Introduction

William Mann was born in Hickling in1806 into a relatively prosperous family working in fibres and yarns. Both of his parents died in 1828 and his younger adult years could be described as ‘wayward’ until he was convicted and transported to Australia in 1833. William married in Australia and his surname changes to ‘Manns’; probably at about the same time as his marriage. Although he settled as a prosperous farmer the lives of 3 of his sons proved to be troubled and, in horrific circumstances, his son Henry would be hanged in 1863 following the infamous robbery of a mail coach.

Contents:

• Biographical summary
• His father’s Will (1828)
• His siblings:
  • Thomas (and family)
  • Joseph (and family)
  • Elizabeth
  • Anna
• The Life of William Mann/s (1806-1892)
  • Life in England
  • Transportation
  • In Australia
  • Life as a free man
• William & Mary Manns’ children
  • Newspaper links
  • Bushranger Henry Manns

Biography – summary:

William Mann was born in Hickling in 1806:

• Parents William (1773-1828) and Abigail (Morley) (1776-1828) Mann (married Hickling 10^th April 1798); they had 10 children although several died young:
  • Thomas Mann 1799–1839
  • Mary Mann 1801–1816
  • Joseph Mann 1803 – ? (appears in census records in Nottingham for 1841-1861)
  • Samuel Mann 1805–1816
  • William Mann[s] 1806–1892
  • Elizabeth Mann 1810–1836
  • Anna Mann 1812 – ?
  • John Mann 1814–1817
  • Matthew Mann 1816–1816
  • Daniel Mann 1818–1818
• William Mann[s] baptised 31st August 1806, St. Luke’s Church, Hickling
• In 1828 both parents (William and Abigail) died. Abigail died aged 52 and was buried in Hickling (abode Hickling) on 30^th July 1828. William died aged 55 and was buried in Hickling (abode Nottingham) on 10^th November 1828. They were both relatively young when they died but no causes of death have been recorded. William’s abode in Nottingham may indicate that he was in hospital or that he was staying with his son, Joseph who, in later years, is recorded as a tailor in Nottingham/Arnold.
• William’s Will left £64 to his son William (born 1806) and the balance of his land and property to his eldest son, Thomas.
  • The Will of William Mann in 1828 is quite complicated and detailed; he appears to be attempting to secure the future of his business in Hickling and the future of his daughters (until they turn age 21) whilst managing his sons’ shares in his Estate carefully.
  • William’s father’s Will indicates that there is a substantial loan to his son William (b.1806) which is still outstanding at the time of his death. It also records that William (jnr) is living away from Hickling and the family business in Rugby (Warkwickshire) – see, below.
  • Click here: the Will of William Mann 1828
• Convicted and transported 1833: William was tried at the Quarter Sessions, Nottingham on the 12^th Jan 1833 and sentenced to 14 years transportation for theft of clothes. William was transported on the 3^rd August 1833 on the Waterloo to Port Jackson, NSW.
  • At the time of his conviction, William Mann was a groom
  • The Waterloo departed on the 11th Mar 1833 and arrived in New South Wales on the 3rd Aug 1833
• William Mann married Mary Turner; 13^th October 1836, St Philips Church, Sydney
  • Mary was born in 1813 in County Cork, Ireland
• Convict records – permission to marry 31^st August 1836
  • Mann William – 29 – Waterloo – 14 years – Wm Cowper, Sydney – single – allowed
  • Mary Turner – 22 – James Pattison – free – Wm Cowper, Sydney – single – allowed
• William & Mary Mann[s] seem to have had 9 children:
  • William born 1837, baptised St. Peters Church, Campbelltown, NSW (it appears that this William also had a son named William (born 1859) who fathered 29 children).
  • Henry born 1839; hanged for his part in the Eugowra Gold Escort Robbery
  • Mary born 1841
  • Jane 1843
  • Isabella & John 1845
  • Thomas 1848
  • George 1849
  • Samuel
• The family farmed at Campbelltown and later moved to Wagga Wagga/Adelong.
• Mary (Turner) Manns (poss. record) died 5th March 1874 in Adelong, New South Wales
• William Manns died 7th August 1892, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales; age 86, and buried on 9th August 1892 in Wagga Wagga Cemetery. A transcript of his Will and Probate show that he was a retired farmer and that he left his Estate of £262 to his daughter (and sole executor) Mary Yabsley of Wagga Wagga – she is described as ‘late innkeeper’. Reference is also made to separate trusts and mortgages to be dealt with according to their respective terms.

