Analysis: When was Frederick Ward born?
Copyright Carol Baxter, 2011
Maitland Gaol Description Book 1856
Different claims have been made about bushranger Frederick Ward’s year of birth, ranging from 1833 to 1839. To determine the truth, we need to ignore all of these claims and hear what Fred Ward said about his own birth. Three surviving sources list Fred's responses to questions about his birth-year or age, as follows:
1. Upon his admission to Maitland Gaol in 1856, Fred said that he was born in 1835 (see Entry No. 175 above);[1]
2. Upon his admission to Darlinghurst Gaol on 23 August 1856, Fred said that he was aged 20 – indicating that he was born between 24 August 1835 and 23 August 1836;[2]
3. Upon his admission to Darlinghurst Gaol on 2 November 1861, Fred said that he was aged 26 – indicating that he was born between 3 November 1834 and 2 November 1835 (see Entry No. 2103 below)[3]
1. Upon his admission to Maitland Gaol in 1856, Fred said that he was born in 1835 (see Entry No. 175 above);[1]
2. Upon his admission to Darlinghurst Gaol on 23 August 1856, Fred said that he was aged 20 – indicating that he was born between 24 August 1835 and 23 August 1836;[2]
3. Upon his admission to Darlinghurst Gaol on 2 November 1861, Fred said that he was aged 26 – indicating that he was born between 3 November 1834 and 2 November 1835 (see Entry No. 2103 below)[3]
Frederick Ward's entry from Darlinghurst Gaol Description Book 1861
Not only did Fred specifically state that he was born in 1835, but the birth-window provided by the ages he provided – that is, the area of correlation between the time-spans listed in the second and third entries above – suggests that he was born between 24 August 1835 and 2 November 1835. The remarkable correlation between these three sources indicates that Fred was telling the truth – as he knew it. Fred by his own account was born in 1835.
For information about Fred's birthplace and parentage, see Where was Fred Ward born? and Who were Fred Ward's parents?
NB. According to Fred Ward's entry in the Darlinghurst Gaol Description Book 1861 (shown above, No. 2103), he was "BC" (born in colony) at Windsor, protestant, aged 26, and 5' 7½" tall. The entry itself does not record the date of Fred's admission to Darlinghurst Gaol as this information was noted in the associated Entrance Book shown below.[4] It is important to note that, although the admission year was not listed on the page showing Fred's entry, it was listed elsewhere in the document.
For information about Fred's birthplace and parentage, see Where was Fred Ward born? and Who were Fred Ward's parents?
NB. According to Fred Ward's entry in the Darlinghurst Gaol Description Book 1861 (shown above, No. 2103), he was "BC" (born in colony) at Windsor, protestant, aged 26, and 5' 7½" tall. The entry itself does not record the date of Fred's admission to Darlinghurst Gaol as this information was noted in the associated Entrance Book shown below.[4] It is important to note that, although the admission year was not listed on the page showing Fred's entry, it was listed elsewhere in the document.
Frederick Ward's entry from Darlinghurst Gaol Entrance Book 1861
Fred's details record that he ws committed at the Mudgee Quarter Sessions on 4 October [1861] and admitted to Darlinghurst Gaol on 2 November [1861]. As the year 1861 was not listed on the above photocopy, independent confirmation is provided to prove that this admission did indeed occur in 1861 - and therefore that Fred Ward stated that he was aged 26 in 1861. A newspaper report of his Mudgee Trial is shown below:[5]
Sources:
[1] Maitland Gaol – Description Book: Frederick Ward, 1856 [SRNSW ref: 2/2017, Year 1856 No. 175; Reel 759]
[2] Darlinghurst Gaol – Description Book: Frederick Ward, 1856 [SRNSW ref: 4/6306, Year 1856 No. 1772; Reel 859]
[3] Darlinghurst Gaol – Description Book: Frederick Ward, 1861 [SRNSW ref: 4/6309, Year 1861 No. 2103; Reel 860]
[4] Darlinghurst Gaol – Entrance Book: Frederick Ward, 1861 [SRNSW ref: 5/1895, Year 1861 No. 2103; Reel 2338]
[5] Mudgee Liberal 11 Oct 1861 p.4; a reference to Fred's Mudgee conviction was also included in the Sydney Morning Herald 9 Oct 1861 p.3 (see Online Newspapers)
[1] Maitland Gaol – Description Book: Frederick Ward, 1856 [SRNSW ref: 2/2017, Year 1856 No. 175; Reel 759]
[2] Darlinghurst Gaol – Description Book: Frederick Ward, 1856 [SRNSW ref: 4/6306, Year 1856 No. 1772; Reel 859]
[3] Darlinghurst Gaol – Description Book: Frederick Ward, 1861 [SRNSW ref: 4/6309, Year 1861 No. 2103; Reel 860]
[4] Darlinghurst Gaol – Entrance Book: Frederick Ward, 1861 [SRNSW ref: 5/1895, Year 1861 No. 2103; Reel 2338]
[5] Mudgee Liberal 11 Oct 1861 p.4; a reference to Fred's Mudgee conviction was also included in the Sydney Morning Herald 9 Oct 1861 p.3 (see Online Newspapers)