Captain Thunderbolt

[[Category:Wikipedia pages tagged for copyright problems|]] Captain Thunderbolt - Family Stories by Barry Sinclair

Many books and stories have been written about Thunderbolt with much of the truth about those days, the best of these "on the net" is written by Gary Dean. Some writers let their imagination run riot. I do not wish to write about what has already been written & well documented. However I would like to add some of the family stories and maybe answer some of the questions about him.

Sarah Edwards (nee Ward) (husband was Edward Edwards) was born in Windsor and was the sister of Fred Ward (his date of birth is not known as his birth was not registered however he was born in the mid 1830's probably 1835 or 1836). After her marriage to Edward Edwards the family moved to the New England area near Ebor (Guy Fawkes) where the lived for a time, before selecting a property in the Bostobrick area near Dorrigo. Their daughter, Esther, met & married William James Sinclair (my great grandfather), one of the stockmen on her fathers property. Family tradition has it that when he was being chased by the police he would go to his sister's property near Ebor, where he was hidden in a hole, covered by a wood box, in the family kitchen. Family stories told of Grandma Sarah serving the policemen tea, while sitting on the woodbox, with Thunderbolt lying underneath.

By "URALLA" folklore he was killed near Uralla in May 1870. However family tradition held that the person killed was his half brother, Harry, who had been previously shot in the back of the knee while escaping from the police on the Moonbies. Will Monkton, a one-time colleague, used this scar to identify the body as Fred Ward. (Harry had spent several months in the Uralla area as "Thunderbolt" which explained how Thunderbolt was often seen in two different areas at approximately the same time). Three days after “he was shot” by the police at Uralla 2 policemen at a race meeting in Glen Innes saw his horse, watching it waiting for Thunderbolt to appear. Thunderbolt evidently saw the police & mounting his horse left before they could arrest him. The police chased him in a southeasterly direction until he managed to evade them in the deep gullies near Ward's Mistake, which was only a few miles from Guy Fawkes (now known as Ebor) & only a few miles from his sisters home. When the police reported back to Armidale they were told to forget their report, as Thunderbolt was already dead. However the report was filed and has been identified recently in the police files in Sydney, very much agreeing with family tradition.

At "Thunderbolts" funeral in Uralla, a fairly tall unidentified women covered entirely in black was present. It was noted that she walked with a manly gait. Family tradition claimed that it was Fred Ward attending his half-brothers funeral. Family tradition also claimed that Thunderbolt remained in the area for several weeks, being seen at the local Hernani dances several times, before returning to Sydney.

On returning to Sydney he married his childhood sweetheart Miss Britten (her brother was also Fred Ward’s best mate). Fred Ward & Fred Britten had escaped from Cockatoo Island together with the assistance of Mary Ann (an educated part aboriginal girl Fred had met at Mudgee and married in Stroud). Fred Britten also spent some time in the Uralla area on the run from the law & was also calling himself Thunderbolt. The three "Thunderbolts", Fred Ward, Fred Britten and "Harry" Ward all looked & dressed alike. After Fred Britten left the Uralla area he went to the southern parts of the state, however he returned to Windsor several months before the "death of Thunderbolt" where he died from tuberculosis. It has been noted that “Fred Britten” and his new bride left by boat for America about 3 months after the "death of Thunderbolt.

Questions and Answers

1. What happened to Fred Britten?

After Fred Ward and Fred Britten escaped together from Cockatoo Island, with the assistance of Mary Ann(an educated part aboriginal girl Fred had met at Mudgee and following her to Stroud married her there) little has been recorded of the journeys of Fred Britten, however as he was a fugitive he must have hidden out somewhere. It is believed that after Fred Britten left the Uralla area he went to the southern parts of the state, however he returned to Windsor several months before the "death of Thunderbolt" where he died from tuberculosis.

