Nine members of the Howe gang, including Michael himself, were transported on the Indefatigable in 1811. This ship was the first to make the direct voyage from England to Hobart, arriving in the Derwent on the 9th of October 1812. Also on board were members of the 73rd regiment, which included future Howe gang memberContinue reading “The Indefatigable”
Tag Archives: Convict History
The Real Michael Howe
For over two hundred years, the story of bushranger Michael Howe has been greatly distorted, with the facts buried beneath murky layers of falsehood and political disinformation. Since colonisation, Australia has been home to many bushrangers and convict bolters, with most experiencing a twisting of their story by newspapers and writers of the time; indeed,Continue reading “The Real Michael Howe”
A Lesson from the Lawless
You should know we have you in our sights Mr Humphrey and I dare say you should be expecting us. A man with as desperate a character as yourself should not be expecting any less. It is no secret the way you treat the convicts under your charge, I have heard firsthand how you driveContinue reading “A Lesson from the Lawless”
A Memoir Lost
For Michael, writing his thoughts and dreams was important and was done within two books he kept close. The first was his ‘journal of dreams’, where he wrote down the flowers, vegetables and trees he wished to procure for the garden of his Shannon hut. He also recorded memories of his beloved sister Mary andContinue reading “A Memoir Lost”
A Sister Remembered
Being a transported convict, Michael had been torn away from his family and his home in Pontefract, Yorkshire. Within his journal and on the fly leaf of the gardening book he carried with him, Michael wrote of one family member in particular, his beloved sister Mary. Within the gardening book, he recorded her birthday inContinue reading “A Sister Remembered”
A Knapsack Full of Flour
According to Carlisle’s servant Patrick Flaherty, while he was cooking breakfast on the morning of the 24th of April 1815, Richard Collier, Richard McGwyre, Peter Septon, Hugh Burn and Peter Geary entered the hut and demanded Flaherty not to stir. With their muskets cocked, the outlaws searched through the room for items they stood inContinue reading “A Knapsack Full of Flour”
A Spot of Tea at Humphrey’s
At about seven o’clock in the evening on the 10th of May 1815, James Whitehead, Peter Septon, Thomas Collier, Richard McGwyre and James Geary rushed into the servant hut of Mr Adolarious William Henry Humphrey at Pitt Water and bailed up the male servants inside, tying their hands with the handkerchiefs they wore around theirContinue reading “A Spot of Tea at Humphrey’s”
A Toast to the Governor
On the night of the 8th of September 1816, John Peachey, the overseer of Lieutenant-Governor Davey’s farm at Coal River , was in bed when a heavy knock resounded from the front door of the house. Upon answering it, Peachey was greeted by Michael Howe, George Jones, Peter Septon, John Chapman and James Parker, withContinue reading “A Toast to the Governor”
Michael Howe: Governor of the Woods 