Answers to the Uralla Historical Society comments
When I first produced the material "
Point 1
"(Barry Sinclair’s statement) It is claimed in nearly every book about Thunderbolt, that, throughout his career he never shot at anyone, including the police."
Uralla Historical Society reply.
"On at least five occasions Thunderbolt shot at Police & injured three of them"Their list showed 5 Shootings (Taken from Bob Cummins book page 129}
Let us look at these events. In the document they use virtually their sole source of evidence is a reference to a Stephan Williams book which however was not named. I believe they were referring to his book "A Ghost called Thunderbolt". In each case where I just quote page numbers it is from Stephan Williams book.
So basing on the book "A Ghost Called Thunderbolt" by Stephan Williams I find
a)page 26- 3rd paragraph. " Britten, armed with the double-barrelled gun, exchanged several rounds with the police" NOT THUNDERBOLT
b)page 50 - 4th & 5th paragraphs. "Ward was the first mounted, and he rode off to the fields behind the house ………Although seriously wounded, Thompson attempted to discharge a round at the police."
AGAIN NOT THUNDERBOLTc)page 60 - 3rd & 4th paragraphs. "Thunderbolt jumped on a horse………a gunfight between Kelly and the troopers………"
AGAIN NOT THUNDERBOLTd)page 94 - 6th paragraph "………An employee of Richard Simpson, named Neil McInnes, sprang upon Thunderbolt, and a boy with the bushranger fired a shot at McInnes."
AGAIN CLEARLY NOT THUNDERBOLT.With regard to (e) there are other factors at stake which are dealt with in my facts sheet particularly that it was not Fred Ward who was being chased & their comment that Thunderbolt shot at the police on this occasion adds further proof to my belief that the person chased was not Fred Ward but his uncle William (Harry)
A further point was made that:-
"b) No evidence to support the claim that Mary Ann was anti-guns."
A simple checking of history will show that ALL ABORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE TIME had a complete hatred of guns because of the numbers that had been shot by the whites. There is no reason to believe other than that Fred hated using guns especially as he had been initiated into the local Kamilaroi tribe near Gunnedah & and would also have shared their hatred of guns.The area at Stroud was once occupied by the Gringgai clan (Mary Ann's tribe) of the Wanaruah Aboriginal people. It is known that the Wanaruah had trade and ceremonial links with the Kamilaroi people
In the introduction to one of the best book written on the life of Thunderbolt, by Stephan William's "A Ghost called Thunderbolt" he quotes "Regarding Captain Thunderbolt only two things are not in dispute: the quality of the horses that he stole and rode, and the fact that he never killed or injured those whom he robbed or went in pursuit of him. Everything else is the subject of controversy". The Uralla Historical Society has obviously never recognised or accepted this statement.
Point5.
Uralla Historical Society reply.
"
Combo was left at Moredun Station and looked after by stock men, about the third week of April 1870. His whereabouts were communicated to Arnold Goode about 12-14 years ago. Thunderbolt borrowed the horse to come to the races - the one he was riding at Church Gully (Arnold)."
While it is probable Thunderbolt left his horse at Moredun in the third week of April 1870, it does not take a horse 6 weeks to recover from being ridden hard. Thunderbolt had several places where friendly farmers provided a paddock with fresh horses for him to borrow, among them being Goonoo Goonoo Station near Tamworth, a station to the east of Guyra, owned by a Mr Moore, son of the original owner of Moore Park near the current airport at Armidale & Moredun Station West of Guyra, among many others who offered their support to Thunderbolt. Combo was his favourite horse and he used it wherever possible.
b)(Barry Sinclair’s statement)
"A young man, James Coghlan…………"
Uralla Historical Society reply. "Michael A Coughlan."
Page 141 clearly identifies him as James Coglan (This is a misspelling as it should be James Coghlan)
Uralla Historical Society reply.Michael A-Coughlan: "Riding a grey horse and leading a grey horse, going to Bundarra (not Ebor)."
The main road going north from Tamworth was, at that time, going through Bendemeer, through to Kingstown and then along Old Bundarra Rd direct to Bundarra, so anyone going to Bundarra would not have travelled through Uralla as it was many kilometers further. James Coghlan, in fact, lived near Ebor, married there a few years later & raised a family on a property near Tyringham east of Ebor. When his wife finally left him, his family were reared by the Sinclair Family near Tyringham.
Point 6
"(Barry Sinclair’s statement) Several days after the death of Thunderbolt, Walker reenacted the shooting for an Armidale photographer………"
Uralla Historical Society reply. "two days after Thunderbolt's death, Cunningham came down to take the two photographs we now have. There was no re-enactment "several days after the death………" The re enactment was photographed in 1925 by Colin Law……………(The re-enactment shows Walker is left-handed!! We know Walker to be right handed!!"
Taken from :-The Armidale Express, Friday June 3, 1921 - "Armidale 51 Years Ago [Reminiscences from the 'Armidale Express' of June 4, 1870]"
Thunderbolt Death Scene taken 27th
May 1870 courtesy Newling Research Centre Armidale
"Mr Andrew Cunningham has taken several excellent photographics to illustrate the end of Thunderbolt, and other matters connected with it. Of Ward's dead horse there are two views. There are three different views of the spot on which the final struggle took place, Mr. Walker being shown in the same dress and on the same horse as he had when he came upon the Western side of the creek; the reality of the scene being added to by Mr. Smoker, of Uralla, representing, on the E. side, Ward - each with weapon levelled at his opponent. To secure a good view, Mr Cunningham took the trouble to cut down several trees. Then there are two portraits of Mr Walker, one being full length; while there are three of Thunderbolt when he was lying dead, after the post-mortem examination. One represents him with his hat off, another with his hat on, and the third is his profile."
