Who was John Caesar and why was he called a convict bolter?

Answer 1

John 'Black' Caesar was Australia's first bushranger. He arrived in Australia with the First Fleet after being transported for stealing in London, after escaping from slavery (he had been captured at Madagascar and forced into slavery).

Black Caesar made his first escape from convict custody in May 1789, and began to steal from outlying cottages. This is why he was called a "convict bolter" - he bolted from custody. Also, in Australia's very early colonial years, convicts who bolted and became bushrangers were called "convict bolters" as the name "bushranger" had not yet come about.