Hugh Vesty Byrne
| First name | Hugh Vesty |
|---|---|
| Last name | Byrne |
| Country of Origin | Ireland |
| Date of Birth | 1776 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1806 |
| Submitted by | Margaret Weston |
Story
Hugh Vesty Byrne, son of Sylvester and Rose Byrne, Kirikee, Glanmalure, County Wicklow. Byrne used the name “Vesty” in honour of a forebear who fought for Irish independence in the 17th century. It was said of him that “few could surpass him, no man loved justice or fair play better….generous in the extreme, true to his word and faithful to his friend….a princely fellow”. Hugh Byrne was a tall man, the proclamation of 1800 describes him as ൠ years old, 5’8″ high, fair freckled face, light or sandy hair, well made, shot through the thigh”! He married Sarah Dwyer before the outbreak of the 1798 revolt. 3 children were born to them during the years of conflict, Philip, Michael & Rose.
Byrne was imprisoned briefly in Kilmainhan jail in 1799 charged with burning yeomen’s houses in Wicklow, and robbing them of arms. He was court-martialled & sentenced to death, but with another prisoner (Burke) managed to escape & rejoin Michael O’Dwyer in the mountains.
Hugh Byrne surrendered to English authorities on Dec 6 1803 & after a short stay in Baltinglass jail was sent to Kilmainhan jail. He was transferred from Dublin to Wicklow to stand trial for his escape in 1799, but was returned to Dublin on remand. Sarah Byrne joined her husband in jail. The charges against Byrne & Burke were dropped when they agreed to surrender terms with the government.
After negotiations with William Hume it was decided the 5 men, Byrne, Dwyer, Burke, Devlin & Menargh known as the ‘Wicklow Martyrs’, would go to Botany Bay as exiles, rather than convicts. Hugh Byrne was taken from jail in July 1805 & placed on a convict ship ‘Tellicherry’ Ð they entered Sydney Heads on Feb 15th 1806.
The 5 men (Byrne, Dwyer, Burke, Devlin & Menargh) were placed on land along Cabramatta Creek, experiencing their first real sense of freedom in 8 years. They began enthusiastically building homes for themselves and commenced the task of clearing land & making it ready to sow crops.
Hugh later sold the land & acquired more fertile land at Airds, & made a comfortable living. In 1835 he had another 100 acres granted him. By now Hugh was a respectable law-abiding citizen, a far cry from being an exile and one of the ‘Wicklow Martyrs’.
In the history of Campbelltown written in 1920, JP Mcguanne said ‘the sap and vigour of Irish life developed when Hugh & Sarah settled in Airds\’. Their children and grandchildren moved down the South Road to Yass, and further afield to newly opened country along the Murrumbidgee, Murray and Lachlan Rivers.
There are many Byrne descendants on Monaro in 2006. I am proud of my Irish ancestory and sure the inherited resilience is why I am still assisting my husband in a farm in the drought ravaged, treeless plains of Monaro.
‘Top of the mornin\’ to ya\’