This photograph clearly shows Walker to be right handed & incidently there were 10 photos taken not two as claimed by the Uralla Historical Society.
This also clearly indicates the poor quality of the research done by the researcher for the Uralla Historical Society. Incidently I have copies of most of the photos.Point 7
(
Barry Sinclair’s statement) "It was left to Will Monckton who was serving a six year sentence in Armidale for being a companion of Thunderbolt"Uralla Historical Society reply. "Will Monckton had served 12 months at Darlinghurst Gaol…….."
On page 148 " Monckton viewed the body at Uralla on Sunday, May 29th, four days after the shooting. If he was in Armidale, as his son claimed (interview with Ted Monckton, 'Uralla Times', 17/76/1969) this presents no problem. The earliest news of Thunderbolt's death to reach Sydney was via a telegram on the 26th, and official confirmation only arrived on the 28 th. (CSC 1/2326) That would hardly leave time for travel arrangements for the journey to be made" - if as they claim he was in Darlinghurst gaol
. This is still a matter for conjecture, but for him to be in Armidale at the time of the shooting was either handy or an amazing coincidence. While he was sentenced to serve time in Darlinghurst, because of his age, it appears he only served one year there. By chance he was returning to Armidale the weekend after Thunderbolt was shot. The local police had been notified and was able to remove him from the carriage as it passed through Uralla on the Saturday evening.Barry Sinclair’s final comment on this matter.
As I said at the beginning, the document referred to was originally printed for my own information and for use as reference material for the volunteers at the Centre and had never been given out at the Uralla Visitor Information Centre. A copy was given to Arnold Goode, to look at, & for comment on. This was done out of courtesy to Arnold & to Uralla Historical Society & was given to no one else.
However as a result of the criticism by the Uralla Historical Society even more research was undertaken. I also viewed the original police articles on these issues & the proof supplied above was printed into a brochure and has been given out by the Uralla Visitor Information Centre for the past 9 years. All the updated material is now included in this Web page. This whole matter is indicative of the failure of the Uralla Historical Society to keep up their research and to followup on other peoples research. They have not changed their basic stories in 20 years, despite proof being available from competent researchers of new findings. History is not static. Corrections are made by competent researchers as new findings come to light. This has not happened with the Uralla Historical Society & must put into question much of their other research.
This grave is so named because Fred Ward, alias "Thunderbolt", is buried here.
In September, 1863, he escaped with Fred Britten.
For the next six and a half years he led an exciting career, "bailing up" mail
coaches, roadside inns, stores and private homes over a vast area of North Eastern
New South Wales. At times he had a young accomplice, but preferred to work alone.
The police found him hard to track or catch. He was a superb rider and usually rode
stolen thoroughbred horses.
The public generally had a "soft spot" for him. He was never violent and usually
quite courteous towards lady travellers. He would return shots only when being
fired upon.
On the afternoon of the 25th May, 1870, he held up a hawker, Giovani Cappusotto
at Blanch's Inn on Church Gully, about 500 metres south of Thunderbolt's Rock.
The Uralla Police were alerted and Senior Constable Mulhall and Constable Walker
rode out to investigate. Shots were exchanged on the road near Thunderbolt's
Rock and Constable Walker gave chase.
He crossed the road opposite the rock and Constable Walker persued Ward along
the ridge in a westerly direction for about 3 kilometres. At Kentucky Creek
(almost visible from Thunderbolt's Rock) Ward left his horse and swam across. The
Constable shot dead the horse and called on Ward to surrender. He refused and after a
struggle, "Thunderbolt" was shot.
Thunderbolt's Rock, a hideout which was frequented during his infamous
bushranging days, is located on the New England Highway about five kilometres
south of Uralla. A statue of Thunderbolt and
a memorial to Constable Walker have
been erected in Uralla at Salisbury Street.
A Thunderbolt exhibition is on display at McCrossin's Mill Museum, Uralla.
Fred Ward was born in a bark hut at Wilberforce (i) in 1833 (ii) "not Windsor in 1835."
His first term in Cockatoo Island was for "being in possession of stolen horses" not "for horse stealing". (iii)
His second term was "the finishing of his first term for being late for muster plus an extra 4 years for having in
his possession a horse he could not prove ownership."
The hawker he held up was "Giovanni Cappasotti" (iv) not "Giovani Cappusotto"
Constable Walker persued Ward along the creek "not along the ridge." Simple observation will show there is no ridge.
(i) Hawkesbury Regional Museum, 8 Baker Street (PO Box 146) WINDSOR NSW 2756
(ii)http://users.tpg.com.au/users/barrymor/John%20Haswell%27s-Sarah%20Ward%27s%20Banns%20Applications%201832.html
(ii) Marina Emily WARD Birth: 26 OCT 1861 in Monkerai, Near Dungog,
(iii) Police Records available at Newling Centre, Armidale
Over 20 legal documents are available at Armidale Newling Centre by Cappasotti's solicitor demanding the
full amount of money due to him from alerting the police to the presence of "Thunderbolt" in the area,
including a letter from his solicitor, dated 11th June, 1870.These records have been available for 140 years yet have not been checked by the Historical Society
The Uralla Historical Society yet again has failed to check all of the information available in order to obtain
the correct version of the Thunderbolt Story.
NSW BDM Reg No 7193/1861 shows her father, Frederick, being 28 years old at her birth, making his birth year 1833.
(iv) Police Records available at Newling Centre, Armidale
On visiting the supposed Thunderbolt Grave in the Uralla Cemetry on the 13th August, 2011, I found that the post with the plaque has been removed & the whole area of the grave is in the process of being renovated showing that the Historical Sciety & the council are finally reacting to my corrections.
Compiled by Barry Sinclair
Captain Thunderbolt Family Historian & Researcher.
Last updated on Monday November 1st, 2010