2. Records show that Thunderbolt operated over a wide area, almost at the same time. How was this possible?

In 1868 after the death of Mary Ann, Fred Ward's older brother "Harry" Ward joined Fred Ward and operated mainly in the southern area of the New England so that Thunderbolt was able to be in two places at once . Not long after coming to the region he was shot in the back of the leg by the police near Moonbi, however he escaped. Will Monkton, a one-time colleague, to identify the body as Fred Ward, used this scar.

3. Why wasn't Thunderbolt riding his favorite horse when he was caught at Uralla?

Three days after “he was shot” by the police at Uralla 2 policemen at a race meeting in Glen Innes saw a horse known to belong to Thunderbolt tethered at the track, watching it they waited for Thunderbolt to appear. He evidently saw the police & mounting his horse left before they could arrest him. They chased him in a south-easterly direction until he managed to evade them in the deep gullies at "Ward's Mistake", near Guy Fawkes (now known as Ebor) only a few miles from his sisters home. When the police reported back to Armidale they were told to forget their report, as Thunderbolt was already dead. However the report was filed and has been identified recently in the police files in Sydney, very much agreeing with family tradition.

Family tradition claimed that Thunderbolt remained in the area for several weeks, being seen at the local Hernani dances several times, before returning to Sydney. Around the Ebor area many elderly residents still tell stories, past on to them, about their elder aunt/mother having danced with Thunderbolt for at least 6 weeks after he was shot. It has been noted that “Fred Britten” and his new bride left by boat for America about 3 months after the death of Thunderbolt in Uralla.

4. Who is buried in the Uralla Cemetery?

It is my personal belief that William (Harry) Ward died on the May 25, 1870 at URALLA under the name of "Captain Thunderbolt" & because of a deliberate miss identification by Will Monkton was buried under the name of Frederick Ward. It must be noted that there are no death certificate to be found for William Ward although his mothers death certificate of 1874 does not have him listed as alive at that time.

Will Monkton was released from jail as a result of this identification. Following the identification both the police & the Dr added the name Frederick Ward to their records. It has been said that over 300 local people on filing past the body, identified the body as that of Fred Ward. This is an important point as the body was not identified by them as either that of Frederick or Harry Ward but as that of Thunderbolt. "It's Thunderbolt alright", was said by all who viewed the body. Many authors have subsequently jumped to the incorrect conclusion that the body was definitely identified as that of Fred Ward, and they mistakenly state this as a fact.

5. What happened to Thunderbolts loot?

Virtually none of the proceeds of Thunderbolt's escapades was ever recovered. During his career he took about 20,000 pounds, about $1,000,000 in 2002 money. Following his "death" at Uralla as reported above Thunderbolt remained in the New England area for at least 6 weeks. ( Personal note:- I know what I would be doing during those weeks with money hidden in various caves around the area and the police no longer searching for me!!!! This possibly explains why none of his money has ever been found.)

The Legend of Captain Thunderbolt - Frederick Ward

The Thunderbolt legend lives on most strongly in the New England district of northern Now South Wales and especially around Uralla. Of all the bushrangers who engaged in their illegal and often colourful careers in Australia during the first 100 years of white settlement, Thunderbolt, hero or horse thief, was at large for probably the longest period.

For almost six years and six month he was pursued by regular mounted Police, especially commissioned bounty hunters and enlisted Aboriginal trackers.

Bushrangers were regarded as heroes by the battling small landholders that also recognised their common enemy as the Government and the Law. They considered Thuderbolt to be a victim of circumstance and they sympathised and identified with him. The Police force was over governed by Parliamentary and grossly underpaid, under trained and overworked and supplied with horses of dubious breeding,

Fred Ward finally met his match on the afternoon of 25th May, 1870. He 'bailed up" firstly John and Liza Blanch near their Inn, then Coghlan and an Italian hawker, Giovani Cappusotti. Resenting this action, Cappusotto alerted the Uralla PoIice Officers Mulhall and Walker. The Police exchanged shots with Thunderbolt and Constable Walker, gave chase. Thunderbolt was finally cornered in a waterhole in Kentucky Creek some 4 kilometers distant. A coroner's Inquest was held on the body of Fred Ward at Blanch's Inn and he was buried in the Uralla cemetery.

