Individual Details
Martin CHERRY
(Abt 1822 - 28 Jun 1880)
Never married.
A railway worker, Martin Cherry was in Glenrowan when Ned Kelly and his Gang took over the Glenrowan Inn in June 1880. He subsequently was taken hostage and died during the siege which culminated in the destruction of the Kelly Gang.
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On 12th August, 1880, the Limerick Chronicle carried the following report of an incident in faraway Australia:
The Kelly gang of bushrangers, not withstanding their extraordinary career of murder and rapine, and who for so long defied the efforts of the police to capture them, were run to earth on the 27th of June, at Jones' Hotel, Glenrowan, a town on the north-eastern line of railway, about 136 miles from Melbourne. For many months, special parties of police, assisted by black trackers, had been scouring in vain, what has been called the Kelly country, in the neighbourhood of Beechworth. Proclaimed outlaws for the enormous crimes they had committed, many thousands of pounds had been offered by the Government for their apprehension, and it has been stated that they have cost the country upwards of £45,000 in the various efforts made to bring them to justice. Among those who lost their lives in the fray, was a man named Martin Cherry, who it appears hails from Limerick city, and has been a considerable number of years in this colony.
The same edition of the Limerick Chronicle also contained a further and longer account of how Cher'ry was killed, 'during the destruction of the infamous band of outlaws who, under the leadership of Edward Kelly, for nearly two years had been the scourge of Victoria'. This account included a report from the Melbourne Argus of 20 June, 1880:
In the outhouse or kitchen, immediately behind the main building, Martin Chery, who was one of the prisoners made by the gang, and who was so severely wounded that he could not leave the house when the other prisoners left, was found still living, but in 'articulo mortis' from wounds in the groin. He was promptly removed a short distance from the burning hotel, and laid on the ground, when Father Gibney administered to him the Last Sacrament. Cherry was insensible, and barely alive. He had evidently suffered much during the day, and death released him from his sufferings within half and hour from the time when he was removed from the hotel.
It was fortunate that he was not buried alive. Cherry, who was unmarried, was an old resident of the district, and was employed as a platelayer, and resided about a mile from Glenrowan. He was born in Limerick, Ireland, and was 60 years old. He is said by all who knew him to have been a quiet, harmless man, and much regret was expressed at his death.
He seems to have been shot by the attacking force, of course unintentionally. All the press reports of the incident record that Martin Cherry was aged 60 years at the time of his death. This statement is also repeated in many of the books written on the event. Cherry is not a common surname in Limerick, but a search of all available parish records in Limerick City and part of County Clare, for the period, has failed to show the birth of a Martin Cherry in or around 1820. However, the baptismal register of St. Munchin's Catholic Church records that a Martin Cherry was born to John Cherry and Anne Cronin, and was baptised on 10 November, 1826. If this was the same man who was killed at Glenrowan on 28 June, 1880, it would mean that Cherry was only 53 years old when he died.
The date of Martin Cherry's departure for Australia is not known,
and little information is available on his life. It has only been recorded that he worked as a goldminer, before he became a railway worker, and that he lived near Glenrowan. He was one of three innocent people killed in the final shoot-out between the Kelly gang and the police, some of whom were Irish.
The Kelly story, including the chain of events that led to the death of Martin Cherry, is universally well known. The gang of bushrangers was made up of Ned Kelly, his brother, Dan, Joe Byrne and Steve Hart. Ned Kelly had carefully selected Glenrowan, in the heart of the
'Kelly Country', for a showdown with the police. He had planned to derail the train carrying these policemen to the town and to gun down any survivors.
A railway worker, Martin Cherry was in Glenrowan when Ned Kelly and his Gang took over the Glenrowan Inn in June 1880. He subsequently was taken hostage and died during the siege which culminated in the destruction of the Kelly Gang.
-----
On 12th August, 1880, the Limerick Chronicle carried the following report of an incident in faraway Australia:
The Kelly gang of bushrangers, not withstanding their extraordinary career of murder and rapine, and who for so long defied the efforts of the police to capture them, were run to earth on the 27th of June, at Jones' Hotel, Glenrowan, a town on the north-eastern line of railway, about 136 miles from Melbourne. For many months, special parties of police, assisted by black trackers, had been scouring in vain, what has been called the Kelly country, in the neighbourhood of Beechworth. Proclaimed outlaws for the enormous crimes they had committed, many thousands of pounds had been offered by the Government for their apprehension, and it has been stated that they have cost the country upwards of £45,000 in the various efforts made to bring them to justice. Among those who lost their lives in the fray, was a man named Martin Cherry, who it appears hails from Limerick city, and has been a considerable number of years in this colony.
