Patrick Hynes

source http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/DPS-CHAT/2002-12/1038...

References: <5.1.1.6.1.20021203133511.00a34db0@perthpcug.org.au>

Hi to DPSers,

Further to Bryan's posting I add the following:

1) Peter Lalor, later MLA, writing names of the 30 miners killed at Eureka, put John Hynes at the top of the list because he was said to be the first killed. His name heads the list on the memorial still over their common

grave in Ballarat's Old Cemetery-the New Cemetery opened c.1856, incidentally.

2) In some records (like the ?1930's obelisk raised at the stockade site) the name Hynes is given as "Haines" disclosing something of the Irish's accent/pronunciation.

3) Apparently Vic PRO has a booklet/brochure on the uprising, which reveals that Hynes body was spirited away for burial in Geelong.

The rest of this e-mail is from 1996 dissertation by a keen Melbourne family historian, Bill Hanlon, for his family. Bill traced his lines of descent from Thomas Hynes, cousin of above-mentioned John, both from Co Clare, Ireland, working on the rich Ballarat East goldfields.

The extended family included a cousin, Patrick Gittens.

Regards, Frank Duggan

Family History - a big thing when looked into!

---------------

Of the Eureka battle, Bill Hanlon writes:

"The miners were growing very angry about a license . . . imposed on all diggers. They . . . decided to use force against the police if necessary. The government sent troops to Ballarat. The miners collected timbers used to shore-up mine shafts and built a rough fortification or stockade. Guns and pikes were collected and distributed. Patrick Gittins had experience in Ireland making pikes for use against British troops. His pikes had sharpened hooks to cut horses bridles.

During the week before the battle . . . there were up to 800 miners in the stockade. As the weekend drew near, the married men and many others went home, leaving a skeleton force of about 150 to man the barricades. The military watched and attacked when it suited themselves. That was 4 a.m. on Sunday morning 4thDecember 1854. Patrick Gittens . . . went back to his tent for the weekend. There would be no attack on the Sabbath the reasoned. His wife was much more realistic.

After he went to bed on Saturday she hid his pike and also his trousers. The shooting started at about 4 a.m. Bridge,t Mrs Thomas Hynes immediately ran to the stockade and tried to protect the wounded from bayonets. She and other women bent over the wounded saying . He is dead! He is dead!

John Hynes - Tom's cousin - was one of the first to die. Paddy Gittins was killed by Lieut Richards of the 12th Regiment. The blacksmith was recognised by police informers and killed early in the battle. His body was savagely bayoneted on the ground by police, as an act of revenge because of the role he had played.

Several days before the uprising a first cousin, Patrick Hynes who was serving in the army decided against killing his kinsfolk and arrived at Tom and Bridget's tent. He wanted to desert and required their assistance. He removed his uniform and was given some of Tom's old clothes. Bridge gathered up the uniform and took it to the deepest abandoned mine. She later described the feeling of relief when she heard a great splash at the bottom. Several days later the military came looking for the fugitive. Bridget said a lump came into her throat as she lied disclaiming all knowledge. Patrick was never found and later married Catherine McMahon.

They had ten children."