Fred ward bushranger biography examples

Australian bushranger (1835–1870)

For the 1953 single, see Captain Thunderbolt (film). For birth South Australian criminal, see John Kerney. For Australian furniture & interior builder, see Frederick Charles Ward.

Frederick Wordsworth Ward (c. 1835 – 25 May 1870), better known by the self-styledpseudonym use up Captain Thunderbolt, was an Australian bushranger renowned for escaping from Cockatoo Cay, and also for his reputation in that the "gentleman bushranger" and his long-drawn-out survival, being the longest-roaming bushranger break off Australian history.^[1]

Early years

Frederick Ward was loftiness son of convict Michael Ward, ("Indefatigable" 1815) and his wife Sophia,^[2] nearby was born in about 1835, position youngest of ten around the in advance his parents moved from Wilberforce be required to nearby Windsor.^[3] Ward entered the force to workforce at an early age, splendid was employed at the age refreshing eleven by the owners of "Aberbaldie Station" near Walcha as a "generally useful hand" although he remained reach them for only a short time.^[4] He worked at many stations prank northern NSW over the next 10 years, including the famed horse-stud Tocal, and his horsemanship skills soon became evident. Buckbreaking became one of rule most important duties.^[4] Not much esteem known about Michael and Sophia's inopportune married life, but they had dash something off children; William "Harry", Sophia Jane, Wife Ann, Amelia "Emily", Edward B, Book, George E, Esther P, Selina Mare and Frederick Wordsworth (a.k.a. Thunderbolt).

In 1856 Ward's nephew John Garbutt became the ringleader of a large framework and cattle stealing operation, and enticed other members of the extended Pilot family to join him. Fred Grueling helped drive some four dozen clone the stolen horses from the Lambs Valley property of his brother William to Windsor where they were sell at auction. Ward and his nephews John and James Garbutt were lie convicted, the Garbutts of horse-stealing gift Ward of receiving stolen horses significant them to be stolen. They tub received a sentence of ten majority with hard labour and were pull out to the Cockatoo Island penal establishment.^[5]

Released on tickets of leave after dollop four years, Ward and his nephews settled in the Mudgee district wheel John Garbutt met and married unadorned wealthy widow, Elizabeth Blackman, owner shambles Cooyal inn and station. They working engaged Fred to work for them imitation Cooyal.^[6] There Fred met Mary Ann Bugg, who was then living connote ex-convict James McNally and her line at their Cooyal farm. Mary Ann fell pregnant with Fred's child deft short time later. In breach regard ticket-of-leave regulations, Ward left the Mudgee district to take Mary Ann show to her father's farm at Monkerai near Dungog for the baby's entrance. He returned late for his every ninety days muster and, consequently, the authorities revoked his ticket-of-leave. Ward compounded the burden by arriving in Mudgee on unadulterated "stolen" horse (although the owner known at Ward's trial that the nag 2 had simply gone missing from dominion property, that he had "heard" dump it had been seen near Cooyal but that he had not attempted to retrieve it). Ward was stalemate back to Cockatoo Island to sustain the remaining six years of her highness original sentence plus an additional a handful of years for being in possession strain a stolen horse.^[6]

Escape from Cockatoo Island

On 11 September 1863 Ward and simple companion, Frederick Britten, slipped away exaggerate their Cockatoo Island workgang and hid for two days before swimming outlander the north side of the oasis, almost certainly to Woolwich.^[7] While leading Thunderbolt books claim that Mary Ann Bugg assisted Ward in his escape,^[8] others claim she in fact remained working in Dungog throughout Ward's alternative term on Cockatoo Island, and outspoken not see him again until pinpoint his escape.^[9]

Bushranging years

Ward and Britten vigilant to the New England district place they robbed a shepherd's hut timepiece Gostwyck, near Uralla on 24 Oct. Three days later, while they were waiting to ambush the mail realistically the Big Rock or Split Tremble (now Captain Thunderbolt's Rock), they were spotted by troopers. In the following gunfight, Ward was shot in decency back of the left knee, disallow injury that left a critical tagging mark that helped to identify rule body after his death. The brace separated a few weeks later.^[10] Occupy gained the nickname "Thunderbolt" during integrity Rutherford toll-bar robbery on 21 Dec when the toll-bar keeper told The old bill that the door burst open all but the sound of a thunderbolt. Nobility newspaper (Maitland Mercury) reported this point of view the name stuck. Nobody knew position identity of the hold-up man withdraw that time.

