Martin Cash and Company

Come all you sons of Erin’s Isle
That love to hear your tuneful notes,
Remember William Wallace and
Montrose of sweet Dundee–
The great Napoleon played his part,
But by treachery was undone
Nelson, for England’s glory bled
And nobly fought by sea–
And Wellington, old Erin’s son,
Who Waterloo so bravely won,
When leading on his veteran troops,
Bold faced his daring foes–
But Martin Cash of matchless fame,
The bravest man that owns that name,
Is a valiant son of Erin,
Where the sprig of shamrock grows.

By treachery as it was said,
This hero to a gaol was led,
‘Twas Bedford who, in Campbell Town,
Had got him seven years.
Which sent him to the settlement
In misery and discontent,
But soon he made his foes repent,
As you shall quickly hear,
He left Port Arthur’s cursed soil,
Saying “No longer will I toil”,
And soon he reached the Derwent’s side
In spite of all his foes.
He made the settlers crouch in dread
Where’er that he showed his head;
This valiant son of Erin,
Where the sprig of shamrock grows.

It was once when near the old Woolpack
His enemies they did attack;
The number being three to one,
They thought their prize secure.
But Martin to his piece did cling,
And three of them did quickly wing,
Saying, “Down, you cowardly dogs,
Or I nail you to the floor!”
It’s loud for mercy they did cry,
But no one came to their reply,
While Martin, with a smiling eye,
Stood gazing at his foes.
Then through the bush he took his way,
And called on settlers night and day,
Did our valiant son of Erin,
Where the sprig of shamrock grows.

It was on the Salt Pan Plain
He faced his enemies again,
There were Sydney blacks and horse police,
And well-trained soldiers too;
But at the time when they drew near,
Cash hailed them loudly with a cheer,
And let them have it left and right,
His colours were true blue.
Bravely did he stand his ground,
The bullets flying thick around,
And like a fearless general
He faced his firing foes.
“Surrender, Martin !” loud they cry,
“Never till the hour I die
Said this valiant son of Erin,
Where the sprig of shamrock grows.

Brave Cash, not caring for his life,
To Hobart came to see his wife,
The constables who lay in wait
Cried, “Martin is in view!”
Some cowards tried to block his way,
But one of them soon lifeless lay,
Their numbers were increasing,
And still did Cash pursue.
And in the street a man rushed out,
Who tried to stop him in his route,
But with a pistol in each hand
He clean shot off his nose.
“Surrender, Cash !” was still their cry,
“Never, till the hour I die
Said this gallant son of Erin,
Where the sprig of shamrock grows.

O’erpowered and wounded, bleeding, pale,
The Bobbies marched him off to gaol,
And when his trial was brought on
Some hundreds listened by.
And when the Judge, with panting breath
Had told him to prepare for death,
He calmly heard the sentence
With a proud, unflinching eye.
We all have hopes that we shall see
Bold Martin yet at liberty,
That shortly he will be as free
As the ocean wind that blows.
He’s of a good old valiant race,
There’s no one can his name disgrace,
He’s a noble son of Erin,
Where the sprig of shamrock grows.

He’s the bravest man that you could choose
From Sydney men or Cockatoos,
And a gallant son of Erin,
Where the sprig of shamrock grows.

---

The Ballad of Martin Cash (attributed to Frank the Poet).

Come all you sons of Erin’s Isle
That love to hear your tuneful notes,
Remember William Wallace and
Montrose of sweet Dundee–
The great Napoleon played his part,
But by treachery was undone
Nelson, for England’s glory bled
And nobly fought by sea–
And Wellington, old Erin’s son,
Who Waterloo so bravely won,
When leading on his veteran troops,
Bold faced his daring foes–
But Martin Cash of matchless fame,
The bravest man that owns that name,
Is a valiant son of Erin,
Where the sprig of shamrock grows.

[Full lyrics via the link]

The Ballad of Martin Cash by “Frank the Poet” A poem depicting a romantic version of Martin Cash’s exploits, attributed to the famous convict troubadour “Frank the Poet”.

Martin Cash.
Born in County Wexford in Ireland in 1810, Martin was noted as being 6 feet high, with a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and carroty coloured curly hair and whiskers. On his right arm he was tattooed with the letters MC (the initials of his sweetheart back in Ireland) and a cross, while his left thumb was badly scarred. It was also recorded Martin had remarkably long feet and a note was also made of him being “a very swift runner.”

Illustration of Martin is by Aidan Phelan.

"Just over a month on the run had done nothing to curb the enthusiasm of Martin, George and Lawrence as they plundered their way through Van Diemen’s Land. In fact their remarkable success had further emboldened them. At the end of January they continued to make their way through districts such as Bagdad, Prosser’s Plains, New Norfolk and Broadmarsh and soon set their sights on a small stone building in Macquarie Plains (or Gretna as the area would later be known), about four hours away by foot from the township of New Norfolk.

