In late 1815, Michael Howe and his gang travelled down from their hideout in the Tiers and paid a visit to the property of Richard Dry at Quamby’s Plains, near Launceston. Being low on stores, the gang stole four of Richard’s sheep, which, with the aid of their kangaroo dogs, they drove back to their hideout. As it happens, this was not the first time Richard Dry had met with Michael and his gang, for in August of that year, the bushrangers had robbed his previous home near Port Dalrymple.
Michael Howe was also not the only bushranger to make a raid on Richard’s property, with Matthew Brady making a similar attack 10 years later.