Analysis: Did Mary Ann Bugg die in 1867?
Determining Mary Ann Bugg’s life story has largely pivoted around one event: whether she did or did not die in November 1867. Most Thunderbolt publications claim that she did die in 1867 as shown below:[1]
Mary Ann Bugg as at 19 Jun 2011 [1]
Let us assess the actual evidence.
On 30 November 1867, John H. Keys wrote to the Superintendent of Police about the police’s failure to capture Thunderbolt while he was in the local area. With regard to the woman who had died at the Goulburn River on 24 November (not 11 November as stated above), Keys said: “Ward was for some time on St Heliers before taking the horse and before taking the half-caste from Segenhoe” (see below):[2]
On 30 November 1867, John H. Keys wrote to the Superintendent of Police about the police’s failure to capture Thunderbolt while he was in the local area. With regard to the woman who had died at the Goulburn River on 24 November (not 11 November as stated above), Keys said: “Ward was for some time on St Heliers before taking the horse and before taking the half-caste from Segenhoe” (see below):[2]
John H. Keys, 30 Nov 1867 [2]
On 2 December 1867, Police Superintendent Morisset replied to Keys’ letter, remarking that the information about the Thunderbolt sightings was not received “until after the death of the half-caste” (see bottom of photocopy below):[3]
Superintendent Morisset, 2 Dec 1867 [3]
On 5 December 1867, Parliamentarian James White wrote a memo about the Thunderbolt sightings in the district. He mentioned that “the woman who usually accompanied Thunderbolt had been brought in to Mrs Bradford’s in a dying state” (see below):[4]
James White, 5 Dec 1867 [4]
None of these sources named the dead woman, merely referring to her as the "half-caste" or as Thunderbolt's woman. Yet most Thunderbolt writers have concluded that these references to the "half-caste" were references to Mary Ann Bugg. Such a conclusion seems surprising in view of the associated newspaper reports.
On 18 November, a correspondent for the Maitland Ensign wrote that Thunderbolt “then proceeded to Segenhoe whence he took a half-caste girl who was living with a person well-known about here as Cranky Bob ... It is said that the highwayman’s lady is in an interesting situation [pregnant] and that he wants this one to wait on her (see below):[5]
On 18 November, a correspondent for the Maitland Ensign wrote that Thunderbolt “then proceeded to Segenhoe whence he took a half-caste girl who was living with a person well-known about here as Cranky Bob ... It is said that the highwayman’s lady is in an interesting situation [pregnant] and that he wants this one to wait on her (see below):[5]
The Empire 21 Nov 1867 [5]
A short time later, the Singleton Times wrote: “We are sorry to hear that the unfortunate woman who was carried away by Thunderbolt from the Chain of Ponds about a fortnight ago to wait upon his female associate has been brought dead into Aberdeen.” (see below): [6]
Sydney Morning Herald 28 Nov 1867 [6]
The Muswellbrook correspondent for the Maitland Mercury elaborated: “On Saturday night last [23 Nov 1867], at about nine o’clock, information was brought to the police that Thunderbolt and his woman, Louisa Mason, commonly known as ‘Yellow Long’, were at Mrs Bradford’s on the Goulburn River, the latter in a dying state. Constable Boon immediately procured Dr Brown’s attendance and started with him for the spot but arrived just a few minutes after the poor misguided woman had breathed her last” (see below):[7]
Maitland Mercury 28 Nov 1867 [7]
The Maitland Mercury pressmen provided their own facetious account of Thunderbolt’s amorous activities (see below):[7]
Maitland Mercury 28 Nov 1867 [7]
However, the Singleton Times advised that: “The information with reference to the woman whom the bushranger carried away has been variously reported in town and is not altogether correct. Mr Thorpe informs us that the woman in question clandestinely eloped with the bushranger, leaving her husband, a poor shepherd, to mourn over the loss of his fickle fair one. After a few days and nights in the bush, the woman took ill from exposure ... [and] was found in a dying state” (see below):[8]
The Empire 11 Dec 1867 [8]
Not a single report named the dead woman as Mary Ann Bugg. In fact, two of them alluded to Mary Ann separately, suggesting that she was pregnant at the time and that Thunderbolt had brought the dead woman to assist her (quite clearly, he hadn't!).
