BRADISH & BRANIGAN 1844

In 1837 Timothy Bradish was a 20 year old labourer and ropemaker from Limerick on his way to Australia on board the convict transport 'Calcutta'.  He was 5ft 4 inches tall with a sallow and freckled complexion, brown hair and eyes and a small scar on his upper lip. Accompanying him on the Calcutta  was his older brother John. Together the brothers had  been convicted  in Limerick of having stolen goods in their possession.

Perhaps it was on the long voyage to Australia that Timothy became acquainted with  Edmond (Edward )Branigan, a 20 year old Tipperary man sentenced to transportation for life in 1837.  Or  perhaps it was later the two young men found an affinity when they were both assigned to work for the Australian Agricultural Company

By 1844 the Australian Agricultural Company had established sheep stations on vast areas of the Liverpool Plains. Bradish and Branigan may have been assigned to one of the Company stations, as Timothy Bradish had been issued a ticket of leave for the Murrurundi district. They absconded together in December 1844 and soon began 'committing numerous depredations on persons and property' in the vicinity of the Peel. They were quickly apprehended however made a daring escape with others from the lockup at Scone and soon began their lawless career once again. They headed to localities beyond the settled districts, stealing on their way a bay gelding belonging to settler George Hobler. 

On the 6th December 1844, well armed and mounted, they bailed up the overseer Thomas Cullen and watchman James Yates at Australian Agricultural company owned Currie-a-bark station at the Peel River. They began to ransack the hut, gathering fire arms, food and provisions to place on their pack horse. Bradish stood sentry while Branagan organised James Yates the assigned servant to help him load his loot.

Yates, a brave or perhaps foolish man, sprang at Bradish who held a double barrelled fowling piece in this hand, a brace of pistols in his belt and five stand of arms at his feet. Undaunted, and perhaps with a pardon or reward in mind, Yates tripped Bradish and wrestled him to the ground. The overseer Cullen, not to be outdone seized Branagan and a desperate scuffle then followed between those two.

Meanwhile, Yates succeeded in disarming Bradish and ordered him to surrender.  Bradish in true bushranger style and with little to lose, refused to surrender, so Yates with little choice left, pulled the trigger. The pistol misfired and the two once again began a deadly struggle. Yates felled Bradish with a blow to the head and as Bradish  reached for a gun Yates fired again, the ball passing through Bradish's thigh, causing him to surrender. Branagan kept up his own battle with Cullen, until finally he too was defeated.

Medical assistance was immediately obtained from Stroud for Bradish. Dr. Douglas was stationed at Stroud  at this time and may perhaps have attended Bradish.  After the wound was dressed the two bushrangers were taken 70 miles to Stroud by dray in short stages. When they arrived they were placed in the lockup and later were transferred to the Newcastle gaol arriving there on 22nd June 1844.

At the Maitland Quarter Session held on Monday the 8 July, both men pleaded guilty to a charge of being illegally at large with firearms in their possession. They were sentenced to transportation for life to a penal settlement.

 James Yates and Thomas Cullen, both prisoners for life were recommended at the same Court hearing to be issued with  Conditional Pardons  for their part in the capture.