Mary Ann Bugg facts for kids

Mary Ann Bugg (born May 7, 1834 – died April 22, 1905) was a brave and skilled Worimi woman. She was one of the few famous female bushrangers in Australia during the mid-1800s. Mary Ann was an amazing horse rider and knew the bush like the back of her hand. She traveled with her partner, the well-known bushranger Captain Thunderbolt.

Mary Ann Bugg's Early Life

Mary Ann Bugg was born on May 7, 1834, at a place called Berrico outstation, near Gloucester, New South Wales. Her father, James Bugg, came to Australia from England in 1826. He worked for a big company that managed farms and land. James was good at his job and became an overseer.

In 1833, James Bugg and an Aboriginal woman named Charlotte had children together. Mary Ann was their first child. She had many brothers and sisters. When Mary Ann was about five years old, she and her brother John went to Sydney for school. Mary Ann learned to read, write, and do numbers. She also learned important home skills. She returned to Berrico when she was around ten years old.

When Mary Ann was almost 14, she married Edmund Baker in 1848. Their marriage ended after a year or two. Later, Mary Ann moved to the Bathurst area with her second partner, John Burrows. They had two sons, James and John. By 1855, Mary Ann was living with James McNally, a farmer. They had three more children: Mary Jane, Patrick, and Ellen. In 1860, while living at Cooyal, Mary Ann met Frederick Ward, who would become famous as Captain Thunderbolt.

Mary Ann and Fred Ward's Story

Mary Ann Bugg became pregnant soon after meeting Frederick Ward. Ward took Mary Ann to her father's farm at Monkerai, near Dungog, for their baby's birth. Their daughter, Marina Emily, was born in late 1861.

Because Ward left the Mudgee area, he broke the rules of his freedom. His freedom was taken away, and he was sent back to a prison island called Cockatoo Island. He had to serve more time there.

Many stories say that Mary Ann helped Ward escape from Cockatoo Island. This was one of the very few successful escapes from the island prison. Some stories say she swam across the harbor, which was known for sharks, to bring Ward a file to remove his leg chains. Then, she used a lamp to guide him to safety. Other stories suggest she didn't meet Ward again until after he escaped in September 1863.

Life as a Bushranger's Partner

After an important robbery where Frederick Ward first called himself "Captain Thunderbolt," he went back to Dungog. He picked up Mary Ann and her two youngest daughters, Ellen and Marina. In 1864, they traveled through the mountains during a huge flood. They eventually reached the Culgoa River in the north-west.

In 1865, Mary Ann gave birth to another daughter, Elizabeth Ann Ward. She left this child, and her two older daughters, with friends or family. This allowed her to stay on the run with Ward. Mary Ann was more than just Ward's partner; she was his eyes and ears. She helped keep him safe from the police.

Mary Ann acted as a scout, visiting towns to find out if the police were nearby. While there's no proof she joined in the robberies, many people believed she did. Her main job was to look after their bush camps. She would find food for Ward and his friends.

People often described Mary Ann as looking like a young man. She wore knee-high boots, tough trousers, a shirt, a jacket, and a hat. This was the clothing of skilled horsemen of the time. Women usually rode sidesaddle, but Mary Ann rode like a man, sitting with one leg on each side of the horse. She was proud to be with Ward and sometimes called herself the "Captain's Lady."

Mary Ann was caught by the police three times because of her connection to Ward. In 1866, she was sentenced to six months in jail. However, people spoke up in Parliament, and a lawyer looked at her case. They found that the charges were not properly written, and she was released. Another time, in 1867, she was accused of having stolen goods. But a kind judge looked into her case and found that a shop assistant could prove Mary Ann had bought the goods herself. So, that charge was also dropped.

Later Life and Passing

Many books about Captain Thunderbolt say Mary Ann died in November 1867. However, that was another woman. Mary Ann became pregnant again shortly after that time. She and Ward separated not long after. Their son, Frederick Wordsworth Ward, was born in August 1868.

After separating from Ward, Mary Ann settled down again with John Burrows. They had four more children who grew up: Ada Gertrude, Ida Margaret, and George Herbert. John Burrows passed away before 1900. Mary Ann then worked as a nurse to support herself. She passed away on April 22, 1905, in Mudgee. Her son Frederick followed in his birth father's footsteps, becoming a groom and later a horse-trainer. He died in 1937.