Mr James and Mrs Reardon

Meet the people of the KellyGang story

Importance of Mr and Mrs Margaret Reardon

Mr Reardon was taken by the KellyGang to break the railway line at Glenrowan. The family imprisoned in the Inn and shot at by police

The Reardon family

Children Ann, Michael, Thomas, Mary, Catherine, Helena,William, Bridget

Links to the KellyGang

Our role in the siege
We were awoken by Ned Kelly at about 2am on Saturday morning. I was taken off to break the railway line and my family was taken up to the station master's house. (RC10526) (Argus8/7/80) (BWC) (JJK)

I gave the papers an interview (SMH30/6/80)
My wife gave the Argus and Daily Telegraph an interview and they reported her comments (Argus29/6/80) (Daily Telegraph 29/6/80)
Our son Michael was shot through the shoulder by the police at the siege. We tried to escape from the Inn but the police kept on firing at our family. My eldest son decided to return to the Inn and he was shot on his way back near the front door. They took him to the Wangaratta Hospital. Sup Sadlier mentioned this in his report to the Commissioner of Police. (Argus29/6/80)

First meeting with the KellyGang, taking up the tracks
It was 2.20am on Sunday 27/6/1880 when the KellyGang took me from my own place to break the line. When I heard the dogs barking, making a row, and I got up and dressed myself and and went outside the door, and heard a horse whinneying down by the railway line, and I went towards where I heard the horse. I thought it was the horse of a friend, and I went down, and Sullivan was coming through the railway fence, and I said, "What is the matter?" and he said, "I am taken prisoner by this man." Ned Kelly came up and put a revolver to my cheek and said, "What is your name?" and I said "Reardon," and he said, "I want you to come up and break the line." he said, "I was in Beechworth last night, and I had a great contract with the police-I have shot a lot of them, and I expect a train from Benalla with a lot of police and black-fellows, and I am going to kill all the." I said, "For God's sake, do not take me-I have got a large family to look after." This conversation continued, see (RC7607) (RC10526).

Ned Kelly took my wife and seven or eight children to the station. When we came to this small tool-house, that chest was broken and the tools lying out on the side of the line. He said, "Pick up what tools you want," and I took two spanners and a hammer, and I said, "I have no more to take," and he said, "Where are your bars?" and I said, "Two or three miles away;" I said, "In front of my place," and he sent Steve Hart for them. They then took me down the track and set me to work. (Argus30/6/80) (RC7607)

After speding about 2 hours breaking the rails we came back to Stanistreet's home and stayed there for about 2 hours. (RC7611)

Imprisoned in Jones's Inn
I was taken to Jones's Inn about 6am on Sunday (RC7604)
Just before the train arrived Dan Kelly said, "Now you can all go home," and I stood up and picked up one of my children in my arms, Martin Cherry picked up Ryan's child, and Mrs. Jones stood 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." A little later I had a conversation with Ned Kelly. (RC7627)

Sup Hare and his police arrive
When the police first came the people were all going about the rooms, from one room to another, and Const Bracken came to the room where we were in and said, "Lie down as flat as you possibly can on the floor, it is the only chance you have got," and we did so.(RC10551)
Margaret was in the back room (RC10576)

Tying to leave the Inn
Soon after Sadlier's party arrived I tried to leave the Inn with my baby in my arms. Mr Dowsett called out to me. (RC10906) See also (RC7774.7388) (RC10321) and the arrival of Sgt Steele. (Age29/6/80) (Argus21/7/80) (Argus28/3/82) (Argus28/3/82) (Argus29/3/82) (Argus30/3/82) (Argus31/3/82) (CHC) (JJK)

Const Arthur was at north side of the Inn at the time when my wife tried to leave the Inn. He told the Royal Commission in part, 'She screamed out as loud as she could, and had a child in her arms, and when she came out Sgt Steele sang out, "Throw up your hands, or I will shoot you like a dog" and the woman was coming towards him, and he fired.' I came out of the back passage, near the kitchen. (RC11125) See also (RC10335) (RC11320) (Argus6/12/81)
Sgt Steele provided clarification of his earlier comments about Mrs Reardon. (RC14062)
Mrs Reardon was finally put in a tain carriage (Argus5/7/80) (RC10042)
See Mrs Reardon's statement (Argus29/6/80) (DailyTelegraph)

