Thunderbolt bushranger biography of christopher columbus

Australian bushranger (1835–1870)

For the 1953 vinyl, see Captain Thunderbolt (film). For say publicly South Australian criminal, see John Kerney. For Australian furniture & interior constructor, see Frederick Charles Ward.

Frederick Wordsworth Ward (c. 1835 – 25 May 1870), better known by the self-styledpseudonym reproach Captain Thunderbolt, was an Australian bushranger renowned for escaping from Cockatoo Oasis, and also for his reputation kind the "gentleman bushranger" and his slow survival, being the longest-roaming bushranger attach importance to Australian history.^[1]

Early years

Frederick Ward was high-mindedness son of convict Michael Ward, ("Indefatigable" 1815) and his wife Sophia,^[2] vital was born in about 1835, say publicly youngest of ten around the generation his parents moved from Wilberforce find time for nearby Windsor.^[3] Ward entered the compel to workforce at an early age, ahead was employed at the age take in eleven by the owners of "Aberbaldie Station" near Walcha as a "generally useful hand" although he remained do better than them for only a short time.^[4] He worked at many stations perceive northern NSW over the next 10 years, including the famed horse-stud Tocal, and his horsemanship skills soon became evident. Buckbreaking became one of diadem most important duties.^[4] Not much assay known about Michael and Sophia's initially married life, but they had moist children; William "Harry", Sophia Jane, Wife Ann, Amelia "Emily", Edward B, Book, George E, Esther P, Selina Region and Frederick Wordsworth (a.k.a. Thunderbolt).

In 1856 Ward's nephew John Garbutt became the ringleader of a large plug and cattle stealing operation, and enticed other members of the extended Shabby family to join him. Fred Move ahead helped drive some four dozen admire the stolen horses from the Lambs Valley property of his brother William to Windsor where they were advertise at auction. Ward and his nephews John and James Garbutt were gratify convicted, the Garbutts of horse-stealing concentrate on Ward of receiving stolen horses denoting them to be stolen. They harangue received a sentence of ten eld with hard labour and were portend to the Cockatoo Island penal establishment.^[5]

Released on tickets of leave after ration four years, Ward and his nephews settled in the Mudgee district place John Garbutt met and married simple wealthy widow, Elizabeth Blackman, owner be partial to Cooyal inn and station. They working engaged Fred to work for them weightiness Cooyal.^[6] There Fred met Mary Ann Bugg, who was then living plea bargain ex-convict James McNally and her lineage at their Cooyal farm. Mary Ann fell pregnant with Fred's child simple short time later. In breach all but ticket-of-leave regulations, Ward left the Mudgee district to take Mary Ann answer for to her father's farm at Monkerai near Dungog for the baby's appearance. He returned late for his every thirteen weeks muster and, consequently, the authorities revoked his ticket-of-leave. Ward compounded the difficulty by arriving in Mudgee on clever "stolen" horse (although the owner common at Ward's trial that the chessman had simply gone missing from culminate property, that he had "heard" turn this way it had been seen near Cooyal but that he had not attempted to retrieve it). Ward was connote back to Cockatoo Island to save the remaining six years of rule original sentence plus an additional match up years for being in possession shop a stolen horse.^[6]

Escape from Cockatoo Island

On 11 September 1863 Ward and spruce companion, Frederick Britten, slipped away getaway their Cockatoo Island workgang and hid for two days before swimming the north side of the sanctuary, almost certainly to Woolwich.^[7] While outdo 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 following term on Cockatoo Island, and frank not see him again until stern his escape.^[9]

Bushranging years

Ward and Britten ready to the New England district ring they robbed a shepherd's hut schoolwork Gostwyck, near Uralla on 24 Oct. Three days later, while they were waiting to ambush the mail not far off the Big Rock or Split Sway (now Captain Thunderbolt's Rock), they were spotted by troopers. In the following gunfight, Ward was shot in greatness back of the left knee, more than ever injury that left a critical tag mark that helped to identify emperor body after his death. The duo separated a few weeks later.^[10] Outspoken gained the nickname "Thunderbolt" during picture Rutherford toll-bar robbery on 21 Dec when the toll-bar keeper told Boys in blue that the door burst open intend the sound of a thunderbolt. Description newspaper (Maitland Mercury) reported this wallet the name stuck. Nobody knew nobility identity of the hold-up man package that time.

Over the following six-and-a-half years, Ward robbed mailmen, travellers, inns, stores and stations across much racket northern New South Wales - take the stones out of the Hunter Valley north to Queensland and from Tamworth nearly as a good west as Bourke. He was attended by three other men, early shaggy dog story 1865, when he went on spruce crime spree in the north-western hell for leather, but the gang disbanded after sour John Thompson was shot and captured at Millie, near Moree.^[11] Later ditch same year, he joined forces additional another two felons but his above gang disbanded soon after one compensation them, Jemmy the Whisperer, shot calligraphic policeman. There is no evidence Fred Ward actually ever shot at a given during his bushranging career. He was known to show his guns to a certain extent than brandish them or discharge them. Instead he relied on superior meat to make good his getaway. Powder is credited with having stolen recovered commandeered over 40 thoroughbred racehorses rerouteing his time on the road.^[12] Next Ward employed only young malleable accomplices: Thomas Mason in 1867^[13] and William Monckton in 1868.^[14] After Monckton outstanding him, Ward remained largely in huggermugger, surfacing only a handful of bygone in the next eighteen months tolerate commit robberies.

Death and speculation

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

The bushranger had drained his last few hours in status about the Royal Oak Inn, aim by Split Rock, at Church Linn. There is much to support dinky contention that his judgement at walk time was impaired by alcohol. Barkeep John Blanch, served the outlaw's latest drinks at gun point. Thunderbolt neglected Eliza Blanch's warning to get kill, the traps were in sight.^[18]

Ward's oppose was identified at a magisterial search the next day by the shot wound on the back of ruler left knee, as well as impervious to his height, hair and eye coloring, and moles and warts noted create the Police Gazette Reward Notice hinder the aftermath of his escape unfamiliar Cockatoo Island.^[19] Additionally, three witnesses testified under oath that they could on one`s own identify the body as that go in for Fred Ward: his former accomplice William Monckton, a fellow Mudgee employee entitled George William Pearson, and Senior Lawman John George Balls who had gripped on Cockatoo Island during Ward's hindrance there.^[19]

Hundreds flocked to see the protest and a large sum was big-headed by the local community as shipshape and bristol fashion gesture of appreciation for Constable Walker.^[20] Walker, along with several others, was eventually awarded a silver medal famine bravery.^[21]

It has been speculated Ward plainspoken not die at Kentucky Creek puff up 25 May 1870, with some humanity believing another man died instead.^[22] Lineage March 2010, the NSW Legislative Meeting went so far as to wish the release of archival records description to Ward's death, a motion foreign by Nationals upper house whip Number Colless.^[23][22] These alternative theories surrounding Ward's death, however, are believed to scarcity credibility, with the 2010 parliamentary usual order described as frivolous by trying historians.^[23]

Birth of Frederick Wordsworth Ward Jnr

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

Legacy

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

Thunderbolts Way is a road that extends from Gloucester to Inverell, following often of his original route between influence Hunter Valley and the North Western slopes and plains. "Thunderbolt's Trail" laboratory analysis a 4WD fire trail located suspend the Barrington Tops State Forest which follows part of his original track.

A bullet hole in the embankment of the Moonan Flat pub, finished by the bushranger during a engage up, was on display near Enwrap, but has been painted over.^[27]

Cultural depictions

Thunderbolt's story has been dramatised several times of yore.

See also

References

Bibliography

External links