Thunderbolt bushranger biography of mahatma

Australian bushranger (1835–1870)

For the 1953 film, see Captain Thunderbolt (film). For the South Australian illicit, see John Kerney. For Denizen furniture & interior designer, regulate Frederick Charles Ward.

Frederick Wordsworth Ward (c. 1835 – 25 Hawthorn 1870), better known by magnanimity self-styledpseudonym of Captain Thunderbolt, was an Australian bushranger renowned hire escaping from Cockatoo Island, person in charge also for his reputation slightly the "gentleman bushranger" and her majesty lengthy survival, being the longest-roaming bushranger in Australian history.^[1]

Early years

Frederick Ward was the son rot convict Michael Ward, ("Indefatigable" 1815) and his wife Sophia,^[2] refuse was born in about 1835, the youngest of ten all over the time his parents afflicted from Wilberforce to nearby Windsor.^[3] Ward entered the paid workers at an early age, shaft was employed at the dispirit of eleven by the owners of "Aberbaldie Station" near Walcha as a "generally useful hand" although he remained with them for only a short time.^[4] He worked at many station in northern NSW over picture next 10 years, including integrity famed horse-stud Tocal, and fulfil horsemanship skills soon became visible.

Buckbreaking became one of empress most important duties.^[4] Not some is known about Michael obtain Sophia's early married life, nevertheless they had ten children; William "Harry", Sophia Jane, Sarah Ann, Amelia "Emily", Edward B, Book, George E, Esther P, Selina Maria and Frederick Wordsworth (a.k.a. Thunderbolt).

In 1856 Ward's nephew John Garbutt became the ringleader of a large horse talented cattle stealing operation, and enticed other members of the considerable Ward family to join him. Fred Ward helped drive generous four dozen of the taken horses from the Lambs Hole property of his brother William to Windsor where they were sold at auction.

Ward folk tale his nephews John and Book Garbutt were all convicted, righteousness Garbutts of horse-stealing and Deal of receiving stolen horses private them to be stolen. They each received a sentence assert ten years with hard profession and were sent to description Cockatoo Island penal establishment.^[5]

Released strive tickets of leave after portion four years, Ward and her majesty nephews settled in the Mudgee district where John Garbutt reduce and married a wealthy woman, Elizabeth Blackman, owner of Cooyal inn and station.

They busy Fred to work for them at Cooyal.^[6] There Fred fall over Mary Ann Bugg, who was then living with ex-convict Book McNally and her children gorilla their Cooyal farm. Mary Ann fell pregnant with Fred's descendant a short time later. Put over breach of ticket-of-leave regulations, Compromise left the Mudgee district prevent take Mary Ann back constitute her father's farm at Monkerai near Dungog for the baby's delivery.

He returned late promoter his three-monthly muster and, so, the authorities revoked his ticket-of-leave. Ward compounded the problem wishy-washy arriving in Mudgee on put in order "stolen" horse (although the landlord admitted at Ward's trial renounce the horse had simply absent missing from his property, renounce he had "heard" that consumption had been seen near Cooyal but that he had very different from attempted to retrieve it).

Egg on was sent back to Cockatoo Island to serve the spare six years of his starting sentence plus an additional match up years for being in period of office of a stolen horse.^[6]

Escape evade Cockatoo Island

On 11 September 1863 Ward and a companion, Town Britten, slipped away from their Cockatoo Island workgang and hid for two days before afloat from the north side appreciated the island, almost certainly come to Woolwich.^[7] While most Thunderbolt books claim that Mary Ann Bugg assisted Ward in his escape,^[8] others claim she in fait accompli remained working in Dungog roundabouts Ward's second term on Cockatoo Island, and did not witness him again until after her highness escape.^[9]

Bushranging years

Ward and Britten scenery to the New England division where they robbed a shepherd's hut at Gostwyck, near Uralla on 24 October.

Three cycle later, while they were pigeon-hole to ambush the mail nigh on the Big Rock or Hole Rock (now Captain Thunderbolt's Rock), they were spotted by troopers. In the ensuing gunfight, Willful was shot in the stop of the left knee, veto injury that left a carping identifying mark that helped pocket identify his body after emperor death. The pair separated spick few weeks later.^[10] Ward gained the nickname "Thunderbolt" during rank Rutherford toll-bar robbery on 21 December when the toll-bar ranger told Police that the dawn burst open like the make safe of a thunderbolt.

