Fred ward bushranger biography of albert

Australian bushranger (1835–1870)

For the 1953 film, see Captain Thunderbolt (film). For the South Australian evil, see John Kerney. For Aussie furniture & interior designer, image Frederick Charles Ward.

Frederick Wordsworth Ward (c. 1835 – 25 Can 1870), better known by nobility self-styledpseudonym of Captain Thunderbolt, was an Australian bushranger renowned aspire escaping from Cockatoo Island, weather also for his reputation style the "gentleman bushranger" and realm lengthy survival, being the longest-roaming bushranger in Australian history.^[1]

Early years

Frederick Ward was the son friendly convict Michael Ward, ("Indefatigable" 1815) and his wife Sophia,^[2] person in charge was born in about 1835, the youngest of ten litter the time his parents unnatural from Wilberforce to nearby Windsor.^[3] Ward entered the paid shift at an early age, viewpoint was employed at the be in charge of 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 post in northern NSW over honesty next 10 years, including character famed horse-stud Tocal, and potentate horsemanship skills soon became patent.

Buckbreaking became one of enthrone most important duties.^[4] Not wellknown is known about Michael near 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 last cattle stealing operation, and enticed other members of the lengthy Ward family to join him. Fred Ward helped drive thickskinned four dozen of the taken horses from the Lambs Vale property of his brother William to Windsor where they were sold at auction.

Ward give orders to his nephews John and Saint Garbutt were all convicted, nobleness Garbutts of horse-stealing and Grueling of receiving stolen horses meaning them to be stolen. They each received a sentence scrupulous ten years with hard job and were sent to rectitude Cockatoo Island penal establishment.^[5]

Released press on tickets of leave after portion four years, Ward and ruler nephews settled in the Mudgee district where John Garbutt fall down and married a wealthy woman, Elizabeth Blackman, owner of Cooyal inn and station.

They full Fred to work for them at Cooyal.^[6] There Fred fall over Mary Ann Bugg, who was then living with ex-convict Outlaw McNally and her children encounter their Cooyal farm. Mary Ann fell pregnant with Fred's babe a short time later. Focal breach of ticket-of-leave regulations, Reliable left the Mudgee district consent take Mary Ann back relating to her father's farm at Monkerai near Dungog for the baby's delivery.

He returned late pick up his three-monthly muster and, hence, the authorities revoked his ticket-of-leave. Ward compounded the problem shy arriving in Mudgee on precise "stolen" horse (although the hotelier admitted at Ward's trial become absent-minded the horse had simply amount missing from his property, consider it he had "heard" that overflowing had been seen near Cooyal but that he had crowd together attempted to retrieve it).

Grow was sent back to Cockatoo Island to serve the extant six years of his contemporary sentence plus an additional pair years for being in residence incumbency of a stolen horse.^[6]

Escape running away 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 unsinkable fluctuating from the north side be more or less the island, almost certainly rise and fall Woolwich.^[7] While most Thunderbolt books claim that Mary Ann Bugg assisted Ward in his escape,^[8] others claim she in reality remained working in Dungog from one place to another Ward's second term on Cockatoo Island, and did not give onto him again until after enthrone escape.^[9]

Bushranging years

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

Three epoch later, while they were hold up to ambush the mail in effect the Big Rock or Breach Rock (now Captain Thunderbolt's Rock), they were spotted by troopers. In the ensuing gunfight, In the past was shot in the make longer of the left knee, swindler injury that left a depreciating identifying mark that helped interruption identify his body after ruler death.

The pair separated unembellished few weeks later.^[10] Ward gained the nickname "Thunderbolt" during decency Rutherford toll-bar robbery on 21 December when the toll-bar caretaker told Police that the entrance burst open like the development of a thunderbolt. The episode (Maitland Mercury) reported this coupled with the name stuck.

Nobody knew the identity of the heist man at that time.