Defiant Scoundrel? Or Gentleman Bushranger? Thunderbolt began his life as Frederick Ward at Wilberforce near Windsor, N.S.W., in either 1835 or another reference states 16th May 1836. The birth date is not recorded. His father was a convict, Michael Ward, transported to the colony in the “Indefatigable" in May 1815 and his mother Sophia arrived two months later in the "Northampton". About 1846, upon Michael gaining his convict freedom, the whole family moved to the Maitland area.

Fred Ward as a youth, became well known for breaking and training horses. When he was about 20 years of age he fell fowl of the Law. Helped by James Garbutt, they drove stolen horses from his brother William “Harry” Ward and Michael Blake's farm at Lambs Valley for sale at the Windsor sale yards. Several of the horses were recognised as being Messrs. Zuill and Reynolds' property. Others were marked with the famous Tocal brand. (i).

Fred Ward and James Garbutt were sentenced to ten years each with hard labour to the infamous Cockatoo Island prison in -Sydney Harbour. (ii) On the 1st July 1860 Fred Ward was released on a ticket-of-leave to work in the Mudgee district. While working near Mudgee, he made acquaintance of Mary Ann Bugg, a well educated half-cast aboriginal girl who had been recently widowed. When she returned to the Hunter Valley to take up work at Dungog, Ward followed her. They married some time in September I861, possibly at Stroud. (iii) After their marriage he borrowed a horse to report the Mudgee Police for muster, but on arriving late he found his ticket-of-leave revoked for failure to "attend muster". In addition he was charged with stealing the horse and was sent to serve the remainder of his original sentence. Two weeks after Fred Ward’s return to prison, Mary Anne Bugg gave birth to their first child, Marina Emily Ward. (iv)

Mary Anne Bugg followed Fred Ward to Sydney and assisted him and another prisoner, Fred Britten, to escape from Cockatoo Island. They swam through shark infested water to the mainland on the night of 11th September 1863. The two men headed for New England and stole a double-barreled gun and some pork from a widow on Gostwyck run, near Uralla. Several days later, Sergeant Grainger came upon the escapees attempting to hold up a mail coach at the "Split Rocks" (soon to become known as “Thunderbolt Rock”) south of Uralla. Fred Ward was shot through the knee but managed to escape. (v)

The two men separated and ward alone robbed the tollbar at Campbell’s Hill near Maitland. He proceeded to pound on the wall of the office and demanded the surrender of the toll money. It was this act which earned him the name “Thunderbolt". (vi)

Thus began the bushranging legend of Fred Ward, also known as Captain Thunderbolt.

The following list records crimes purported to have been enacted by Thunderbolt and his gang over the following years:

  - 25 mail coach robberies                  
  - 16 hotels and stores    
  - 16 stations and residence                  
  - 6 hawkers
  - I tollbar gate                                     
  - 80 thefts of horses      
  - 1 escape from lawful custody
and numerous firing on Police in their line of duty.
  

Fred Ward relied on his ability to outwit and out distance the mounted Police and he would only resort to gunfire to hasten proceedings or when being fired upon. He was frequently joined by other outaws, but at times they became a liability. This brief account is typical of a bushranger’s life, "Fred Ward has again made his appearance in these parts by sticking up the mail man and rifling the mail bags. The mailman, after crossing a creek and on gaining the further bank, heard a horseman ride up behind him and order, 'Bail up'. He was ordered about 80 metres away while Thunderbolt opened and rifled anything of value, including an amount of gold from the pouch of the saddle". William Monkton (a compatriot of Ward), who narrated the book, "Three Years with Thunderbolt" gives many similar accounts. In addition numerous plays, films, books, poems and television mini series have villanised his numerous outrages on Her Majesty’s Mail and dramatised spectacular "bail ups" of passengers in mail coaches or wayside inns.

