Ben Hall (bushranger)
Ben Hall was an Australian bushranger of the 19th century. He and his various companions roamed an area of NSW from Bathurst to Forbes, south to Gundagai and east to Goulburn. He was known as Brave Ben Hall and has become part of Australian folklore. Ben Hall carried out many audacious raids, some of which were intended to taunt the police. Unlike many bushrangers of the era, he was not directly responsible for any deaths, although several of his companions certainly were. He was shot dead by police in May 1865 at the Billabong Creek. The police claimed that they were acting under the protection of the Felons Apprehension Act 1865 which allowed any bushrangers who had been specifically named in under the terms of the Act to be shot and killed by anyone at any time without warning. At the time of Halls death, the Felons Act had not come into force, resulting in considerable controversy over the legality of his killing.
Ben Hall was born onMay 1837, at Maitland, New South Wales, Australia now East Maitland, New South Wales . His parents were Benjamin Hall and Eliza Somers . Both of Bens parents were convicted for minor stealing offences and transported to New South Wales, and first met each other as convicts. Benjamin received his ticket of leave in August 1832, but it wasnt until 1834 that Eliza was granted her freedom. They were married the same year and moved to the Hunter Region. The couple had numerous children Ben Junior was the fourth child and third son.
Source: Wikipedia