John Ramsland's Custodians of the Soil
John Ramsland, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Newcastle, is the author of Custodians of the Soil: a history of Aboriginal-European relationships in the Manning Valley of New South Wales, which was published in 2001 by the Greater Taree City Council. As a Professor of History, Ramsland is one of the most "important" historians to have written about Mary Ann Bugg so his statements bear a certain authenticity simply by virtue of his academic position. For this reason, it is important to examine what he says about Mary Ann.
Ramsland's biography of Mary Ann is printed on pages 38 to 40 of Custodians of the Soil and carries the title “Mary-Anne or Yellilong, Thunderbolt’s Woman”. Worryingly, we find two errors in the title alone:
1. Mary Ann’s given name was almost always spelt Mary Ann (in fact, the spelling Anne is rarely found in pre-1850 records). This is shown in Mary Ann’s own signature when she signed a petition to the Governor in 1867, in her baptism and marriage entries (the latter written by the minister as Mary Ann but signed by Mary Ann herself as Mary A.), in the birth certificates of her offspring Marina (1861) and Frederick (1868), in her death certificate and so on. The only primary-source reference to her as Mary Anne is found in the 1876 birth certificate of her son George. Interestingly, the name Mary Ann was the only double-barrelled given name that, prior to the twentieth century, was considered a single given name in its own right rather than a combination of first and middle names. In my many years of transcribing colonial records, I have never seen it hyphenated as Mary-Anne.
2. Yellilong was not Mary Ann’s nickname but that of the woman who died in 1867, Louisa Mason (see Was Yellow Long one of Mary Ann Bugg's nicknames?). Except that Yellilong wasn’t even Louisa Mason’s nickname. There is only one surviving primary-source reference to Louisa Mason’s nickname, and that records the spelling Yellow Long. Seemingly, Yellilong is a recent adaptation by an author who was attempting to make Mary Ann seem more Aboriginal.
Let’s now look at Ramsland’s biographical information about Mary Ann and his source-referencing:
Paragraph 1 (p.38) provides an overview about relationships between Aboriginal woman and white men on the Aboriginal frontier. There are no source-references.
Paragraph 2 (p.38) provides background information about Mary Ann’s father James Bugg, yet without the specificity of dates or other details that enable the reader to determine the historical context. It also contains no source references. The nature of the information itself suggests that it came from anecdotal sources rather than primary-source research.
Ramsland states that Bugg was a short, fair complexioned man – he was actually 5’ 5” which was not short for the time at all, although he was indeed “fresh” complexioned. Ramsland states that Bugg was "a transported English convict" without listing Bugg's ship of transportation (Sesostris, 1826), and that Bugg was "assigned to the AA Company" without providing a date (January 1827). As for his claim that Bugg had a “distinctive nasal accent caused by a blow from an Aborigine’s tomahawk during a fight” – where did this information come from? The only primary-source reference to such a “fight” was the Aboriginal attack against Berrico in 1835 when James was bludgeoned by a waddy – that is, a heavy wooden war club– not a tomahawk (see Timeline).
Ramsland correctly states that Bugg was first at Falklands and then at Berrico, but then says that “After Berrico was closed, [Bugg] shifted to Middle Monkerai …”. In fact, a Company official reported in 1855 that Bugg “who has turned out a drunkard is to leave and his station will be placed in charge of Reid”. Berrico did not close; James left (perhaps involuntarily see Timeline).
Paragraph 3 (p.38) provides background information about James Bugg’s Aboriginal wife Charlotte, however it again contains no source-references and lacks dates and other specific details. Ramsland reports that Charlotte “saved [Bugg’s] life when he was attacked by Aborigines by shooting at them. Bugg then married her out of gratitude for her bravery, support and loyalty to him. She then discarded her native name and adopted the European name of Charlotte. Charlotte and James had eight children…”
Ramsland’s reference to Charlotte's action in saving Bugg’s life is accurate, and he also correctly identifies Charlotte as Mary Ann’s mother and the mother of all of Bugg's eight children. However Ramsland lists the Bugg's eldest children as “Jack and Mary-Anne” and provides no specifics regarding their births. They were Mary Ann (1834) and John (1836). Ramsland's chronology of James and Charlotte’s relationship is also problematic. Bugg evidently took up with Charlotte in 1833 as Mary Ann was born in May 1834. The attack against Bugg occurred in 1835, two years after their relationship began, and they were not married until 1848, fifteen years after their relationship began (see Timeline).
