England. It was from this circus that James Henry Ashton, of the Ashton dynasty later established his own circus. The Ashton circus is the oldest continuing circus in Australian history. 

References

Trove newspapers – https://trove.nla.gov.au

Newspaper Article

https://www.smh.com.au/national/circuss-backbone-thrilled-with-his-feats-20111106-1n1wp.html

Fulford Family

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~jray/gordon/fullford/frederick.htm

Ashton’s Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Joseph_Ashton#:~:text=The%20circus%20was%20founded%20in,times%20of%20the%20nineteenth%20century.

PDF - HORSEMAN OR NO HORSEMAN: CIRCUS IN VAN DIEMEN’S LAND, 1847 TO 1851 by Mark St Leon

https://www.pennygaff.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ielapa.545898401156495.pdf

Music

Lone Harvest, Waltz of the Carnies, Super Circus by Kevin McLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Circus Music – Classic (no copyright)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pctluEhAqBQ

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This episode contains information of the 5th hanging at Maitland Gaol, NSW. Michael Collihane was charged for the rape of Mrs. Ann Milsom, at Aberdeen, NSW, on 10th May 1851, and hanged thereafter at Maitland Gaol on 2nd October, 1851.

Michael Collihane obtained his Ticket of Leave with Passport, which allowed him to work on squatter's runs and so enabling him to obtain work with Thomas Simpson Hall at Dartbrook Station near Aberdeen, NSW. This was where he was working at the time of the crime.

Note: Thomas Simpson Hall recognised the need for quality working dogs. A cattle dog statue in Aberdeen, NSW commemorates Thomas Simpson Hall and his contribution to the breed.

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William Hayes was indicted for the willful murder of Benjamin Cott, at Dagworth, on the 13th November, 1850, by beating and wounding him with a certain blunt instrument, whereof the said Benjamin Cott instantly died. William Hayes was hanged at Maitland Gaol on the 25th April 1851.... but there is more to this story.

References:

Trove newspapers - https://trove.nla.gov.au

Poverty, inequality, and food riots in Limerick City in the 1830s.

https://www.theirishstory.com/2016/02/23/the-1830-limerick-food-riots/#.X2G8nj_ivZY

Lone Harvest, Long Note 3, Old Timey - By Kevin McLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Soundbible.com - free sound effects. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

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This is the second episode in the series - Maitland Gaol Executions by Hanging. The first two hangings were Melville and Long Harry, executed on 16th September 1843.

George Waters Ward was hanged at Maitland Gaol on 19th March 1849, for the wilful murder of Richard Connolly, otherwise known as Richard King.

I would like to thank my son Brennan, for providing the voice of George Waters Ward. It was his first podcast and I am delighted that he accepted my request to do the voice for me.

Long Road Ahead & Fantastic A - Kevin MacLeod

http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html, Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Trove: https://trovenla.gov.au

Email: [email protected]

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Maitland Gaol is in East Maitland, NSW and this location was first used as a gaol in 1843, even though incomplete. In the same year, two prisoners were hanged for murder. Sixteen executions by hanging were carried out at the Gaol at the front gates and at the rear corner behind the old kitchen. The hangings took place between 1843 and 1897 - all for rape or murder. First being Melville and Long Harry, the last being Charles Hines/Hynes.

The following episode recounts the crimes committed by Melville and Long Harry, detailed in the Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. It is an historical recount, telling the story of the circumstances that lead up to their execution at Maitland Gaol on 18th October 1843. (Some of the language may be inappropriate in todays era but I have kept some of the terms as used in the newspaper).

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that this podcast contains names of deceased persons.

Lone Harvest: Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Soundbible.com - free sound effects. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Email: [email protected]

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Law in Australia

https://wwwalrc.gov.au/publication/recognition-of-aboriginal-customary-laws-alrc-report-31/4-aboriginal-customary-laws-and-anglo-australian-law-after-1788/australian-law-as-applied-to-aborigines

A Short/Long Biography of Sir Alfred Stephen

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/stephen-sir-alfred-1291

Aberglasslyn and Hobler

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davey-moodie-familyhistory/4842420203

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The first successful circus in Australia actually originated from Hobart by an Englishman Robert Avis Radford in 1847. He used acts such as equestrianism, acrobats, and clowning, which mimicked the Astley circus in England. It was from this circus that James Henry Ashton, of the Ashton dynasty later established his own circus. The Ashton circus is the oldest continuing circus in Australian history. 