The Will of William Mann (1773-1828)

The Will of William Mann in 1828 is quite complicated and detailed; he appears to be attempting to secure the future of his business in Hickling and the future of his daughters (until his youngest daughter turns age 21) whilst managing his sons’ shares in his Estate carefully.

Click here: the Will of William Mann 1828

• William Mann is a grocer and cordwainer (shoe maker) with two houses (and associated land) in Hickling and a business which includes its main asset, a ‘twist net maker machine’ (used to twist or spin fibres for yarns, cords, ropes).
• Although William Mann has 5 children (including adult sons), control of his Estate is passed to two executors; William Wright (a grazier) and Joseph Maltby (a weaver) in perpetuity.
• Thomas is described as a ‘twist net maker’ and he is living in Hickling.
• His two surviving daughters, Elizabeth and Anna, have the ‘free use of the three lower back rooms in the House wherein I now dwell without molestation or hindrance so long as they keep single and one of them have occasion to occupy them.’
• The executors are also instructed to give the two daughters a range of household items; “the following articles of household furniture to my daughter Elizabeth Mann, one set of drawers, one wool bed, bedstead and curtains (now in the middle room) one pair of blankets, two pair of sheets, seeing glass, tea kettle, four common silver spoons one large copper pot one screen table and four chairs, to my daughter Anna Mann, the best set of drawers the best wool bed, bedstead and curtains one pair of blankets, two pair of sheets seeing glass, tea kettle six silver tea spoons two, two small pans, best dressing table a three leg’d stand and four chairs, but the clock, china knives and forks to be divided equally betwixt them.”
• Elizabeth and Anna also receive a legacy of £60 each when the youngest daughter, Anna, reaches the age of 21 in 1833. Until that time, the Estate will pay them £3 a year each, starting a year after their father’s death.
• A further legacy is to be paid, “to my son Joseph Mann of Arnold in the County of Nottingham tailor the sum of one hundred pounds within twelve months after my decease out of my said personal estate.”
• Lastly, a legacy to his son William (transported to Australia in 1833) hints at money and/or family problems; “to my son William Mann of Rugby in the County of Warwick the sum of twenty pounds within twelve months after my decease out of my said personal estate and I order the said William Wright and the said Joseph Maltby or the heirs of them not to demand the money of my said son William for which I have proper security until my youngest daughter Anna Mann shall attain the age of twenty one unless they the said William Wright or the said Joseph Maltby shall see urgent occasion for the same and the Interest regularly paid to the said William Wright and the said Joseph Maltby or the heirs of them.”
• William does receive a legacy of £20 from his father’s Estate but he is still required to repay the loan and to pay interest to his father’s executors until it has been repaid. William isn’t required to repay his loan to his father immediately (unless there is urgent need of the funds) but it will be required when Anna turns 21 in 1832/33. It may or may not be a coincidence that William is charged with theft and transported in 1833; perhaps his crime was a consequence of his need to repay the loan to his father’s estate?
• The executors are given 12 months from William’s decease to realise the funds needed to cover cash legacies and their responsibilities towards William’s daughters are in perpetuity. The residue of the Estate goes to his son, Thomas, once Anna has reached the age of 21. Anna was baptised in Feb 1812; if baptised just after her birth she would turn 21 in 1832/33.
• When Probate is granted in June 1829 his estate including all goods and chattels ‘do not amount in value to £450’.

William Mann’s Estate is seen to be substantial.

