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The following story is exclusive to www.glenrowan1880.com.
The sign above found in the town where the blacksmith's grandson lived stated.
For the following story I am deeply indebted to the 'Blacksmith's'
grandson and family.
It is my hope that this story will now not be lost as it might otherwise
have been.
This man (the blacksmith) deserves his place in the Kelly Story.
The story of the Kelly Armour is covered extensively on this site.
I thought that I knew pretty well all there was to know about the
armour and the names of
everyone
said to be involved in some way
with the making of the famous armour.
It seems that I was wrong, some months ago I received information
from a
man who claimed his grandfather made Ned's suit of armour.
(I contacted him)
The following are the details I have been given and I am hoping
soon to
have permission to name the blacksmith and possibly upload a photograph
of him.
The following is oral history, however unlike many oral
histories I have heard
this one rings very true for me.
The name of this man is not amongst the usual list of
blacksmith's said to have
been involved in making some of the Kelly armour.
(I am unsure why his name was not mentioned by police, however this should
not mean we discard this story)
Until I have permission to use his name I will simply call him 'The
Blacksmith'.
The Blacksmith arrived in Australia from England by ship during the golden
years of the gold rush. However he was not after gold, this man was a
black-
smith by trade.
He started off his Australian life at Two Wells South Australia before moving
to Berwick and then on to Glenrowan.
He was to father 9 children, 5 girls and 4 boys.
The son of one of those boys
is the person whom I have made contact with.
As one of two blacksmith's in Glenrowan at the time he was assisted by
his
'striker' named Bill McConichy (not 100% certain of spelling of surname).
Bill was the person
who along
with the Blacksmith's wife told family this
amazing story.
This story has remained within the family
until now.
It was claimed by the 'Striker' that the Blacksmith made all four suits of
armour.
The Blacksmith made the armour at night under Hurricane light.
His wife assisted, operating the large bellows as Ned watched.
(Ned was said to be armed with a rifle & pistol, however it is not suggested
he was forcing the blacksmith)
Once the armour was made the Blacksmith and his family left Glenrowan
forever.
They left behind the entire 'Smithy' and only took a few tools and the extra
large bellows with them.
After fleeing Glenrowan** they headed for Birchip and from there to Nyah
where the Blacksmith was to live out his final years. (Dying in 1926)
He is buried in Nyah. (Near Swan Hill)
The Blacksmith's grandson told me that he was taken to Glenrowan in 1929
by
his parents and part of the blacksmith's was still standing.
One wall was missing and he could see the tools still hanging where they
were left. (a more recent discussion confirmed to me that he
is talking about
'old Glenrowan' rather than where the town is situated
today.)
I have a rough idea of where the blacksmith
may have been located however it
appears to be on private land so I am unsure if I will be
able to conduct a search
for any remains.
I now have a photograph of the blacksmith and am hoping to be able to tell
you
his name
at some stage.
I have no doubt that the story I have been told is genuine and
when I told the grandson
how Joseph Ashmead (Ned's boyhood mate) had described a blacksmith (who made the
armour)
he could tell immediately that it was his grandfather Ashmead spoke of.
**In Ian Jones's 'Ned Kelly A Short Life' he quotes the following by
Joseph Ashmead.
'The Kelly Gang secured the services of a
blacksmith to make the stolen mould boards
into suits of armour.
The man was a foreigner who had been working
in the district. No-one would suspect him.
He was a good man and never failed to attend
church. He always stayed for the prayer meetings
and was deeply grieved at the dishonesty of the
mean theft of the persons who stole the farmers'
mould boards. The blacksmith disappeared
shortly after the mould boards were taken and
was never seen again. It was thought he had been
well paid and betook himself to green fields and
pastures new'.
There are three things that are of interest in the above.
1, that he left town. (as his Grandson claimed he did)
2, that he was upset about the taking of
the mould boards.
(as his family still is today, concerned about his involvement)
3, that he was a very religious man. (I am told that the
blacksmith
& his wife were very religious)
***Note: no information from this page can be used without
written
permission from the family involved.
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