As it turns out, the official letters, memos and newspaper articles provided enough information to actually identify the dead woman. They revealed that she came from the Segenhoe/Scone district, was a “half-caste” named Louisa Mason or Yellow Long (the nickname itself suggesting Aboriginality), and was the wife of Cranky Bob. That the dead woman was indeed named Louisa Mason, not Mary Ann Bugg, is confirmed by her inquest report. The inquest of Louisa Mason was conducted by Thomas Hungerford JP on 24 November 1867 at Beramba (as mentioned also in the newspaper reports) and determined that she died from “acute inflammation of the lungs”.[9] Oddly, though, no death certificate exists in the records of the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.[9a]
As it turns out, the official letters, memos and newspaper articles provided enough information to actually identify the dead woman. They revealed that she came from the Segenhoe/Scone district, was a “half-caste” named Louisa Mason or Yellow Long (the nickname itself suggesting Aboriginality), and was the wife of Cranky Bob. That the dead woman was indeed named Louisa Mason, not Mary Ann Bugg, is confirmed by her inquest report. The inquest of Louisa Mason was conducted by Thomas Hungerford JP on 24 November 1867 at Beramba (as mentioned also in the newspaper reports) and determined that she died from “acute inflammation of the lungs”.[9] Oddly, though, no death certificate exists in the records of the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.[9a]
Register of Coroners Inquests: Louisa Mason [9]
Civil records confirm Louisa Mason’s existence. At Muswellbrook on 13 August 1867, only a few months before her “elopement” with Thunderbolt, Louisa Jane Clark married Robert Michael Mason, a labourer from Rouchel near Scone (see Marriage Certificate).[10] This is clearly the Louisa Mason, wife of Bob of Scone, mentioned in the above newspaper reports. No children were registered as having been born to this couple, and the only Robert Mason listed as dying in the Muswellbrook district between 1867 and 1950 was a 32 year-old who died at Scone in 1874. No references to the remarriage or death of his wife, Louisa, have been found.[11]
Louisa Mason's Aboriginality would explain why the magistrate referred to her as the “half-caste” and why Parliamentarian James White assumed that the dead “half-caste” woman was “the woman who usually accompanied Thunderbolt”. White knew about Thunderbolt’s usual companion not simply from newspaper reports but because Mary Ann’s case had been brought before Parliament the previous year while he was a serving member.
Clearly, the evidence proves that the woman who died on 24 November 1867 at the Goulburn River was not Mary Ann Bugg but a different woman entirely named Louisa Mason. Evidently, all the historians who have claimed that Louisa Mason was Mary Ann Bugg – deciding that Louisa Mason must have been a nickname used by Mary Ann – have simply been repeating each other rather than returning to the original records and determining the truth for themselves.
For incontrovertible proof regarding Mary Ann's actual death, see When did Mary Ann Bugg die?
Louisa Mason's Aboriginality would explain why the magistrate referred to her as the “half-caste” and why Parliamentarian James White assumed that the dead “half-caste” woman was “the woman who usually accompanied Thunderbolt”. White knew about Thunderbolt’s usual companion not simply from newspaper reports but because Mary Ann’s case had been brought before Parliament the previous year while he was a serving member.
Clearly, the evidence proves that the woman who died on 24 November 1867 at the Goulburn River was not Mary Ann Bugg but a different woman entirely named Louisa Mason. Evidently, all the historians who have claimed that Louisa Mason was Mary Ann Bugg – deciding that Louisa Mason must have been a nickname used by Mary Ann – have simply been repeating each other rather than returning to the original records and determining the truth for themselves.
For incontrovertible proof regarding Mary Ann's actual death, see When did Mary Ann Bugg die?
Sources:
[1] Mary Ann Bugg - by Barry Sinclair [http://users.tpg.com.au/users/barrymor/Mary%20Ann%20Bugg.html]
[2] John H. Keys to Superintendent of Police, 30 Nov 1867 [SRNSW ref: 4/616 No. 68/140]
[3] Superintendent Morisset to John H. Keys, 2 Dec 1867 [SRNSW ref: 4/616 No. 68/140]
[4] Memo of Parliamentarian James White, 5 Dec 1867 [SRNSW ref: 4/616 No. 68/140]
[5] Maitland Ensign quoted in The Empire 21 Nov 1867 p.8
[6] Singleton Times quoted in Sydney Morning Herald 28 Nov 1867 p.4
[7] Maitland Mercury 28 Nov 1867 p.4 (two articles)
[8] The Empire 11 Dec 1867 p.4
[9] Register of Coroner's Inquests and Magisterial Inquiries 1834-1942: Louisa Mason, 1867 [SRNSW ref: 4/6614 No. 939; Reel 2922]
[9a] An Registry experienced staff member undertook a thorough research but was unable to find any trace of the death certificate under the names Louisa Mason, Mary Ann Bugg/Baker/Ward, etc.
[10] Marriage Certificate: Robert Michael Mason & Louisa Jane Clark [RBDM ref: 1867/2545]
[11] NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Online Indexes
[1] Mary Ann Bugg - by Barry Sinclair [http://users.tpg.com.au/users/barrymor/Mary%20Ann%20Bugg.html]
[2] John H. Keys to Superintendent of Police, 30 Nov 1867 [SRNSW ref: 4/616 No. 68/140]
[3] Superintendent Morisset to John H. Keys, 2 Dec 1867 [SRNSW ref: 4/616 No. 68/140]
[4] Memo of Parliamentarian James White, 5 Dec 1867 [SRNSW ref: 4/616 No. 68/140]
[5] Maitland Ensign quoted in The Empire 21 Nov 1867 p.8
[6] Singleton Times quoted in Sydney Morning Herald 28 Nov 1867 p.4
[7] Maitland Mercury 28 Nov 1867 p.4 (two articles)
[8] The Empire 11 Dec 1867 p.4
[9] Register of Coroner's Inquests and Magisterial Inquiries 1834-1942: Louisa Mason, 1867 [SRNSW ref: 4/6614 No. 939; Reel 2922]
[9a] An Registry experienced staff member undertook a thorough research but was unable to find any trace of the death certificate under the names Louisa Mason, Mary Ann Bugg/Baker/Ward, etc.
[10] Marriage Certificate: Robert Michael Mason & Louisa Jane Clark [RBDM ref: 1867/2545]
[11] NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Online Indexes