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Bushrangers
In the late 1700s, the original bushrangers were convicts that had escaped the British settlement of Australia. They had the skills to survive they harsh environment of the area. Later bushrangers were groups of highway robbers.
180 Questions
What did captain thunderbolt look like?
He and his wife Mary Ann Bugg were notorious bush-rangers and had 4 children between 1864 and1870.
Captain Moonlite was one of Australia's notorious bushrangers. Captain Moonlite/Moonlight, aka Andrew George Scott, was originally a preacher at the small Victorian town of Egerton. He was an admirer of Ned Kelly, and he made a sudden decision to become a bushranger. His first target was the manager of the Egerton Bank, who was fully aware of Scott's identity. Scott tied him up, with orders to tell police he had been robbed by Captain Moonlight.
Scott was caught and imprisoned at Ballarat. After he was releaseed from gaol, he continued his new bushranging career. He recruited several other gang members and walked to New South Wales. Some stories claim he was hoping to find employment at Wantabadgery Station, well known for its hospitality. Being in the grip of a severe drought, and also having changed hands, Wantabadgery could offer them nothing. In desperation, Moonlite took 35 people hostage. In the resultant shootout with police on 18 November 1879, gang members James Nesbitt and Augustus Wernicke, together with Constable Bowen, were all shot dead. Moonlite and the surviving gang members were tried and charged with the murder of Constable Bowen. Moonlite was hanged on 20 January 1880 at Darlinghurst Court.
What was Ned Kelly's life before he became a bushranger?
Ned Kelly did not have an easy life prior to him becoming a bushranger, but it is not exactly reason to turn to a life of crime and, later, murder. Ned Kelly was twelve when his father died, and he was subsequently required to leave school to take on the new position as head of the family. Shortly after this, the Kellys moved to Glenrowan. As a teenager, Ned became involved in petty crimes, regularly targetting the wealthy landowners.
The story goes that Ned Kelly was influenced to become a bushranger. His family was not particularly liked by the law, and so when he was persecuted by a few of the policemen, he reacted and decided to become an outlaw. He figured that if he was going to be charged for something, he would give them a real reason.
Why did bushrangers want to be bushrangers?
People became bushrangers for a number of reasons:
- Greed.
- They had already had a run-in with the law, so they felt they had nothing more to lose.
- Revenge or anger against the lawmakers.
- They'd had a life of poverty that they wanted to get away from.
- They were influenced by stories of other bushrangers in what they erroneously perceived as heroism.
What was Mark Jeffries occupation before becoming a bushranger?
As was the case with many of Australia's bushrangers, Mark Jefferies was an escaped convict. For men who could not handle the extremely tough life of a Van Diemen's Land convict, escape was the main option. If they could successfully escape, then their only way to survive was to become a bushranger.
When did Frank Gardiner become a bushranger?
Frank Gardiner became a bushranger after serving time for horse stealing in 1850. After he was sentenced to five years in Pentridge Gaol, he escaped and took up bushranging in the district around Goulburn, New South Wales.
What types of crimes did John Black Caesar committ?
John "Black" Caesar was an Australian who was known as a "bushranger." He stole animals and food, along with other burglaries.
What happened at the Glenrowan Inn when the Kelly gang arrived?
The Kelly gang had murdered police informer Aaron Sherritt on 27 June 1880, and as a result, they expected a large number of police to travel to Glenrowan by train. When the Kelly gang arrived at Glenrowan, they tried to coerce some of the townsfolk into helping lift the rail tracks, hoping to cause the train to crash and kill a large number of the expected police. Not many of the townsfolk were willing to assist, so the people were rounded up and held in the Glenrowan Inn so that they could not warn the train.
After entertaining the hostages for hours with games and dancing, the Kelly gang allowed the more trusted hostages to go home at nightfall, as the train was running late. Thomas Curnow, the local schoolteacher, was one of those released, and when he heard the approaching train in the early hours of June 28th, he ran quickly to warn of the danger ahead. This gave the police time to prepare. Wearing their famous armour, the Kelly brothers held a shootout with police. Several hostages were injured in the gun battle and two later died from gunshot wounds.
Bushrangers in NSW in the 1850's - 1870's wore the working man's dress of the day, that is moleskin or cord material trousers, a long sleeved shirt with a collar and sometimes a vest over that. They wore a cravat or kerchief tied around the collar like a tie and on the head a straw hat made from the plaited leaf of the local cabbage tree palm or a felt brimmed hat. They looked much neater than the movie American cowboy and were better armed as well. The Navy Colt was a favoured handgun and was often stolen from troopers or settlers during a bail-up. When their clothing got too soiled to wear, they'd just steal more. Some were gentlemen, others were complete rogues. Some noteable bushrangers were Ben Hall, Johnny Gilbert, Captain Moonlight and "Mad Dan" Morgan.
Who was the first bushranger in Australia?
Australia's first bushranger was an escaped convict by the name of John 'Black' Caesar, an escaped slave from Madagascar who was convicted of theft in England.