Paragraph 4 (p.38) provides information about Mary Ann's relationship with Fred Ward. "Mary-Anne Bugg or Yellilong formed a notable union with Frederick Ward, alias Captain Thunderbolt ... She was with him all of his wanderings and most of his adventures and bore him four children, all daughters."
Again Ramsland fails to note any dates. Fred bushranged for six-and-a-half years from October 1863 to May 1870, and Mary Ann was with him only from early 1864 to late 1867, that is, for two-thirds of Fred's bushranging period. Moreover, she was with him during his quiet periods but was mostly left behind when he went bushranging with his accomplices. She and Fred had only three known children, two daughters and a son: Marina Emily (1861), Elizabeth Ann (1865) and Frederick Wordsworth (1868) (see Mary Ann Bugg's children).
Ramsland actually provides a source reference for his information about Fred and Mary Ann's children: "'Kyoorie', 'Interesting Remiscences: Thunderbolt the Bushranger'" published in the "Wingham Chronicle, date unknown", which are clearly anecdotal sources rather than church or civil records (which provide details about two of these three children). The Wingham Chronicle was published between 1880 and 1965 making the articles almost impossible to trace, particularly as Ramsland did not list the collection that held these cuttings.
Ramsland adds, at the end of the paragraph, that "Jimmy Bugg, [Fred's] father-in-law, supported him by providing good horses and vital information for his bushranging activities." Most of Fred's bushranging years were spent in the north and north-western parts of the state, whereas Bugg lived in the Hunter Valley district and was not involved in "horse-trading" (as Ramsland stated in paragraph 2).
Paragraph 5 (bottom of page 38 and top of 39). This paragraph begins with background information about Frederick Ward aka Captain Thunderbolt that is mostly correct. At the bottom of page 38, Ramsland then states that Fred "probably married Mary-Anne Bugg" after receiving his ticket-of-leave, however they were not married then or later (see Did Fred Ward and Mary Ann Bugg marry?).
At the top of page 39, Ramsland reports that Frederick Ward and Frederick Brittain escaped from Cockatoo Island on 11 September 1863 with Mary Ann's assistance. His source was listed as Victor Crittendon's biography of Fred Ward published in the Australian Dictionary of Biography (1976, pp.353-354). While this might seem a reputable secondary-source, the biography contained many errors that have since been corrected. The online version no longer states that Mary Ann Bugg helped Fred escape from Cockatoo Island (see ADB).
Ramsland then provides specific details about Mary Ann's role in helping Fred escape, stating that "she swam from Long Nose Point to Cockatoo Island through shark-infested waters ..." etc. His source-reference for this information is Annie Rixon's novel Captain Thunderbolt, a surprising choice since Rixon's poorly researched work of fiction bears little relation to the truth. Indeed, she claims that bushranger Captain Thunderbolt was not Frederick Ward at all but Fred's Cockatoo Island escapee companion, Frederick Britten!
Paragraph 6 (paragraph 2 on page 38) includes information about Fred and Mary Ann's bushranging years. Ramsland states that the reward for Fred's apprehension was "£2000". It reached its maximum of £400 late in 1868 after Fred's year-long bushranging spree with Will Monckton (see Timeline).
Ramsland then states that Mary Ann was sentenced to six months gaol for vagrancy and that she was released "in April [1866] because of lack of evidence and the fact that she was again pregnant". Mary Ann was actually released because the Attorney General stated that, although the grounds for her conviction were sound, there were problems with the charge's wording and her conviction was unlikely to withstand scrutiny by the Supreme Court. Moreover, Mary Ann was not known to be pregnant at the time, nor was she likely to have been pregnant as she had given birth to her daughter Eliza/Elizabeth in mid-1865 (see Timeline).
Ramsland then states that:"A short time later [after Mary Ann's 1866 release from gaol] her health became undermined by her rigorous life and she died of pneumonia at the early age of twenty-eight in a settler's home near Muswellbrook where Fred had taken her to be cared for." Mary Ann did not die of pneumonia near Muswellbrook; it was Louisa Mason who died there in November 1867 (see Did Mary Ann Bugg die in 1867?). Moreover, Mary Ann would have been aged 33, not 28, if she had indeed died in 1867.