The gang having raided a pub near the Bagdad Mill where a prisoner had escaped, and shortly afterwards having robbed the property of the Pantons in Broadmarsh, and knowing word would have gotten out about their actions in both places, Cash feared their current route would be predicted and intercepted by the authorities. He suggested breaking new ground. The gang spent a considerable time debating this course of action around the campfire before deciding to target the Woolpack Inn at Macquarie Plains."

Read the whole story via the link...

The Woolpack Inn An account of Cash & Co.’s first major gunfight – the battle at the Woolpack Inn at Macquarie Plains.

Bushranger Martin Cash spent his Christmas in 1842 as a prisoner at Port Arthur. He remembered the day “pleasantly”.

All of the prisoners, including those in cells, were permitted to assemble in the yard. They received tea, sugar, and to***co.

The prisoners were permitted to smoke their to***co on Christmas Day and the following three days. After this, anyone caught with to***co was sure to be flogged.
In the centre of the yard was a stage, where “comic and sentimental singing was to be heard.” Even Frank McNamara, stage name Frank the Poet, “threw off a few extempore verses”!

Port Arthur is closed today for Christmas, reopening tomorrow (26 December) at 9am.

You can purchase Aidan Phelan's book Bushranging Tales Volume One via Amazon in either hard cover or Kindle formats.

Bushranging Tales is an amalgamation of creative non-fiction, biography and archival material and includes a chapter about Martin Cash and the escapes from Port Arthur.

Bushranging Tales Volume One currently has a 5 star rating on Amazon, so if you are interested pick up a copy today!

Bushranging Tales: Volume One Bushranging Tales: Volume One

This afternoon we swung by Martin's grave in Cornelian Bay Cemetery.

Martin's brick in Campbell Town.

We've been staying in the Martin Cash Motel for a few days. A nice place to stay when you're away on a trip to Hobart.

"On Friday last, Messrs. Cash & Co. paid a visit to Captain M’Kay, on the Dee, and dined with him; after which they loaded two horses with provisions, and made him accompany them to Mr. Gellibrand’s residence, about three miles distant, where they loadod a third horse with provisions, and departed, we suppose, into winter quarters, from whence, we should think, they will not be heard of for some time, unless they are hunted out by a most vigilant and active bushman, who, with a party of seven, is close on their heel, having arrived at Mr. Gellibrand’s about an hour after they had left."

Read more via the link

Domestic Intelligence – 23 May 1843 Messrs. Cash, Kavenagh, and Jones present in writing their unspeakable thanks to the Editor of the Review, for the very complimentary manner in which he has, on all occasions, noticed their exertio…

George Jones and James Platt were capitally charged with having committed a robbery, armed with guns, in the house of William Campbell, and stealing therein a sum of money, the property of Harriet Devereux, and putting her in bodily fear of her life.

William Campbell, resides at the Black Brush, near Brighton; saw both the prisoners at his house on the 14th February last, about eight o’clock in the evening. Jones first came to the door, and knocked; witness took him for a constable and let him in; he stepped forward, and asked if that was Campbell’s house, and one of the men answered “Yes”, he had two pistols in a belt at his side. Two other men then came to the house, and just showed their faces; they were armed with double barreled guns; there were no men but the two prisoners, and the other man who is dead. Jones commenced tying witness and his men who were in the house; he tied witness’s hands and then his feet; the other two men stood outside with their guns. Jones then asked witness for his money; be said he had none, as he had been robbed the week before. Jones said he must have the rest, and Platt levelled his gun in at the door; it was presented at witness, but does not know whether the piece was cocked. He said, “You old b—-r, we must have your money or we will blow your brains out.” Harriet Devereux said, ‘There is no money in the house.” Jones said, “We must have it” and said, “I will serve you first”, and he took and tied a handkerchief over her mouth, crossing it behind her head; he then made her lie down on the bench with her face downwards, and tied her hands under the form, after which he tied her legs to the form. Jones said he would burn her up if she would not tell where the money was. He then made a spade red hot, and took it from the fire. She asked, muttering, what he was going to do with that? He said “I’m going to burn your backside.” He took up her clothes as far as her thighs, and put the hot spade to the calves of her legs, pressing the spade down by holding the handle.

..

Read the whole article via the link.

Trial of George Jones the Notorious Bushranger, Companion of Cash and Kavanagh – 24 April 1844 George Jones and James Platt were capi tally charged with having committed a robbery, armed with guns, in the house of William Campbell, and stealing therein a sum of money, the property of Harriet…

"Up to the period of our going to press nothing had been officially reported of the movements of Cash, Jones, and Kavanagh. There is no doubt but they are hotly pressed by the different parties now in pursuit. The effect of the free pardon, and free passage from the colony, offered in this day’s Gazette, to any prisoner who shall take or give any information as may lead to their apprehension, will be keenly felt by these misguided men, and will most materially straighten their resources, by creating doubt and hesitation, where before they might have been regardless and daring."

The Bushrangers – 3 March 1843 Up to the period of our going to press nothing had been officially reported of the movements of Cash, Jones, and Kavanagh.