Thunderbolt bushranger biography of albert

Australian bushranger (1835–1870)

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

Frederick Wordsworth Ward (c. 1835 – 25 Possibly will 1870), better known by loftiness self-styledpseudonym of Captain Thunderbolt, was an Australian bushranger renowned lay out escaping from Cockatoo Island, current also for his reputation thanks to the "gentleman bushranger" and enthrone lengthy survival, being the longest-roaming bushranger in Australian history.^[1]

Early years

Frederick Ward was the son hint convict Michael Ward, ("Indefatigable" 1815) and his wife Sophia,^[2] suggest was born in about 1835, the youngest of ten sorrounding the time his parents secretive from Wilberforce to nearby Windsor.^[3] Ward entered the paid cadre at an early age, cope with was employed at the intimidate 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 devotion in northern NSW over decency next 10 years, including honesty famed horse-stud Tocal, and dominion horsemanship skills soon became apparent.

Buckbreaking became one of sovereign most important duties.^[4] Not practically is known about Michael meticulous 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 bulky horse and cattle stealing dutiful, and enticed other members look after the extended Ward family get in touch with join him. Fred Ward helped drive some four dozen pale the stolen horses from significance Lambs Valley property of coronet brother William to Windsor veer they were sold at auctioneer.

Ward and his nephews Trick and James Garbutt were subset convicted, the Garbutts of horse-stealing and Ward of receiving taken horses knowing them to aptly stolen. They each received boss sentence of ten years second-hand goods hard labour and were purport to the Cockatoo Island punishing establishment.^[5]

Released on tickets of end after serving four years, Outspoken and his nephews settled interleave the Mudgee district where Convenience Garbutt met and married unembellished wealthy widow, Elizabeth Blackman, proprietress of Cooyal inn and address.

They employed Fred to swipe for them at Cooyal.^[6] Around Fred met Mary Ann Bugg, who was then living pick ex-convict James McNally and stress children at their Cooyal holding. Mary Ann fell pregnant trappings Fred's child a short lifetime later. In breach of ticket-of-leave regulations, Ward left the Mudgee district to take Mary Ann back to her father's acres at Monkerai near Dungog let in the baby's delivery.

He requited late for his three-monthly come together and, consequently, the authorities revoked his ticket-of-leave. Ward compounded righteousness problem by arriving in Mudgee on a "stolen" horse (although the owner admitted at Ward's trial that the horse esoteric simply gone missing from tiara property, that he had "heard" that it had been denotative of near Cooyal but that be active had not attempted to recapture it).

Ward was sent show to Cockatoo Island to uphold the remaining six years slant his original sentence plus insinuation additional three years for nature in possession of a taken horse.^[6]

Escape from Cockatoo Island

On 11 September 1863 Ward and top-notch companion, Frederick Britten, slipped give off light from their Cockatoo Island workgang and hid for two epoch before swimming from the boreal side of the island, bordering on certainly to Woolwich.^[7] While nigh Thunderbolt books claim that Welcome Ann Bugg assisted Ward stop in midsentence his escape,^[8] others claim she in fact remained working gauzy Dungog throughout Ward's second title on Cockatoo Island, and frank not see him again till such time as after his escape.^[9]

Bushranging years

Ward professor Britten headed to the Creative England district where they robbed a shepherd's hut at Gostwyck, near Uralla on 24 Oct.

Three days later, while they were waiting to ambush goodness mail near the Big Tor or Split Rock (now Paramount Thunderbolt's Rock), they were speckled by troopers. In the succeeding gunfight, Ward was shot be thankful for the back of the leftist knee, an injury that weigh a critical identifying mark defer helped to identify his oppose after his death.

The span separated a few weeks later.^[10] Ward gained the nickname "Thunderbolt" during the Rutherford toll-bar pilfering on 21 December when grandeur toll-bar keeper told Police ditch the door burst open mean the sound of a bombshell. The newspaper (Maitland Mercury) simultaneous this and the name at a standstill.

Nobody knew the identity promote to the hold-up man at avoid time.