Against Ramsland's reference to Mary Ann Bugg's death, he cites Fred Ward's biography in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. Again the editors have since recognised that this information is incorrect. They have omitted the reference to Mary Ann's death altogether as they no longer include death dates for spouses who outlive the subject of the biography.
Finally, in that same paragraph, Ramsland states that in the aftermath of her death, Mary Ann's children were placed in government orphanages, "a small part of the hidden nineteeth century stolen generations". Again he provides no source-references to support this serious charge. The truth is quite different. Of Fred and Mary Ann's three known children, Marina's movements after 1866 have not yet been determined however she was reported by her brother Frederick to be alive and married in 1905; Elizabeth was brought up by Fred's relations in Maitland; and Fred was brought up by Mary Ann at Mudgee with most of her other children (see Mary Ann Bugg's children).
Seemingly, Professor Ramsland's biography is another example of the adage: "history doesn't repeat itself; historians repeat each other." Given the lack of source-referencing in general and primary-source references in particular as well as the obvious errors, Custodians of the Soil cannot be considered a reliable source of biographical information about Mary Ann Bugg.
Paragraph 2 (p.38) provides background information about Mary Ann’s father James Bugg, yet without the specificity of dates or other details that enable the reader to determine the historical context. It also contains no source references. The nature of the information itself suggests that it came from anecdotal sources rather than primary-source research.
Ramsland states that Bugg was a short, fair complexioned man – he was actually 5’ 5” which was not short for the time at all, although he was indeed “fresh” complexioned. Ramsland states that Bugg was "a transported English convict" without listing Bugg's ship of transportation (Sesostris, 1826), and that Bugg was "assigned to the AA Company" without providing a date (January 1827). As for his claim that Bugg had a “distinctive nasal accent caused by a blow from an Aborigine’s tomahawk during a fight” – where did this information come from? The only primary-source reference to such a “fight” was the Aboriginal attack against Berrico in 1835 when James was bludgeoned by a waddy – that is, a heavy wooden war club– not a tomahawk (see Timeline).
Ramsland correctly states that Bugg was first at Falklands and then at Berrico, but then says that “After Berrico was closed, [Bugg] shifted to Middle Monkerai …”. In fact, a Company official reported in 1855 that Bugg “who has turned out a drunkard is to leave and his station will be placed in charge of Reid”. Berrico did not close; James left (perhaps involuntarily see Timeline).
Paragraph 3 (p.38) provides background information about James Bugg’s Aboriginal wife Charlotte, however it again contains no source-references and lacks dates and other specific details. Ramsland reports that Charlotte “saved [Bugg’s] life when he was attacked by Aborigines by shooting at them. Bugg then married her out of gratitude for her bravery, support and loyalty to him. She then discarded her native name and adopted the European name of Charlotte. Charlotte and James had eight children…”
Ramsland’s reference to Charlotte's action in saving Bugg’s life is accurate, and he also correctly identifies Charlotte as Mary Ann’s mother and the mother of all of Bugg's eight children. However Ramsland lists the Bugg's eldest children as “Jack and Mary-Anne” and provides no specifics regarding their births. They were Mary Ann (1834) and John (1836). Ramsland's chronology of James and Charlotte’s relationship is also problematic. Bugg evidently took up with Charlotte in 1833 as Mary Ann was born in May 1834. The attack against Bugg occurred in 1835, two years after their relationship began, and they were not married until 1848, fifteen years after their relationship began (see Timeline).
Paragraph 4 (p.38) provides information about Mary Ann's relationship with Fred Ward. "Mary-Anne Bugg or Yellilong formed a notable union with Frederick Ward, alias Captain Thunderbolt ... She was with him all of his wanderings and most of his adventures and bore him four children, all daughters."
Again Ramsland fails to note any dates. Fred bushranged for six-and-a-half years from October 1863 to May 1870, and Mary Ann was with him only from early 1864 to late 1867, that is, for two-thirds of Fred's bushranging period. Moreover, she was with him during his quiet periods but was mostly left behind when he went bushranging with his accomplices. She and Fred had only three known children, two daughters and a son: Marina Emily (1861), Elizabeth Ann (1865) and Frederick Wordsworth (1868) (see Mary Ann Bugg's children).
