Of all the bushrangers who rode across the Australian bush, Jackey Jackey is probably the one who most reflects the myth of the chivalrous and gallant "knight of the road". All-source research indicates he was unfailingly gentlemanly to women, polite to most, avoided violence whenever possible and, although armed, considered his weapons as a threat only. Nevertheless, it must be remembered that those weapons, even if unused, remained a threat of violent death. It must also be remembered that no matter how "nice" he may have presented himself or have been seen he was still a thief and a criminal, depriving people of their rightful property.

Jackey Jackey is also probably the most tragic of the bushrangers. His real name was William Westwood. An educated man, he had been a Clerk in England until at the age of 16 he was transported for forgery and stealing a coat in 1837. However, it should be noted that he had been previously sentenced to 12 months' gaol for Highway Robbery. After arriving in Sydney he was assigned to a property near Goulburn. He absconded on a number of occasions but was recaptured, flogged and returned to his employer.

Whatever the facts, finally, in 1840 he stole a firearm, bailed up his employer and took to the bush with another escapee named Paddy Curran. The partnership did not last long. Curran did not share his partner's high ideals and raped the wife of a farmer they bailed up. Westwood beat him, took his horse, arms and ammunition and threatened to kill him if he ever saw him again.

Stories quickly grew around Jackey Jackey and today it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. He is known to have been well dressed and armed. Like later bushrangers he preferred to steal blood horses because their superior stamina and speed was vital in escaping pursuit and covering large distances to confuse pursuers. He covered a wide range of country and was extraordinarily unpredictable, showing a daring not displayed by his contemporaries. He even bailed up the tollkeeper on the Parramatta Road, not far from where the University of Sydney now stands.

He bailed up at least five coaches, scores of other travellers and a number of stores and other businesses. He was twice captured but escaped. A reward was posted for his capture dead or alive, but no-one seemed particularly anxious to claim it. Jackey Jackey's luck finally ran out late in 1841 when he was captured at an inn near Berrima. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and taken to Darlinghurst Gaol. He may have suffered from some type of Claustrophobia or depression because from there he began a downward spiral into increasing desperation and violence which seems to be directly linked to this incarceration.

He tried to escape and was sent to Cockatoo Island. He tried to escape from there by swimming to Balmain but was caught by the Water Police. He was then transferred to Port Arthur and even tried to escape from the ship taking him there. Jackey Jackey escaped from Port Arthur and for a short time resumed his bushranging career before being captured. Returned to the gaol he escaped again and again resumed bushranging. Captured in Hobart he was tried and sentenced to death. However, the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment on Norfolk Island. There he became increasingly morose and belligerent, resisting any attempt at rehabilitation. The end came on 02 July 1846 when he was involved in the infamous convict mutiny as one of the ringleaders. During the course of the fracas he murdered three men. Tried and convicted he was hanged on 13 October 1846, just 26 years old.

Personal Details
Born, Manuden, Essex, England, 01 August 1820.
Sentenced at Chelmsford to 12 months for highway robbery (a Highwayman)
Sentenced to 14 years' transportation at Essex Quarter Sessions, 01 January 1837, for stealing a coat and forging a cheque for six shillings (about $50 in modern terms).
Arrived 09 July 1837 at Sydney Cove per the ship MANGLES
Brown hair, dark grey eyes, slight build, 5'5'' tall, errand boy/Clerk, Protestant Religion, Able to Read and Write, slight pockmarks to face, scars on right hand and arm.

Profile prepared by Andrew Stackpool, 1998.

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