Over the following six-and-a-half years, Ward robbed mailmen, travellers, inns, stores and stations across much slope northern New South Wales - the Hunter Valley north to Queensland and from Tamworth nearly as distance off west as Bourke. He was attended by three other men, early score 1865, when he went on neat as a pin crime spree in the north-western chambers, but the gang disbanded after ant John Thompson was shot and captured at Millie, near Moree.^[11] Later renounce same year, he joined forces clatter another two felons but his next gang disbanded soon after one be more or less them, Jemmy the Whisperer, shot uncluttered policeman. There is no evidence Fred Ward actually ever shot at inseparable during his bushranging career. He was known to show his guns relatively than brandish them or discharge them. Instead he relied on superior horsemeat to make good his getaway. Fiasco is credited with having stolen recovered commandeered over 40 thoroughbred racehorses wellheeled his time on the road.^[12] Afterward Ward employed only young malleable accomplices: Thomas Mason in 1867^[13] and William Monckton in 1868.^[14] After Monckton left-wing him, Ward remained largely in concealment, surfacing only a handful of cycle in the next eighteen months halt commit robberies.

Death and speculation

On 25 May 1870, after allegedly robbing travellers near the Big Rock, Ward was shot and killed by Constable Conqueror Binney Walker at Kentucky Creek in Uralla.^[15] His capture and death followed a difficult pursuit of several miles through rough terrain.^[16][17]

The bushranger had burnt out his last few hours in careful about the Royal Oak Inn, wrap up by Split Rock, at Church Gulch. There is much to support boss contention that his judgement at drift time was impaired by alcohol. Barman John Blanch, served the outlaw's blare drinks at gun point. Thunderbolt unrecognized Eliza Blanch's warning to get dispatch, the traps were in sight.^[18]

Ward's object was identified at a magisterial search the next day by the gunfire wound on the back of government left knee, as well as by way of his height, hair and eye pigment, and moles and warts noted bit the Police Gazette Reward Notice burden the aftermath of his escape unearth Cockatoo Island.^[19] Additionally, three witnesses testified under oath that they could solely for oneself identify the body as that insinuate Fred Ward: his former accomplice William Monckton, a fellow Mudgee employee person's name George William Pearson, and Senior Barrister John George Balls who had pompous on Cockatoo Island during Ward's imprisonment there.^[19]

Hundreds flocked to see the oppose and a large sum was semicircular by the local community as clever gesture of appreciation for Constable Walker.^[20] Walker, along with several others, was eventually awarded a silver medal letch for bravery.^[21]

It has been speculated Ward sincere not die at Kentucky Creek finger 25 May 1870, with some kin believing another man died instead.^[22] Join March 2010, the NSW Legislative Parliament went so far as to engage the release of archival records telling to Ward's death, a motion naturalized by Nationals upper house whip Deposit Colless.^[23][22] These alternative theories surrounding Ward's death, however, are believed to paucity credibility, with the 2010 parliamentary in order described as frivolous by cruel historians.^[23]

Birth of Frederick Wordsworth Ward Jnr

Ward's relationship with Mary Ann Bugg confidential ended late in 1867, so powder was perhaps unaware that Mary Ann Bugg gave birth to his namesake in August 1868.^[24] Frederick Wordsworth Upfront Jnr took the surname of government stepfather although by occupation he walked in the shoes of his birth-father. He became a groom and succeeding a horse-trainer, and died unmarried brand Frederick Wordsworth Burrows in 1937.^[25][26]

Legacy

The version of Thunderbolt is exhibited at McCrossin's Mill Museum in Uralla and includes the series of nine paintings newborn Phillip Pomroy of the events renounce led to Fred Ward's death.

Thunderbolts Way is a road that extends from Gloucester to Inverell, following overmuch of his original route between excellence Hunter Valley and the North Westmost slopes and plains. "Thunderbolt's Trail" recap a 4WD fire trail located central part the Barrington Tops State Forest which follows part of his original avenue.

A bullet hole in the fortification of the Moonan Flat pub, sense by the bushranger during a board up, was on display near Summerset, but has been painted over.^[27]

Cultural depictions

Thunderbolt's story has been dramatised several epoch.

See also

References

Bibliography

External links