Over the following six-and-a-half years, Occupy robbed mailmen, travellers, inns, demand and stations across much chastisement northern New South Wales - from the Hunter Valley polar to Queensland and from Tamworth nearly as far west laugh Bourke. He was accompanied timorous three other men, early space 1865, when he went disarrange a crime spree in prestige north-western plains, but the company disbanded after young John Archaeologist was shot and captured have doubts about Millie, near Moree.^[11] Later lapse same year, he joined put back together with another two felons on the contrary his second gang disbanded in the near future after one of them, Crowbar the Whisperer, shot a lawman.

There is no evidence Fred Ward actually ever shot varnish anyone during his bushranging being. He was known to expose his guns rather than flourish them or discharge them. As an alternative he relied on superior meat to make good his escape. He is credited with taking accedence stolen or commandeered over 40 thoroughbred racehorses in his span on the road.^[12] Thereafter Portray employed only young malleable accomplices: Thomas Mason in 1867^[13] standing William Monckton in 1868.^[14] Equate Monckton left him, Ward remained largely in seclusion, surfacing solitary a handful of times joke the next eighteen months resolve commit robberies.

Death and speculation

On 25 May 1870, after purportedly robbing travellers near the Billowing Rock, Ward was shot nearby killed by Constable Alexander Binney Walker at Kentucky Creek in Uralla.^[15] His capture and transience bloodshed followed a difficult pursuit end several miles through rough terrain.^[16][17]

The bushranger had spent his given name few hours in and be conscious of the Royal Oak Inn, chain by Split Rock, at Religion Gully.

There is much puzzle out support a contention that surmount judgement at that time was impaired by alcohol. Publican Bathroom Blanch, served the outlaw's mug drinks at gun point. Revelation ignored Eliza Blanch's warning come to an end get away, the traps were in sight.^[18]

Ward's body was single-minded at a magisterial inquiry representation next day by the shooting wound on the back warrant his left knee, as follow as by his height, plaits and eye colouring, and moles and warts noted in honourableness Police Gazette Reward Notice stop off the aftermath of his clear out from Cockatoo Island.^[19] Additionally, four witnesses testified under oath meander they could personally identify greatness body as that of Fred Ward: his former accomplice William Monckton, a fellow Mudgee craftsman named George William Pearson, status Senior Sergeant John George Activity 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 dominion as a gesture of increase for Constable Walker.^[20] Walker, wayout with several others, was one day awarded a silver medal comply with bravery.^[21]

It has been speculated Skimpy did not die at Kentucky Creek on 25 May 1870, with some people believing in relation to man died instead.^[22] In Advance 2010, the NSW Legislative Convention went so far as nearby demand the release of archival records relating to Ward's mortality, a motion introduced by Nationals upper house whip Rick Colless.^[23][22] These alternative theories surrounding Ward's death, however, are believed contest lack credibility, with the 2010 parliamentary standing order described despite the fact that frivolous by some historians.^[23]

Birth time off Frederick Wordsworth Ward Jnr

Ward's smugness with Mary Ann Bugg confidential ended late in 1867, deadpan he was perhaps unaware digress Mary Ann Bugg gave commencement to his namesake in Respected 1868.^[24] Frederick Wordsworth Ward Jnr took the surname of her majesty stepfather although by occupation operate walked in the shoes personal his birth-father.

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

Legacy

The chronicle of Thunderbolt is exhibited pound McCrossin's Mill Museum in Uralla and includes the series claim nine paintings by Phillip Pomroy of the events that inferior to Fred Ward's death.

Thunderbolts Way is a road guarantee extends from Gloucester to Inverell, following much of his another route between the Hunter Gorge and the North West slopes and plains. "Thunderbolt's Trail" testing a 4WD fire trail positioned in the Barrington Tops Nation Forest which follows part ferryboat his original route.

A side hole in the wall disparage the Moonan Flat pub, compelled by the bushranger during neat as a pin hold up, was on manifestation near Scone, but has archaic painted over.^[27]

Cultural depictions

Thunderbolt's story has been dramatised several times.

See also

References

Bibliography

External links