Black Caesar made his first escape from convict custody in May 1789, and began to steal from outlying cottages. He was captured in June, but escaped again in December. After being attacked by Aborigines, he surrendered himself to the authorities at the end of the month, but was pardoned and sent to Norfolk Island, where he stayed for several years. When he returned to Sydney in 1793, he again began stealing from other houses, and was recaptured.
His final escape was in 1795, and this time, he formed a small group of escapees, in effect becoming the first bushranging gang. He was shot less than a month later, thus ending his bushranging career.
The first Australian bushranger was an ex-slave from Madagascar known as John 'Black' Caesar. He was convicted of stealing in England, and arrived in New South wales with the First Fleet.
When was Ben Hall the bushranger born?
Ben Hall was a successful grazier, and it is unknown why he turned to bushranging. There was an incident when he was falsely accused and arrested for robbery, then acquitted. When he returned to his property he found his stock missing. It is speculated that he then became disillusioned with the 'straight' life, and instead turned to bushranging.
Why did Matthew brady become a bushranger?
Matthew Brady was also a famous Australian Bushranger.
He was born in Manchester, England 1799 and transported to Botany Bay for forgery and later transported to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). In 1824 he escaped from Macquarie Harbour aboard a stolen whale boat with 13 others, and proceeded to rob homes, small towns and travellers along the country roads all around Tasmania. In 1824 Governor Arthur posted a reward for his capture. Brady was betrayed by an informer named Cowan who joined the gang in 1825, resulting in a clash with soldiers of Lieutenant Williams' 40th Regiment during which several gang members and soldiers were killed. A wounded Brady fled to the bush and was pursued and captured by John Batman (who later founded Melbourne) and his Aboriginal trackers. He was taken to Hobart Town, tried and sentenced to death, and was hanged in April 1826.
What year did Ned Kelly become a bushranger?
Ned Kelly, Australia's most famous bushranger, was quite young when he turned to crime. He was twelve when his father died, and so he was subsequently required to leave school to take on the new position as head of the family. Shortly after this, the Kellys moved to Glenrowan. As a teenager, Ned became involved in petty crimes, regularly targetting the wealthy landowners.
Kelly was apprenticed to notorious Victorian bushranger Harry Power at age 15, which was in either 1869 or 1870. Power took him on and taught him the finer points of bushranging.
Did bushrangers change the Australian law?
bushrangers affected Australia by making us think of what they went through and how we look at life. bushrangers like ned kelly and black Caesar fought for what they beleived in now that's true spirit.
How did dan kelly the bushranger die?
Dan Kelly, Ned Kelly's brother, became a bushranger when his mother was assaulted by a policeman.
He was part of ned kellys gang
He died in a fire along with steve hart
Bushranger 'Mad' Dan Morgan was killed in a shootout with police in April 1865.
Why did Ben Hall become a bushranger?
Frank Gardiner became a bushranger through a series of events, and it seems that criminal intent was perhaps in his blood. At first he was just a petty criminal, being convicted of stealing horses in 1850. After he was sentenced to five years in Pentridge Gaol, he escaped and simply took up bushranging in the district around Goulburn, New South Wales.
He was arrested again for horse stealing in 1854, and sent to the Cockatoo Island gaol, but after he was released five years later on a ticket-of-leave, he broke parole by heading straight to the Kiandra gold diggings in the New South Wales high country.
Gradually, he fell back into crime, graduating from horse and cattle stealing, to highway robberies under arms, violent assaults, and the attempted murder of two police officers.
What was the food for bushrangers on the goldfields?
Bushrangers survived by various means. Some of them stole provisions owned by the settlers in outlying areas, helping themselves freely to salted meats, potatoes, onions, flour and so on. They also stole from store owners in the towns.
Others hunted wild rabbits and native animals.
Why did ned kelly get arrested?
Ned Kelly was a notorious Australian Bush ranger. It is believed that Ned Kelly his brothers and friends had killed three policemen. After a violent confrontation with police Kelly was arrested in 1880. He was sent to jail and tried for murders. He was later convicted for three counts of willful murders and was hanged in November, 1880.
* Marin Cash did have a gang with 2 other men names Tyson Hill and Billy Marten.Martin Cash is known for escaping twice from Port Arthur, Van Diemen 's Land. Cash shot a man in jealously rage for making advances on his sweetheart, but records list that the original crime was house breaking. And so he was sentenced to 7 years of penal transport. Cash received his ticket of leave and worked as a stockman in New South Wales. However, he became suspected of cattle stealing and relocated to Tasmania. He found employment around Southern Tasmania until once again Cash was accused of stealing from an employer. He was sentenced to seven years in a Hobart prison. He briefly escaped and 18 months was added to his time. Again he escaped and almost made it across the Bass Strait but was caught and faced 10 years at Port Arthur. He did escape and was spotted and a gun fight started. A police constable was shot by Cash and killed. Cash was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging, coach, however, a last minute reprieve and he was sent to Norfolk Island. Cash became a became a free man in 1863. * Martin Cash travelled to Ireland, Tasmania, New South Wales and New Zealand
