Horatio Hartley
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Horatio Hartley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1826 Ohio, United States |
| Died | 21 January 1903 (aged 77) Olympia, Washington, United States |
| Burial place | Odd Fellows Memorial Park, Tumwater, Washington, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Gold miner, prospector |
| Years active | 1849–1869 |
| Known for | Discovery of exceptional gold riches with his partner Christopher Reilly |
| Spouse | Mary Ann Griffin |
Horatio Hartley (1826–1903) was an American gold prospector who participated in the Otago gold rush in New Zealand in the 1860s.[1]
In 1862, Hartley discovered gold near Clutha River with Christopher Reilly. The location was proclaimed as the Dunstan goldfield on 23 September 1862.[2][3]
Horatio Hartley was born in Ohio, United States, in 1826. Little has been recorded of his early life until he joined the gold rush to California in 1849.[4] At this point, Hartley was 22 years old and it was in the goldfields of California he would befriend Christopher Reilly, a gold prospector from Ireland.[5]
Gold rushes
As much of his early life, Hartley's life during the California gold rush is equally poorly recorded. What is known is that both Hatley and Reilly followed the gold rush from California to the Victorian goldfields in Australia. Departing Victoria and travelling from Sydney to Auckland,[6] the pair arrived in New Zealand in 1862.[1][5]
New Zealand
Like many Victorian miners, Hartley and Reilly congregated at the Tuapeka goldfield (Lawrence) on the Clutha River (Māori: Mata-Au), although it is likely their past experience in California and Victoria drove them to search for gold in Central Otago's interior.[1]
The winter of 1862 was exceptionally severe and resulted in unseasonably low-levels of the Clutha River.[1][5][7] Hartley and Reilly worked the sides of the Cromwell Gorge for three months until they were forced to take the huge hoard of gold they had secretly amassed to the Chief Gold Receiver in Dunedin in August 1862.[8] Hartley and Reilly's discovery caused great excitement as they deposited some 87 lb (1,044 t oz) of gold,[9] sparking a gold rush to what would become known as Hartley's Beach.[10] Hartley and Reilly, in divulging the location of their rich finds (approximately one mile downstream of the confluence with the Kawarau River), were rewarded with £2000 from the Otago Provincial Government.[11] On 23 September 1862 the Dunstan goldfield was proclaimed, the selection of this name in preference to Hartley's being largely in deference to Reilly, who was 'jealous of the pre-eminence' accorded Hartley as the discoverer.[1]
Immediately after the discovery, Hartley announced his intention to visit the Coromandel goldfields.[12] Hartley assessed (and purchased into several claims)[13] in the Coromandel goldfields on behalf of Otago miners, expressing that he had never seen anything better in quartz countries.[6] Returning to Dunedin in February 1863,[1] he would leave again on 18 March from Queenstown for the West Coast via the Dart River.[14] On reaching the Awarau River, he was forced to turn back due to a shortage of provisions.[14]
