Bushrangers: Fred Ward

BUSHRANGER PROFILES

Thunderbolt (Fred Ward)

Fred Ward was born in 1836 at Wilberforce near Windsor, NSW and was later employed on Tocal station near Maitland, NSW. He was a superb horseman and left the station to become a wandering horsebreaker, easily drifting into horse stealing for which he was sentenced in 1856 to seven years on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour. After an interlude farming and horse stealing on a ticket-of-leave, he was again sentenced to Cockatoo Island from which he made a notorious escape in 1863.

In his bushranging career he robbed properties and hotels in the New England area, and bailed up many innocent travellers, including the mail coach 'stick up' at Split Rock near Uralla, NSW. In 1866 the Colonial Secretary's Office posted a reward of £100 for his capture, which was raised to £200 by mid 1867 and £ 400 in December 1869. Romanticised accounts of the life of the man known as 'Captain Thunderbolt' tell of a man liked by those who knew him. He lived for many years with a part aboriginal woman named Mary Anne Bugg, and some say he was gentle and courteous, sometimes eating meals with his victims. For more information on the gang of bushrangers who Ward rode with, see the FAQ on 'Thunderbolt's Gang.'

Thunderbolt was shot dead by Constable Walker in May 1870 after a long chase on horseback. His grave is in the small town of Uralla, NSW.

The Uralla Visitor Centre Site on Captain Thunderbolt gives a more detailed account of his life and several illustrations.

What made Fred Ward Famous? An article by bushranger expert, Andrew Stackpool.

There are a number of aspects which made Ward famous (or infamous, depending on one's point of view). These are:

His long career as a bushranger. He lasted a lot longer than most
The fact that he tended to avoid violence more than most. He kept better control over his actions and those of his gang and avoided confrontation with the police whenever he could (though not always).
He is almost a 'throwback' to the older convict bolters.This made him unusual in the 1860s. However, as an escaped convict he had limited options for survival on the run.
His escape from the supposedly escape-proof Cockatoo Island Gaol.
His relationship with Mary Ann Bugg which resulted in his becoming a father. This added an extra dimension as a 'family man' which was most unusual in the predominately bachelor bushrangers.
Mary Ann Bugg added a 'feminine' equation to the story and his affection for her added a romantic touch to his story. This was significant in Victorian times.
His undoubted prowess as a rider and bushman. He relied on god horses and his intimate knowledge of the area in which he operated to evade capture.
The area in which he operated was almost devoid of bushranging or other major criminal activity. There was a certain 'pride of ownership' and sense that 'we have something in common' with other districts among some local people. Ward almost became a tourist attraction. People almost saw him as a possesion.
The extraordinary circumstances of the final chase with Walker and almost bizarre conversation between the two men before Ward was killed. This is very similar to the conversation between Howe and his captors.

In short, it was Ward the man that made him famous, rather than his exploits. In many ways this also stood him apart from all but a handful of bushrangers.