The same edition of the Limerick Chronicle also contained a further and longer account of how Cher'ry was killed, 'during the destruction of the infamous band of outlaws who, under the leadership of Edward Kelly, for nearly two years had been the scourge of Victoria'. This account included a report from the Melbourne Argus of 20 June, 1880:
In the outhouse or kitchen, immediately behind the main building, Martin Chery, who was one of the prisoners made by the gang, and who was so severely wounded that he could not leave the house when the other prisoners left, was found still living, but in 'articulo mortis' from wounds in the groin. He was promptly removed a short distance from the burning hotel, and laid on the ground, when Father Gibney administered to him the Last Sacrament. Cherry was insensible, and barely alive. He had evidently suffered much during the day, and death released him from his sufferings within half and hour from the time when he was removed from the hotel.
It was fortunate that he was not buried alive. Cherry, who was unmarried, was an old resident of the district, and was employed as a platelayer, and resided about a mile from Glenrowan. He was born in Limerick, Ireland, and was 60 years old. He is said by all who knew him to have been a quiet, harmless man, and much regret was expressed at his death.
He seems to have been shot by the attacking force, of course unintentionally. All the press reports of the incident record that Martin Cherry was aged 60 years at the time of his death. This statement is also repeated in many of the books written on the event. Cherry is not a common surname in Limerick, but a search of all available parish records in Limerick City and part of County Clare, for the period, has failed to show the birth of a Martin Cherry in or around 1820. However, the baptismal register of St. Munchin's Catholic Church records that a Martin Cherry was born to John Cherry and Anne Cronin, and was baptised on 10 November, 1826. If this was the same man who was killed at Glenrowan on 28 June, 1880, it would mean that Cherry was only 53 years old when he died.
The date of Martin Cherry's departure for Australia is not known,
and little information is available on his life. It has only been recorded that he worked as a goldminer, before he became a railway worker, and that he lived near Glenrowan. He was one of three innocent people killed in the final shoot-out between the Kelly gang and the police, some of whom were Irish.
The Kelly story, including the chain of events that led to the death of Martin Cherry, is universally well known. The gang of bushrangers was made up of Ned Kelly, his brother, Dan, Joe Byrne and Steve Hart. Ned Kelly had carefully selected Glenrowan, in the heart of the
'Kelly Country', for a showdown with the police. He had planned to derail the train carrying these policemen to the town and to gun down any survivors.
Events
| Birth | Abt 1822 | Limerick, Munster, Ireland | |||
| Immigration | Abt 1850 | Victoria, Australian Colonies | |||
| Occupation | Bef 28 Jun 1880 | Labourer - Glenrowan, Victoria, Australian Colonies |  | ||
| Death | 28 Jun 1880 | Gunshot wound to lower abdomen - Jones' Hotel, Glenrowan, Victoria, Australian Colonies | | ||
| Burial | 30 Jun 1880 | Compartment Open Ground, Section 1, Benella Cemetery, Benalla, Victoria, Australian Colonies | | ||
| Probate | 23 Jul 1880 | Glenrowan, Victoria, Australian Colonies | | ||
| Alt name | Martin SHERRY |
Families
| Father | James CHERRY 🧬 (1794 - 1862) |
| Mother | Jane MCCORMACK (1791 - 1875) |
| Sibling | Mary CHERRY (1819 - 1902) |
| Sibling | Bridget CHERRY (1825 - ) |
| Sibling | Jane CHERRY (1833 - 1912) |
| Sibling | John CHERRY 🧬 (1834 - 1893) |
Notes
Occupation
From death certificate.Death
Glenrowan Siege 28/6/1880 First meeting with the Kelly Gang, taking up the tracks..
