Ben Hall connection

James Coffey and hiswife (Honora Regan/Ryan) are in the book “Ben Hall – The definitiveillustrated history”, written by Edgar Penzig. I purchased it 10 yearsago.

It shows a c1862 secret police map of Frank Gardiner’s usual routes, harbourers and otherpeople who could be relied upon to give information or who were neutral. The comments made by the map drawer near the various homesteads include one “Coffey’s. Harbourer.”

“On 2 December1863 Ben Hall and Johnny Gilbert turned up at the dwelling of James Coffey and his wife, about 4 miles from Burrowa. The villains stayed about 5 hours, holding up everyone who came past the place, the number being about 40 in all. Hall fired a shot at one Mr Campbell which fortunately missed. … As aresult of Aaron Steenbhorn’s evidence the two Coffeys were charged with aiding and abetting Ben Hall and John Gilbert to rob Aaron Steenbhorn ... It is apparent that Coffey and his wife were paid harbourers of the gang”.

Last week I had a quick visit to Kingswood State Records and checked the NSW Police Gazette. The entry for 9 December 1863 shows that on the 2nd instant James COFFEE, farmer near Burrowa, was stopped at Coffee’s Creek, near Burrowa by two armed men, John Gilbert and Ben Hall and was robbed of 87 pounds. These offenders are said to have stopped and searched several other persons about the same time and place.

The entry for 23 December 1863 shows that vide Police Gazette of 4 November 1863 (the house ofCommissioner Keightley, Rockley was attacked on 24 October 1863 by Hall, Vane,… several 5 pound notes were stolen) Norah COFFEY, charged on warrant with having in her possession seven 5 pounds notes, has been arrested by Sydney Detective Police and remanded on bail to appear at Burrowa, to answer the charge when called upon. There are no more references found for any COFFEE/COFFEY in NSW Police Gazette for 1864. The Burrowa Charge Book has many missing pages, including for December 1863. If Honora/Norah Coffey was imprisoned gaol records would tell the name of ship etc.

The entry for 25 March 1863 in NSW Police Gazette shows the warrant for the arrest of William WALES wherein he is charged with disobeying a summons for wife desertion, on the 11th instant. He is about 25, long dark brown hair, …, whiskers, a native. Supposed to have gone to the Lachlan Diggings. From the Wales family tree in Janice’s email below, it appears that this William Wales married Elizabeth. Their daughter Elizabeth Ellen Wales born 1870 married William JamesCoffey (their daughter Catherine married William Regan in 1909).