Bushranger Profiles Martin Cash

BUSHRANGER PROFILES

Martin Cash

Martin Cash

Martin Cash was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1808. In 1827 he attempted to murder another man and was sentenced to seven years' transportation to New South Wales.

After serving his sentence Martin Cash was released on Ticket of Leave and was employed as a stockman in the Hunter Valley area. Cash became involved in cattle stealing and became so notorious that in 1837 he moved to Tasmania. The couple worked on a number of farms around Hobart but Cash was eventually arrested and charged with stealing goods from them. He was sentenced to another seven years' gaol but escaped from custody and tried to make his way to Melbourne. Recaptured, he was sentenced to another two years.

While in gaol Martin Cash was repeatedly in trouble and in 1840 he was transferred to Port Arthur which was a special gaol reserved for only the worst criminals. Here he teamed up with Lawrence Kavanagh and George Jones.

IPort Arthur was heavily guarded and believed to be escape-proof. This did not deter Cash, Kavanagh and Jones. They planned to escape and on 26 December 1842 they succeeded.

They turned to full-time bushranging and for the next 20 months caused much fear across Tasmania as they robbed homesteads, inns and travellers and survived a number of shootouts and close pursuits with the authorities and armed civilians. They also tended to concentrate on the properties of the well-to-do, leaving the poorer farmers and settlers in peace. They became known as Cash, Kavanagh & Jones and then simply "Cash & Company", or "Cash & Co."

On Tuesday 29 August 1843 he returned to Hobart and mortally wounded Constable Peter Winstanley. On 4 September 1843 Cash and Kavanagh were tried before Justice Montague at the Hobart Town Criminal Sessions. Cash was charged with murder, Kavanagh with Robbery Under Arms, both of which were hanging offences. They were found guilty and sentenced to hang on 14 September. However, an hour before the execution was due to be carried out the sentence was reprieved. Instead both men were to be transported to Norfolk Island.

At Norfolk Island Cash became a reformed man. In 1852 he was considered to be a "trusty" and was appointed as a Convict Overseer. On 24 March 1854 he married a woman named Mary Bennett and on 31 March 1854 he was appointed as a Constable.

With the cessation of transportation in 1853 a decision had been made to close down the Norfolk Island prison. On 19 September Cash was granted a Ticket of Leave and shortly afterwards returned to Tasmania with his wife. There he was given an appointment as Overseer in charge of the gardeners at the Government Domain.

On 24 June 1856 Martin Cash received a Conditional Pardon and this was confirmed as a Free Pardon on 11 July 1863.

On 10 August 1877 he became seriously ill and finally died an elderly man, free, and in his own bed at the age of 69. on 27 August 1877.