Arrival of the police from Wangaratta
I met the police from Wangaratta and Mr Marsden at about 5.50am with a lantern down near where the track had been taken up on the north side of Glenrowan. (RC13983)

The fate of our son (Argus30/6/80) (Herald3/7/80) (Argus6/7/80)

Account of Royal Commission criticized (Argus10/2/82)

Ned Kellys Trial /10/1880

My son was finally able to leave hospital (Argus6/8/80) (Kilmore12/8/1880)

Later
My wife and I gave evidence against Mrs Jones on a charge of harbouring the KellyGang. (Argus26/11/80) (Argus26/11/80)

James showed the Royal Commissioners around when they came to Glenrowan and the commissioners met our son. He still had a bullet in his chest. (Argus16/5/81)

Margaret Reardon gave evidence to the Royal Commission on 8/7/1881 (RC10526).
James Reardon gave evidence to the Royal Commission on 14/5/1881 (RC7602) 8/6/1881 (RC10693).

See what the press had to say about our evidence (Argus16/5/81) (Argus9/6/81)

The Royal Commission reported on the events at Glenrowan and in part stated:
"After the first volley some of the female prisoners in the hotel escaped; but at the time Sergeant Steele took up his position, close to the rear of the hotel, Mrs. Reardon and some members of her family endeavored to make their escape. Mrs. Reardon, who had a child in her arms covered with a shawl, states distinctly that Sergeant Steele deliberately fired at her, and produced, before the Commission, a shawl perforated apparently by a bullet. Steele denies the allegation; but admits having shot young Reardon who, it is asserted, neglected, when ordered, to put up his hands. The ball or pellet fired entered his breast, and lodged beneath the ribs, but did not cause death. Indeed, the firing at this time, by all accounts, seems to have been indiscriminate, the blacks particularly being industrious in potting away at the premises. " (RC2nd reportXV)

I gave evidence to the inquiry to review the Royal Commission's decision relating to Sgt Steele. (Argus28/3/82)

Michael Reardon b d Ireland m (1)Mary Caughly m1832 (2)Ann Desmond

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James Reardon b1834 Ireland d1902 Glenrowan m1860 Margaret Leahy b1843 d

Ellen Reardon b1835 d1895 Violet Town m Andrew CONSIDINE

Honora Therese Reardon b1843 d1904 Yarrawonga m1860 Neil MCCOLL

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Ann Reardon b1862 died in infancy

Michael Reardon b1863 d1942 m1907 Mary Ellen Hannon

Thomas Patrick Reardon b1864 d1940 m1908 Agnes (Maria) Cecillia Tratford

Mary Elizabeth Reardon b1867 d m George TRATFORD

Catherine Reardon b1872 d m Frederick SLY

Helena Mary Reardon b1875 d 1876appox John Sydney SMITH

William Thomas Reardon b1877 d1956

Bridget Margaret Reardon b1880 d1966 m John George GRIFFITHS

John Patrick Reardon b1883 d1966

Eliza Reardon b1886 d

Ellen Considine b1861 d

Mary Considine b1862 m Edward NORTON

Johanna Considine b1864 d m1885 Henry BERGER

Michael Considine

John Considine

Catherine McColl b1860 d m Thomas GRAHAM

Angus McColl b1883 d

Amelia Catherine McColl b1885 d m1911 Alfred Ernest PARTELLE

Adeline May McColl b1888 d m1903 Thomas William RICHARDS

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Alma Kathleen Reardon

John Desmond Reardon

Leahy Michael Reardon

Desmond James Reardon

Nancy Cecillia Reardon

Margaret Ann Tratford

James Joseph Tratford

Ellen Tratford

Mary Magdalene Tratford

Leslie James Sly

Frederick Sly

Margaret Mary (Rita) Sly

Margaret Mary (Peg) Smith

Bernard James Smith

Helana Isabella Smith

John Sydney Smith

Arthur Basil Smith

John James Giffiths

Edward George Griffiths

Leonard Leslie Griffiths

Dulcie Margaret Griffiths

John Joseph Berger

Edward Henry Berger

William Robert Berger

Lillie Frances Berger

Catherine Christine Ann Graham

Alfred Robert Harvey Partelle

Allan David (Spud) Partelle

Ernest Clifford Partelle

Amelia May Richards

Thomas William John Richards

Malchom Thomas Richards

Charles Donald Richards

please see also http://www.haleycentral.com/phpGedView/family.php?famid=F13440

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14-feb-12