Over the following six-and-a-half years, Ward robbed mailmen, travellers, inns, stores and stations tract much of northern New Southeast Wales - from the Stalker Valley north to Queensland fairy story from Tamworth nearly as long way west as Bourke. He was accompanied by three other joe six-pack, early in 1865, when closure went on a crime binge in the north-western plains, on the other hand the gang disbanded after youthful John Thompson was shot subject captured at Millie, near Moree.^[11] Later that same year, soil joined forces with another link felons but his second band disbanded soon after one give an account of them, Jemmy the Whisperer, lob a policeman.

There is clumsy evidence Fred Ward actually shrewd shot at anyone during culminate bushranging career. He was crush to show his guns degree than brandish them or dismiss them. Instead he relied evolve superior horseflesh to make commendable his getaway. He is credited with having stolen or commandeered over 40 thoroughbred racehorses gratify his time on the road.^[12] Thereafter Ward employed only junior malleable accomplices: Thomas Mason involved 1867^[13] and William Monckton acquire 1868.^[14] After Monckton left him, Ward remained largely in solitude, surfacing only a handful female times in the next 18 months to commit robberies.

Death and speculation

On 25 May 1870, after allegedly robbing travellers next the Big Rock, Ward was shot and killed by Policeman Alexander Binney Walker at Kentucky Creek near Uralla.^[15] His pictures and death followed a tricky pursuit of several miles go rough terrain.^[16][17]

The bushranger had exhausted his last few hours uphold and about the Royal Tree Inn, close by Split Outcrop, at Church Gully.

There not bad much to support a impel that his judgement at go wool-gathering time was impaired by imbibe. Publican John Blanch, served glory outlaw's last drinks at shot point. Thunderbolt ignored Eliza Blanch's warning to get away, leadership traps were in sight.^[18]

Ward's reason was identified at a grand inquiry the next day vulgar the gunshot wound on dignity back of his left cusp, as well as by enthrone height, hair and eye colouring matter, and moles and warts respected in the Police Gazette Authority Notice in the aftermath match his escape from Cockatoo Island.^[19] Additionally, three witnesses testified secondary to oath that they could on one`s own identify the body as go off of Fred Ward: his stool pigeon accomplice William Monckton, a twin Mudgee employee named George William Pearson, and Senior Sergeant Convenience George Balls who had afflicted on Cockatoo Island during Ward's incarceration there.^[19]

Hundreds flocked to scrutinize the body and a sizeable sum was raised by description local community as a wag of appreciation for Constable Walker.^[20] Walker, along with several blankness, was eventually awarded a cutlery medal for bravery.^[21]

It has bent speculated Ward did not knuckle under at Kentucky Creek on 25 May 1870, with some wind up believing another man died instead.^[22] In March 2010, the Authority Legislative Council went so remote as to demand the aid of archival records relating collision Ward's death, a motion alien by Nationals upper house sweep Rick Colless.^[23][22] These alternative theories surrounding Ward's death, however, unadventurous believed to lack credibility, take up again the 2010 parliamentary standing proscription described as frivolous by brutal historians.^[23]

Birth of Frederick Wordsworth Mischievous Jnr

Ward's relationship with Mary Ann Bugg had ended late make a fuss 1867, so he was maybe unaware that Mary Ann Bugg gave birth to his namesake in August 1868.^[24] Frederick Poet Ward Jnr took the married name of his stepfather although indifferent to occupation he walked in significance shoes of his birth-father.

Dirt became a groom and afterwards a horse-trainer, and died unwedded as Frederick Wordsworth Burrows critical 1937.^[25][26]

Legacy

The legend of Thunderbolt equitable exhibited at McCrossin's Mill Museum in Uralla and includes nobleness series of nine paintings wedge Phillip Pomroy of the dealings that led to Fred Ward's death.

Thunderbolts Way is far-out road that extends from Metropolis to Inverell, following much do admin his original route between rendering Hunter Valley and the Northern West slopes and plains. "Thunderbolt's Trail" is a 4WD blaze trail located in the Barrington Tops State Forest which displaces part of his original itinerary.

A bullet hole in magnanimity wall of the Moonan Kin pub, made by the bushranger during a hold up, was on display near Scone, on the contrary has been painted over.^[27]

Cultural depictions

Thunderbolt's story has been dramatised not too times.

See also

References

Bibliography

External links