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Executions

A total of 16 men were executed at Maitland Gaol between 1843 and 1897.

The executions carried out were public hangings until 1851. After this time it was thought improper that women and children should be witness to such events and the remaining executions that took place at the Gaol happened privately inside the walls. The executions were carried out at a number of locations around the gaol including, it is believed, the main gates and the back corner behind the original kitchen building. 

The first executions took place on the site in 1843 with the execution of two aboriginal men named Melville and Harry. After petitioning the NSW Government to have the Gaol erected in East Maitland progress had been very slow, so as an appeasement to the people the two men sentenced to hang in Newcastle were brought to this site by steamer and kept in wooden cells until their execution date. The Maitland Mercury reported that a crowd turned out to witness the execution, after which the bodies were left hanging for one hour before being removed from the temporary scaffold.

The last man executed was Charles Hines in May 1897 for raping his step daughter. Hines maintained his innocence until he took his last breath.

There is a booklet titled ‘Hurled into Eternity’ available in the Maitland Gaol gift shop.

October 18, 1843

Melville

Age unknown
Murder

Harry

Age unknown
Murder

October 18, 1843
March 19, 1849

George Waters Ward

Age 40
Murder

March 19, 1849
April 25, 1851

William Hayes

Age 41
Murder

April 25, 1851
October 2, 1851

Michael Collihane

Age 36
Rape

October 2, 1851
March 29, 1852

Patrick McNamara

Age 28
Murder

March 29, 1852
April 4, 1854

Daniel Gardiner

Age 39
Murder

April 4, 1854
September 28, 1854

Christopher Walsh

Age 34
Murder

September 28, 1854
November 22, 1859

William Ross

Age 26
Murder

Jemmy

Age 25
Murder

November 22, 1859
April 26, 1860

Jim Crow

Age 23
Rape

John Jones

Age unknown
Murder

April 26, 1860
November 6, 1861

Harry

Age 24
Murder

November 6, 1861
October 2, 1863

Henry Wilson

Age 20
Murder

October 2, 1863
December 12, 1871

Michael McMahon

Age 60
Murder

December 12, 1871
May 21, 1897

Charles Hines

Age 51
Rape

May 21, 1897

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