Henry Browne Hayes
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Browne Hayes was an Irish
-born convict, transported to New South Wales
.
Hayes was born in Ireland, the son of Attiwell Hayes. Hayes was admitted a freeman of the city of Cork
in November 1782, was one of the sheriff
s in 1790, and in that year was knighted. In July 1797 he became acquainted with Miss Mary Pike, heiress to over £20,000, and on 22 July abducted her and took her to his house. In spite of Miss Pike's protestations a man dressed as a priest
was brought in who went through a form of a marriage ceremony. Miss Pike refused to consider it a marriage, and was eventually rescued by some of her relatives. Hayes fled, and a reward of £1000 was offered for his apprehension.
Hayes was not found until some two years later, when he walked into the shop of an old follower of the family and suggested that he might as well get the reward. The trial which did not begin until April 1801 created much interest. Hayes was found guilty and recommended to mercy. At first condemned to death his sentence was commuted to transportation
for life, and, sailing on the Atlas, Hayes arrived at Sydney
on 6 July 1802. Hayes was never short of money and had lightened the privations of the voyage by paying the captain a considerable sum so that he might mess
with him. Unfortunately for himself he quarrelled with Surgeon Thomas Jamison
who was on the same vessel, and when Hayes arrived he was sentenced to six months imprisonment "for his threatening and improper conduct". Hayes made himself a nuisance to Governor King
by consorting with the wilder spirits among the Irish convicts, and by trying to form a freemason's lodge
after permission to hold a meeting for this purpose had been refused. King called him "a restless, troublesome character". In 1803 he purchased a property near the city and called it Vaucluse
. This afterwards belonged to William Wentworth
. Hayes surrounded his property with turf
from Ireland to keep out the snakes which were common in the area; the tactic appeared to work. When the troubles between the military and Governor Bligh
began, Hayes took the side of the governor and was sent to the coal mines at Newcastle
.
Bligh would have pardoned him if he could have obtained possession of the great seal, and after Macquarie
came Hayes was pardoned in 1812. He then sailed to Europe in the same vessel, the Isabella, with Joseph Holt
; an interesting account of their shipwreck will be found in the Memoirs of Joseph Holt. Hayes lived in retirement in Ireland for nearly 20 years, and died in April or May 1832 aged 70 years. He was buried in the crypt of Christ Church, Cork.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born convict, transported to New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
Hayes was born in Ireland, the son of Attiwell Hayes. Hayes was admitted a freeman of the city of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
in November 1782, was one of the sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
s in 1790, and in that year was knighted. In July 1797 he became acquainted with Miss Mary Pike, heiress to over £20,000, and on 22 July abducted her and took her to his house. In spite of Miss Pike's protestations a man dressed as a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
was brought in who went through a form of a marriage ceremony. Miss Pike refused to consider it a marriage, and was eventually rescued by some of her relatives. Hayes fled, and a reward of £1000 was offered for his apprehension.
Hayes was not found until some two years later, when he walked into the shop of an old follower of the family and suggested that he might as well get the reward. The trial which did not begin until April 1801 created much interest. Hayes was found guilty and recommended to mercy. At first condemned to death his sentence was commuted to transportation
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
for life, and, sailing on the Atlas, Hayes arrived at Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on 6 July 1802. Hayes was never short of money and had lightened the privations of the voyage by paying the captain a considerable sum so that he might mess
Mess
A mess is the place where military personnel socialise, eat, and live. In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces. The root of mess is the Old French mes, "portion of food" A mess (also called a...
with him. Unfortunately for himself he quarrelled with Surgeon Thomas Jamison
Thomas Jamison
Thomas Jamison was a prominent surgeon, government official, mercantile trader and land owner of Sydney, Australia. Jamison was also a member of the First Fleet expedition of 11 ships which founded the Australian colony of New South Wales in 1788...
who was on the same vessel, and when Hayes arrived he was sentenced to six months imprisonment "for his threatening and improper conduct". Hayes made himself a nuisance to Governor King
Philip Gidley King
Captain Philip Gidley King RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. He is best known as the official founder of the first European settlement on Norfolk Island and as the third Governor of New South Wales.-Early years and establishment of Norfolk Island settlement:King was born...
by consorting with the wilder spirits among the Irish convicts, and by trying to form a freemason's lodge
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
after permission to hold a meeting for this purpose had been refused. King called him "a restless, troublesome character". In 1803 he purchased a property near the city and called it Vaucluse
Vaucluse House
Vaucluse House is a historic estate in Gothic Revival style in the harbourside suburb of Vaucluse in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The suburb takes its name from this house. Vaucluse House is a 19th century estate with house, kitchen wing, stables and outbuildings, surrounded by 28 acres of...
. This afterwards belonged to William Wentworth
William Wentworth
William Charles Wentworth was an Australian poet, explorer, journalist and politician, and one of the leading figures of early colonial New South Wales...
. Hayes surrounded his property with turf
Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
from Ireland to keep out the snakes which were common in the area; the tactic appeared to work. When the troubles between the military and Governor Bligh
William Bligh
Vice Admiral William Bligh FRS RN was an officer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator. A notorious mutiny occurred during his command of HMAV Bounty in 1789; Bligh and his loyal men made a remarkable voyage to Timor, after being set adrift in the Bounty's launch by the mutineers...
began, Hayes took the side of the governor and was sent to the coal mines at Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
.
Bligh would have pardoned him if he could have obtained possession of the great seal, and after Macquarie
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
came Hayes was pardoned in 1812. He then sailed to Europe in the same vessel, the Isabella, with Joseph Holt
Joseph Holt (rebel)
Joseph Holt was a United Irish general and leader of a large guerrilla force which fought against British troops in County Wicklow from June–October 1798. He was exiled to Australia in 1799 where he worked as a farm manager and eventually returned to Ireland in 1814.-Background:Holt was one of six...
; an interesting account of their shipwreck will be found in the Memoirs of Joseph Holt. Hayes lived in retirement in Ireland for nearly 20 years, and died in April or May 1832 aged 70 years. He was buried in the crypt of Christ Church, Cork.