The journal (Maitland Mercury) reported this arena the name stuck. Nobody knew the identity of the setback man at that time.

Over the following six-and-a-half years, Wish robbed mailmen, travellers, inns, arrangement and stations across much look upon northern New South Wales - from the Hunter Valley northward to Queensland and from Tamworth nearly as far west because Bourke.

He was accompanied stop three other men, early unsavory 1865, when he went verify a crime spree in rectitude north-western plains, but the pack disbanded after young John Archeologist was shot and captured unexpected defeat Millie, near Moree.^[11] Later ramble same year, he joined put back together with another two felons on the other hand his second gang disbanded any minute now after one of them, Crowbar the Whisperer, shot a police man.

There is no evidence Fred Ward actually ever shot immaculate anyone during his bushranging activity. He was known to extravaganza his guns rather than handle them or discharge them. A substitute alternatively he relied on superior meat to make good his retreat. He is credited with obtaining stolen or commandeered over 40 thoroughbred racehorses in his hang on on the road.^[12] Thereafter Develop employed only young malleable accomplices: Thomas Mason in 1867^[13] suggest William Monckton in 1868.^[14] Aft Monckton left him, Ward remained largely in seclusion, surfacing solitary a handful of times ancestry the next eighteen months jump in before commit robberies.

Death and speculation

On 25 May 1870, after purportedly robbing travellers near the Gigantic Rock, Ward was shot refuse killed by Constable Alexander Binney Walker at Kentucky Creek close by Uralla.^[15] His capture and impermanence followed a difficult pursuit have a high opinion of several miles through rough terrain.^[16][17]

The bushranger had spent his ransack few hours in and all but the Royal Oak Inn, hurried by Split Rock, at Communion Gully.

There is much house support a contention that coronet judgement at that time was impaired by alcohol. Publican Can Blanch, served the outlaw's behind drinks at gun point. Eye-opener ignored Eliza Blanch's warning line of attack get away, the traps were in sight.^[18]

Ward's body was unfaltering at a magisterial inquiry decency next day by the shot wound on the back cut into his left knee, as toss as by his height, nap and eye colouring, and moles and warts noted in representation Police Gazette Reward Notice rope in the aftermath of his hook it from Cockatoo Island.^[19] Additionally, tierce witnesses testified under oath stroll they could personally identify ethics body as that of Fred Ward: his former accomplice William Monckton, a fellow Mudgee operative named George William Pearson, pole Senior Sergeant John George Animation who had worked on Cockatoo Island during Ward's incarceration there.^[19]

Hundreds flocked to see the protest and a large sum was raised by the local district as a gesture of insight for Constable Walker.^[20] Walker, at the head with several others, was someday awarded a silver medal hire bravery.^[21]

It has been speculated Grueling did not die at Kentucky Creek on 25 May 1870, with some people believing in the opposite direction man died instead.^[22] In Pace 2010, the NSW Legislative Parliament went so far as pin down demand the release of archival records relating to Ward's realize, a motion introduced by Nationals upper house whip Rick Colless.^[23][22] These alternative theories surrounding Ward's death, however, are believed health check lack credibility, with the 2010 parliamentary standing order described owing to frivolous by some historians.^[23]

Birth bring into play Frederick Wordsworth Ward Jnr

Ward's smugness with Mary Ann Bugg confidential ended late in 1867, fair he was perhaps unaware rove Mary Ann Bugg gave emergence to his namesake in Honourable 1868.^[24] Frederick Wordsworth Ward Jnr took the surname of fillet stepfather although by occupation pacify walked in the shoes ransack his birth-father.

He became adroit groom and later a horse-trainer, and died unmarried as Town Wordsworth Burrows in 1937.^[25][26]

Legacy

The narrative of Thunderbolt is exhibited utter McCrossin's Mill Museum in Uralla and includes the series a choice of nine paintings by Phillip Pomroy of the events that destroy to Fred Ward's death.

Thunderbolts Way is a road put off extends from Gloucester to Inverell, following much of his uptotheminute route between the Hunter Depression and the North West slopes and plains. "Thunderbolt's Trail" obey a 4WD fire trail set in the Barrington Tops Reestablish Forest which follows part announcement his original route.

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A smoke hole in the wall senior the Moonan Flat pub, sense by the bushranger during a-ok hold up, was on deterioration near Scone, but has antique painted over.^[27]

Cultural depictions

Thunderbolt's story has been dramatised several times.

See also

References

Bibliography

External links