Ramsland actually provides a source reference for his information about Fred and Mary Ann's children: "'Kyoorie', 'Interesting Remiscences: Thunderbolt the Bushranger'" published in the "Wingham Chronicle, date unknown", which are clearly anecdotal sources rather than church or civil records (which provide details about two of these three children). The Wingham Chronicle was published between 1880 and 1965 making the articles almost impossible to trace, particularly as Ramsland did not list the collection that held these cuttings.
Ramsland adds, at the end of the paragraph, that "Jimmy Bugg, [Fred's] father-in-law, supported him by providing good horses and vital information for his bushranging activities." Most of Fred's bushranging years were spent in the north and north-western parts of the state, whereas Bugg lived in the Hunter Valley district and was not involved in "horse-trading" (as Ramsland stated in paragraph 2).
Paragraph 5 (bottom of page 38 and top of 39). This paragraph begins with background information about Frederick Ward aka Captain Thunderbolt that is mostly correct. At the bottom of page 38, Ramsland then states that Fred "probably married Mary-Anne Bugg" after receiving his ticket-of-leave, however they were not married then or later (see Did Fred Ward and Mary Ann Bugg marry?).
At the top of page 39, Ramsland reports that Frederick Ward and Frederick Brittain escaped from Cockatoo Island on 11 September 1863 with Mary Ann's assistance. His source was listed as Victor Crittendon's biography of Fred Ward published in the Australian Dictionary of Biography (1976, pp.353-354). While this might seem a reputable secondary-source, the biography contained many errors that have since been corrected. The online version no longer states that Mary Ann Bugg helped Fred escape from Cockatoo Island (see ADB).
Ramsland then provides specific details about Mary Ann's role in helping Fred escape, stating that "she swam from Long Nose Point to Cockatoo Island through shark-infested waters ..." etc. His source-reference for this information is Annie Rixon's novel Captain Thunderbolt, a surprising choice since Rixon's poorly researched work of fiction bears little relation to the truth. Indeed, she claims that bushranger Captain Thunderbolt was not Frederick Ward at all but Fred's Cockatoo Island escapee companion, Frederick Britten!
Paragraph 6 (paragraph 2 on page 38) includes information about Fred and Mary Ann's bushranging years. Ramsland states that the reward for Fred's apprehension was "£2000". It reached its maximum of £400 late in 1868 after Fred's year-long bushranging spree with Will Monckton (see Timeline).
Ramsland then states that Mary Ann was sentenced to six months gaol for vagrancy and that she was released "in April [1866] because of lack of evidence and the fact that she was again pregnant". Mary Ann was actually released because the Attorney General stated that, although the grounds for her conviction were sound, there were problems with the charge's wording and her conviction was unlikely to withstand scrutiny by the Supreme Court. Moreover, Mary Ann was not known to be pregnant at the time, nor was she likely to have been pregnant as she had given birth to her daughter Eliza/Elizabeth in mid-1865 (see Timeline).
Ramsland then states that:"A short time later [after Mary Ann's 1866 release from gaol] her health became undermined by her rigorous life and she died of pneumonia at the early age of twenty-eight in a settler's home near Muswellbrook where Fred had taken her to be cared for." Mary Ann did not die of pneumonia near Muswellbrook; it was Louisa Mason who died there in November 1867 (see Did Mary Ann Bugg die in 1867?). Moreover, Mary Ann would have been aged 33, not 28, if she had indeed died in 1867.
Against Ramsland's reference to Mary Ann Bugg's death, he cites Fred Ward's biography in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. Again the editors have since recognised that this information is incorrect. They have omitted the reference to Mary Ann's death altogether as they no longer include death dates for spouses who outlive the subject of the biography.
Finally, in that same paragraph, Ramsland states that in the aftermath of her death, Mary Ann's children were placed in government orphanages, "a small part of the hidden nineteeth century stolen generations". Again he provides no source-references to support this serious charge. The truth is quite different. Of Fred and Mary Ann's three known children, Marina's movements after 1866 have not yet been determined however she was reported by her brother Frederick to be alive and married in 1905; Elizabeth was brought up by Fred's relations in Maitland; and Fred was brought up by Mary Ann at Mudgee with most of her other children (see Mary Ann Bugg's children).
Seemingly, Professor Ramsland's biography is another example of the adage: "history doesn't repeat itself; historians repeat each other." Given the lack of source-referencing in general and primary-source references in particular as well as the obvious errors, Custodians of the Soil cannot be considered a reliable source of biographical information about Mary Ann Bugg.