Imprisoned in Jones's Inn
Just before the train arrived Dan Kelly said, "Now you can all go home," Reardon stood up and picked up one of his children in his arms, I picked up Ryan's child, and Mrs. Jones at the door and said, "You are not to go yet; Kelly is to give you a lecture yet," so we all turned back into the house again, and Mrs. Jones came in and said, "Kelly will give you all a lecture before you go." (RC7627) (FH)
The police arrive
Sup Sadlier reported that I was shot in the groin by Ned Kelly. Many others think that I was shot by the police. I was not able to leave the kitchen when the others left the hotel (RC2880)
See more detail about who shot me (Argus2/7/1880) (Argus3/7/1880) (Herald3/7/1880) (Herald3/7/1880) (Herald11/8/1880) (OMA14/8/1880)
When the other civilians left the Inn at about 10am they told the police about me. They said that I was wounded and had been carried back into the back kitchen. I was left sitting against some bags of oats with a wound in the groin. (RC10404)
In the kitchen
Const Dixon wanted to get me out of the building (RC2957)
I was found in the kitchen by Rev Gibney. I was not affected by the fire.(Argus29/6/1880) (RC7187) (JJK)
Const Glenny helped Rev Gibney carry me out of the kitchen. (RC13749) (Argus5/7/80) (Argus6/7/80)
After the fire
Rev Gibney came to see me after he had found the other bodies. He attended me and administered the sacrament of his church to him as far as he could. (RC12346)
I was found by Sup Sadleir and other police in the kitchen at the back of the Inn just after the building had been set on fire. I died soon after and my body was handed over by the police to my sister. My friend Tom Dixon helped. He was a boot maker from Benalla. (RC2880)
Account of Royal Commission criticized (Argus10/2/82)
Photograph Inquest
A magisterial inquiry was held this day at Powell's Hotel, Benalla, into my death (Martin Sherry) (Cherry). I was 40 years of age and single. Dr Nicholson stated that there was a bullet wound on the left side of my stomach. The wound must have ended fatally. Under the circumstances it must have caused death.
After evidence had been given of my rescue from the burning building Sup John Sadleir, stationed at Benalla, gave the following evidence; He was incharge of the attacking party of police on Monday morning, at Glenrowan. The firing continued at intervals both from the hotel and by the police. It was not until the captives had made their escape from the hotel that he was made aware that I was lying wounded in the back kitchen. He then endeavoured to avoid the firing into the kitchen. In firing the main building Sadleir arranged that I should be rescued before the fire could reach me. He rushed up to the kitchen and saw Dixon and others lift me out. I was alive. I died in a few minutes. (Age1/7/80) (Argus1/7/80) (Argus21/7/80)
Other evidence was given by my sister Jane Mcauley(Argus1/7/80 ), wife of Edmund Mcauley, Dr John Nicholson(Argus1/7/80), Const Bracken (Argus1/7/80), Thomas Dixon (Argus1/7/80) (JJK), bootmaker of Benalla, Const Phillips (Argus1/7/80), Sup Sadleir (Argus1/7/80) (MDTel1/7/80).
The following is the verdict:- 'That having heard the evidence given herewith touching the death of me, the deceased Martin Cherry (Sherry). And having carefully considered the same, I find his death was caused by a gunshot wound received during the time he was a prisoner of the Kelly Gang in Jones's Hotel, Glenrowan, on Monday last, and that no blame can be attached either to any member of the police force, or to any civilians who were firing at the KellyGang and Jones's Hotel and kitchen. R McBean JP
'After the inquest I was buried quietly in the Benalla Cemetery. (Age 1/7/80) (Argus1/7/80)
Sup Sadleir's summary of the verdict was, 'Shot by the police in the execution of their duty.'(Argus20/7/80) (RC2903)
Early Career
I was born in 1822. I never married and had been an old resident of the Glenrowan district and lived about a mile from the town. I was employed as a platelayer and had been born at Limerick in Ireland. (Argus29/6/80) .
Family
Sister Jane Mcauley(Husband Edmund Mulcahy, labourer, of Collingwood) parents James Cherry and Jane McCormack
' Was I a part of the Cherry family from Benalla. They were often before the Benalla Police Court.
Australia Death Index, 1787-1985
Name Martin Cherry
Death Age 58
Birth Date abt 1822
Death Date Abt 1880
Death Place Victoria
Registration Date 1880
Registration Place Australia
Father Jas
Mother Jane
Registration Number 6230
Burial
Find a GraveMartin Cherry
Birth: unknown
Death: 28 Jun 1880
Glenrowan, Wangaratta Rural City, Victoria, Australia
Burial: Benalla Cemetery
Benalla, Benalla Rural City, Victoria, Australia
Memorial ID: 89891577
Benalla Cemetery Record
Martin CHERRY
Died/Interred 1880
Compartment Open Ground
Section 1
Notes DIED 28/6/1880
Probate
Victoria, Australia, Wills and Probate Records, 1841-2009Name Martin Cherry
Record Type Probates
Death Date 28 Jun. 1880
Death Place Glenrowan
Occupation Platelayer
Grant Date 23 Jul. 1880
Grant Administration
Grant Recipient Jane Mulcahy