McIntosh - Biographical Information

The following contains biographical information for Frederick Ward's accomplice McIntosh, who was a member of Fred's first bushranging gang in early 1865 along with John Thompson and Thomas Hogan. For information about the gang's activities, see Timeline: 1865 - First Gang. 
                                                                                                                                                    Copyright Carol Baxter 2011

Jan 1865: ‘Mcintosh’ (sometimes called ‘William McKay/Mackay’ perhaps incorrectly) joined Thunderbolt. ‘William Mackay’ was first mentioned as Thunderbolt’s companion in a newspaper report of 31 Jan 1865 after Sergeant Cleary visited Thunderbolt’s camp, the information presumably provided by Mary Ann Bugg; this name was perhaps an attempt to confuse the police as a bushranger named William Mackay had been operating elsewhere although he was in gaol by that time (some Thunderbolt authors have confused McIntosh and William Mackay for that reason); McIntosh was evidently involved in the gang’s crimes from 20 Feb 1865 onwards; description of ‘McKay’ re 17 Mar 1865 crime: tall, no whiskers or beard and of a cadaverous appearance; re 21 Mar crime: ‘McIntosh’ was 6’1½” (perhaps from an official source), sandy hair and no whiskers and said to have been convicted of forgery at Maitland (but no trace of such a conviction has been found despite exhaustive searches); 26 Mar: listed as ‘William Mackay’; 4 & 19 Apr: listed as ‘McIntosh’, 19 Apr: tall, about 5’10” or 5’11”, sandy complexion and beard worn all round, light hair; other newspaper reports said that he was the brother of McIntosh who was mixed up with Picton in a cattle stealing case some years ago (while references to Joseph Picton have been found, no references to any associated McIntoshes have surfaced so McIntosh continues to elude detection[1]

Jan-May 1865: See Timeline: 1865 - First Gang for details of the gang’s activities  

May 1865: Gang splits up and McIntosh disappears

Sources:
[1] The Empire 31 Jan 1865 p.3; NSW Police Gazette 1865 No.13 (29 Mar 1865) pp.117-18, No.16 (19 Apr 1865) p.148, No.17 (26 Apr 1865) p.156; Sydney Morning Herald 3 May 1865 p.8 (from Tamworth Examiner 29 Apr)