References

Trove newspapers – https://trove.nla.gov.au

Newspaper Article

https://www.smh.com.au/national/circuss-backbone-thrilled-with-his-feats-20111106-1n1wp.html

Fulford Family

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~jray/gordon/fullford/frederick.htm

Ashton’s Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Joseph_Ashton#:~:text=The%20circus%20was%20founded%20in,times%20of%20the%20nineteenth%20century.

PDF - HORSEMAN OR NO HORSEMAN: CIRCUS IN VAN DIEMEN’S LAND, 1847 TO 1851 by Mark St Leon

https://www.pennygaff.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ielapa.545898401156495.pdf

Music

Lone Harvest, Waltz of the Carnies, Super Circus by Kevin McLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Circus Music – Classic (no copyright)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pctluEhAqBQ

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William Maher arrived at John Green's selection at Burren Station on the day of the tragedy, (4th September 1894) having shaved his whiskers off. He got off his horse near the house and fixed his rifle together, having carried it in pieces. He spoke to John Green, who, not knowing him, said, 'You have the advantage of me.' Maher said, 'You have not got the advantage of me; my name is Maher; and I am going to shoot you.' 

References:
Trove Newspapers - https://trove.nla.gov.au

Music:
Lone Harvest, Long Road Ahead by Kevin MacLeod - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Cold Isolation by Fesliyan - Fesliyan Studios - Free music for non-commercial use from https://fesliyanstudios.com

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Charles Hines, condemned to death by the Chief Justice, Sir Frederick Darley, at the Circuit Court held in Maitland in April 1897, for a terrible outrage committed on his step-daughter, at a place called Gundy, near Scone, suffered the last dread penalty of the law within the precincts of the gaol at East Maitland on Friday, the 21st May 1897. He was in the ominous words of the Judge's sentence " hanged by the neck until he was dead." He died firmly and instantaneously.

References:

Trove newspapers:- https:trove.nla.gov.au

Music: 'Lone Harvest', 'Long Note Three', 'The Escalation': By Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
               'The Burning of the Piper's Hut': Pinniped - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Pinniped/Demo-2016.-.01_The_Burning
_of_the_Pipers_Hut/Comments: -http://freemusicarchive.org/curator:ZiklibrenbiblicensesCopyright:Attribution-Noncommercial-Share_Alike3.0_United_States:  http:/creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us

Sound Effects: Soundbible.com – free sound effects. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Link for story about Robert 'Nosey Bob' Howard - Hangman
Robert ‘Nosey Bob’ Howard | The Dictionary of Sydney
https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/robert_nosey_bob_howard

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Michael McMahon  was the 15th person hanged at Maitland Gaol on the 12th December 1871, for the murder of John Jones at Hall’s Creek. 
A magisterial enquiry was held at Denman, on the 8th of June, 1871, before G. A. F. Kibble, Esq, J P , touching the death of a man named John Jones, who was found dead under his dray, near Hall's Creek, on the 7th June. 
-At nine o clock on Tuesday morning, 12th December 1871, the convict Michael M'Mahon (or Mannion, as he called himself) was executed in Maitland gaol, in pursuance of the sentence passed upon him at the October sittings of the Maitland Circuit Court, where he was convicted before Mr. Justice Cheeke of the wilful murder of a man named John Jones, at Hall's Creek, on the 6th June last. 

References:

Trove newspapers:- https:trove.nla.gov.au

Further detailed account of execution - https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103920729?searchTerm=Michael%20McMahon#

Music: Lone Harvest, Grave Matters: By Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Sound Effects: Soundbible.com – free sound effects. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Youtube – Wagon train - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b9iQNvbc9I

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There was a sigh of relief when the news got abroad in the middle of August, 1861, that the murderer, Black Harry, was captured. There was great excitement locally when, after his committal at Merriwa, he was brought on to Singleton; and placed in the local lockup. The people turned out in great numbers to get a glimpse of the notorious villain, whose atrocities shocked the whole colony. After a brief sojourn in the lockup here he was taken on to Maitland on the morning of September 7th, 1861.


Music: 
Lone Harvest, Peace of Mind, Long Note Three & Investigations by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.

link for Trove article
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspapers/article/13062400?searchTerm=Harry%27s%20Body%20Hamitlon

References
https://wwwqhrc.qld.gov.au/  data/assets/pdf-file/0013/10606/Aboriginal-timeline-FINAL-updated-25-July-2018.pdf
http://www.workingwithindigenousaustralians.info/content/ History 3 Colonisation.html