REMEMBERING JOHN JOSEPH
The dedication of a plaque at the White Hills Cemetery in Bendigo to commemorate the contribution of John Joseph, an African American, (who is known to be interred at White Hills but his grave is unmarked), who fought as one of the diggers in the Stockade, by US Ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy on February 27 was a major event for Eureka Australia and the Eureka Story.
John Joseph was arrested and charged with treason, was the first of the 13 who were sent to trial by the Colonial Administration and was acquitted by the Jury to great acclaim on the streets of Melbourne in early 1855, setting the precedent for the not guilty outcomes for other 12 men charged. The dedication and planting of an American Oak by the Ambassador supplemented the plaque unveiling and the event brought many facts to the fore. Joseph at the time, as an African American did not enjoy the full citizenship rights of other Americans and so received no assistance in his trial preparation from the American consul in Melbourne, unlike assistance given to a number of other Americans at Eureka.
John Joseph was arrested and charged with treason, was the first of the 13 who were sent to trial by the Colonial Administration and was acquitted by the Jury to great acclaim on the streets of Melbourne in early 1855, setting the precedent for the not guilty outcomes for other 12 men charged. The dedication and planting of an American Oak by the Ambassador supplemented the plaque unveiling and the event brought many facts to the fore. Joseph at the time, as an African American did not enjoy the full citizenship rights of other Americans and so received no assistance in his trial preparation from the American consul in Melbourne, unlike assistance given to a number of other Americans at Eureka.
US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy at the White Hills Cemetery ceremony, with Eric and Mary Howard
This injustice and the associated social justice issues facing African Americans at the time in the US were highlighted by Ambassador Kennedy, who remarked that John Joseph enjoyed more rights here in Victoria than were available to him in the US. He was offered free legal support by HS Chapman and BC Aspinall, two famous names associated with the aftermath of Eureka and our journey to a more democratic society, and he was cheered through the streets of Melbourne after his acquittal at the Supreme Court. The Melbourne public knew that a great injustice had been visited upon the diggers at Eureka, who were representative of all goldfields communities across Victoria and their response to Eureka exemplified by the jury decisions of not guilty were symbolic of the deep community concern which turbocharged major and rapid change to political, social and economic rights for average citizens, especially impacting the goldfield communities.
This celebration by the US Government was a fitting tribute for John Joseph. EA is not sure how many of the 100 or so survivors of the stockade battle who remained in Australia have a suitable gravestone identifying that fact, or indeed any gravestone at all. That remains a work in progress.
Any thoughts from members as to how EA could address this would be welcomed.
This injustice and the associated social justice issues facing African Americans at the time in the US were highlighted by Ambassador Kennedy, who remarked that John Joseph enjoyed more rights here in Victoria than were available to him in the US. He was offered free legal support by HS Chapman and BC Aspinall, two famous names associated with the aftermath of Eureka and our journey to a more democratic society, and he was cheered through the streets of Melbourne after his acquittal at the Supreme Court. The Melbourne public knew that a great injustice had been visited upon the diggers at Eureka, who were representative of all goldfields communities across Victoria and their response to Eureka exemplified by the jury decisions of not guilty were symbolic of the deep community concern which turbocharged major and rapid change to political, social and economic rights for average citizens, especially impacting the goldfield communities.
This celebration by the US Government was a fitting tribute for John Joseph. EA is not sure how many of the 100 or so survivors of the stockade battle who remained in Australia have a suitable gravestone identifying that fact, or indeed any gravestone at all. That remains a work in progress.
Any thoughts from members as to how EA could address this would be welcomed.
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It was a milestone event for EA.
EA presented Ambassador Kennedy with our EA lapel pin plus a copy of Eureka: Australia’s Greatest Story, with the handwritten note from the President in the first page of the book as shown left. |
