1864 - Captain Thunderbolt
- Frederick Wordsworth Ward - Mary Ann Bugg - Bushranger - Newcastle - Queensland border - Uralla - NSW - 1864
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Other Pages Mentioning Captain Thunderbolt
1788 - NSW Police Force |
Frederick Ward, alias "Captain Thunderbolt", menaced the roads between Newcastle and the Queensland border from 1864 to 1870.
Frederick Wordsworth Ward (aka Captain Thunderbolt) (15 May 1836–25 May 1870) was an Australian bushranger renowned for escaping from Cockatoo Island with the help of his wife Mary Ann Bugg, and for committing over 200 crimes over six and a half years across the northern section of the state of New South Wales.
Biography
Frederick Ward was born at
Wilberforce, New South Wales, in
May 1833. His mother was Sarah Ward, daughter of Michael Ward, a
convict. Frederick became a groom and horse breaker by the age
of 20.
In 1856 Ward became involved in a scheme to sell 75 stolen
horses at Windsor and was arrested, leading to a sentence of ten
years with hard labour at Cockatoo Island.
He was released after four years and given a ticket of leave to his mother's property at Cooyal near Mudgee in 1860.
After his release, he
followed Mary Ann Bugg to Stroud where he married her in 1860
and settled down, until he arrived late for monthly muster at Mudgee a few days before his first child was born and was
accused of stealing the horse he was riding. He was sent back to
prison to finish his sentence, plus a further four years for
horse stealing.
On 11 September 1863 he escaped with the help of Mary Ann Bugg,
who had swum to Cockatoo Island, carrying with her tools to help
Ward escape. Ward, Bugg and another prisoner, Fred Britten, made
a daring swim for freedom and the couple soon became notorious
bushrangers, committing crimes ranging from highway robbery to
horse stealing and earning Ward the name Captain Thunderbolt.
They operated widely across the Hunter Valley-Tamworth -
New
England region from 1864 to 1870.
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On one occasion they even rode
as far west as Bourke. During this time, Ward and Mary Ann Bugg
managed to have four children.
On 25 May 1870, it is alleged by some that Ward was shot and
killed near Uralla by Constable Alexander Walker during a
highway robbery. However, many Uralla locals claim that it was
his uncle, William (Harry) Ward, who was killed at this time and
not Fred Ward. It has been claimed that Fred Ward and his
mother, Sarah, arrived in California late in 1870.
This alternate ending to the Thunderbolt story is reported here.
Contemporary Reports
These two statements came from the local media of the day.
17 April 1868 - Two armed bushrangers, believed to be captain Thunderbolt and his partner, stuck up four German musicians and a lucky punter returning home from the Tenterfield Races, taking a total of £121.
The notorious pair began the day with an ambush of the Mail about 13 miles on the New South Wales side of Maryland. Thunderbolt grabbed the mail bags and returned them when he found no money. Soon after the incident, four German musicians passed the bushrangers on their way home from the Tenterfield races, The pair passed them but quickly turned around and threatened them with a loaded revolver, demanding they dismount. He checked their pockets and stole £16.
Some time later, a ration carrier from Maryland Station, also returning from the races with a substantial win of £105, was relieved of his takings by the pair. Thunderbolt has been on the loose for three years now and although he has committed hundreds of robberies, he has not killed any of his victims.
26
May 1870 - The notorious Captain Thunderbolt, also known as Frederick
Ward, was shot dead yesterday by a young police constable just outside Uralla in
north-west NSW.
Constable Alexander Walker and his partner Constable Mullhall had chased the bushranger had chased the bushranger up to Kentucky Creek after reports that he was bailing up travellers near Blanche's Inn: Walker shot Tunderbolt after he jumped from his horse.
Several different stories have come from Uralla as to the exact circumstances of Thunderbolt’s death. The bushranger was known in the area as chivalrous as he always treated women with respect, and reports maintain that he never robbed the poor.
During his long career of crime he never killed anyone. One story says he was riding with an accomplice whose horse was shot by one of tile constables. His partner fell into the creek and Thunderbolt turned to save him when Walker shot him in the chest and clubbed him over the head with his revolver, Another story said his horse Combo got bogged in the creek, allowing the constable the chance to shoot the stranded bushranger.
Constable Walker said he first gave the bushranger several chances to surrender peacefully.
‘He [Thunderbolt] stood on the bank until I came up; I said, “You had better surrender before you do any harm;” ... he asked, “Are you a married man?” I answered, “yes”; he then stood back with the revolver in his hand, and said “Walker, keep back: you are a married man; remember your family;”
I was then about 12 or 14 feet from him—the creek was between us; I said “Will you surrender;” he said “No, I’ll die first;”
I then said “All right, you or I for it;’ then faced my horse into the water; my horse went head first under, right under; whilst my horse was under the man made a rush at me, with revolver in hand; as soon as I saw that I fired at him; he went under the water; when he rose he made a grapple at me and I struck him over the head with my revolver; he again went down; as soon as he came up I saw blood oozing from his mouth; I then turned my horse and came out of the creek; I then dismounted, and went into the creek up to my waist, and pulled the man out; I drew him out on to the bank; I fancied he was dead.’
Thunderbolt generally travelled with a female companion who was not with him yesterday. Reports say she is half-Aboriginal and calls herself ‘Captain Ward’s lady’.
Legacy
The legend of Thunderbolt is exhibited at McCrossin's Mill Museum in Uralla and includes the series of nine paintings by Phillip Pomroy of the events that led to Fred Ward's death.
Thunderbolts Way is a road that extends from Gloucester to Inverell, following much of his original route between the Hunter Valley and the North West slopes and plains. "Thunderbolt's Trail" is a 4WD fire trail located in the Barrington Tops State Forest which follows part of his original route.
A bullet hole in the wall of the Moonan Flat pub, made by the bushranger during a hold up, is proudly on display near Scone, New South Wales.