Thunderbolt had endured the worst of the Colony's barbaric convict system being twice imprisoned on Cockatoo Island. Several times he suffered solitary confinement in its dungeons. His escape from this prison fortress embarrassed both the Government and its penal system. Fred Ward now became a bushranger by circumstance and for the following six years be defeated every attempt at recapture. During his freedom Fred Ward displayed great courage and at times compassion and humour. He was a champion horseman and a wonderful judge of a well-bred horse. Using these two characteristics, Ward continually evaded capture.

His attachment to Mary Ann Bugg in his early career and his attempt to settle as a family was greatly admired. The Police continually harassed his endeavours, which kept him on the move, at times leaving Mary Ann and children to fend for themselves. Twice "Mrs Captain Thunderbolt' was arrested and imprisoned and twice the N.S.W. Parliament debated her situation. Both times the N.S.W. Governor, Sir John Young-intervened and ordered her release. (vii) Over a period of time Mary Bugg’s health became critical through being constantly compelled to be on the look out for Police patrols. Fred Ward nursed her, but he was forced to seek help. Making her comfortable, he rode to Mrs Bradford's home on the Goulburn River. Ward described her condition and the site of their hideout. Mrs Bradford and Rev White found the shelter and brought back in a cart. Dr Brown and Constable Boon were sent for, arriving a few minutes after Mary breathed her last. Thunderbolt indicated to Mrs Bradford that he was leaving there and going north. Within several weeks he had visited Goonoo Goonoo station and he now, possessed the thoroughbred racehorse "Combo". Thunderbolt's bushranging escapades have now become history. It was his skill as a horseman his love of horse racing, that the 'selectors" in the bush greatly admired. He acquired famous racehorses and either used them as common mounts to outpace the mediocre Police horses or he traded them for profit. Among his annexations were Beeswing, Combo, The Barb, Eucalyptus, Come-by-Chance, Toy Boy, Talleyrand and Kerosene.

Thunderbolt attended the Tenterfied races on 17th and I8th March 1868. He mixed freely with the patrons and saw Minstrel win the Maiden Plate of 40 sovereigns. He determined to acquire this racehorse as it returned to the Warwick district. Ward established himself at the spectacular Boonoo Boonoo gap to await Minstrel’s arrival. To fill time Ward stopped a German Band following their season in Tenterfield. He obtained sixteen pounds, which was all of the band's takings. Considering this amount to be paltry, Ward had them perform their acts and play their musical instruments on the roadside. This delighted Ward and as the Band was leaving he handed Peter Wirth a small amount and asked for a forwarding address. Several weeks later Thunderbolt sent to Wirth's Band in Warwick a letter containing the full amount of purloined money. (viii)

120 years since Thunderbolt's death near Uralla have passed. but stories of his exploits still circulate in the Uralla district. How great-grandfather met Thunderbolt one day while mustering cattle in a lonely place and shared a yam and a billy of tea. Similarly, great-grandmother would hang a blanket as a signal on the clothesline if troopers were riding in the area. Other families would leave food in an outhouse or the off chance that the bushranger would pass that way.

Story as supplied by the McCrossin's Mill Museum May these legends live forever.

Vale - Fred Ward – Captain Thunderbolt.

The best-researched book on Thunderbolt is “ A Ghost Called Thunderbolt” by Stephen Williams (i) Maitland Mercury 21/4/1856. (ii) Maitland Mercury 14/8/1856. (iii) “A Ghost called Thunderbolt” by Stephan Williams - page 22 (iv) Maitland Mercury 3/11/1863. (v) Maitland Mercury 22/12/1863 (vi) Armidale Express 12/5/1866 & Maitand Ensign 9/3/1867). (vii) “A Ghost called Thunderbolt” by Stephan Williams - page 118