• It is possible that the second property detailed is the home of Thomas Mann and, perhaps, that William Mann’s (snr) main residence may have been his place of business, too; his daughters are only given rights over 3 rooms.
• Only half of the twist net machine is included in William Mann’s Will; perhaps his son Thomas already owns the other half – his profession is listed as ‘twist net maker’. Alternatively, Thomas and his family may be sharing the main dwelling house or be expected to move into it.
• Either way, only three of William and Abigail’s five surviving children are living in Hickling at the time of his death.
• In summary: Thomas (the eldest son) is the main beneficiary of his father’s estate including his business interests in Hickling. His daughters (also in Hickling) receive an income and household goods until Anna turns 21 and then £60 each. Joseph (a tailor in Nottingham) also receives £60. However, William (in Rugby at the time of the Will) receives £20 immediately but is required to continue paying interest on a loan from his father (loan amount unknown) and to repay the loan by the time Anna turns 21.
• Thomas appears to continue the business in Hickling until he moves to Grimston (nr Melton Mowbray) in 1838/9; he dies in 1839 and his family return to Hickling in the 1840s. It seems that the family’s prosperity doesn’t continue with later census records implying a more modest existence.

William Mann (b.1806); his siblings:

Thomas Mann dies in 1839 and there is no trace of any individuals named in the Will in the 1841 Census for Hickling.

• Thomas Mann married Mary Toyn(e) in Hickling on 18^th Feb 1822. The Banns are witnessed by Jemima and Sophia Toyn.
• There are no Toyn family records in Hickling Parish Registers; Mary Toyn’s residence is listed as Headon-cum-Upton (North Notts) but we have had difficulties with unreliable transcriptions naming this location in previous searches …
• (possible) birth records:
  • Jemima – Hickling – born 9^th Jan 1823 – bap. 3^rd Nov 1831 – parents Thomas & Mary Mann – father, shoemaker
  • Joshua – Hickling – born 24^th April 1827 – bap. 3^rd Nov 1831 – parents Thomas and Mary Mann – father lacemaker
  • Vincent – Hickling – bap. 7^th Nov 1832 – parents Thomas & Mary Mann – father lacemaker
  • Jacob – Hickling – born 00/00/1834 – bap. 13^th May 1838 – parents Thomas & Mary Mann – father shoemaker
  • Abigail – Hickling- bap. 13^th May 1838 – parents Thomas & Mary Mann – father shoemaker
• Although Thomas Mann’s burial is recorded in Hickling on the 29^th Dec 1839, his abode is given as Grimstone. It appears that the family moved from Hickling to Grimston at some point between mid-1838 and late-1839.
• There is an 1841 Census record for Mary Mann in Grimston, Melton Mowbray; she is listed as a schoolmistress with her children; Joshua (14), Vincent (9), Jacob (7), Abigail (3) plus William Digby (ag lab, age 70) – all are born ’out of county’. Jemima is not listed with the family.
• In the 1851 Census, Mary (school mistress) and Abigail are recorded back in Hickling in a household of their own. Jacob is possibly recorded as a servant in the Shipman household in Hickling.
• Mary remains in Hickling as a schoolmistress in the 1861 census but her date of birth is inconsistent across records (confused by the presence of other Mary Manns of a similar age). However, the Grimston record offers evidence to link these future records; in the 1871 census Mary is recorded as age 76, schoolmistress. She is head of the household with her daughter Jemima and her son Jacob (farm servant) and his children (Jacob (8), Emma (6) and Vincent (4). The children are listed as born in Woodthorpe, Notts.
• Mary Mann’s burial is recorded in Hickling on 23^rd June 1872 (asthma).
  • [Sarah] Jemima’s burial is recorded in Hickling; 3^rd April 1884 (no record found in 1881 census).
  • In the 1881 Census Jacob Mann is the sole member of the household (domestic gardener & labourer). Similarly, 1891 & 1901.

Joseph Mann (bap. 1803)

Census 1851 (Church Street, Arnold, Notts):

• Joseph  Mann – Head – Married – Male – 47 – 1804 – Tailor – Nottinghamshire
• Elizabeth Mann – Wife – Married – Female – 47 – 1804 – Seamstress – Nottinghamshire
• Caroline Mann – Daughter – Unmarried – Female – 25 – 1826 – Dress maker – Arnold, Notts
• Josiah Mann – Son – Unmarried – Male – 23 – 1828 – Framesmith – Arnold
• Vashti Mann – Daughter – Unmarried – Female – 15 – 1836 – Seamstress – Arnold
• Amelia Anne Mann – Daughter – Unmarried – Female – 13 – 1838 – Seamstress – Arnold
• Owen Wm Mann – Son – Male – 10 – 1841 – Scholar – Arnold
• Betsey Harriett Mann – Daughter – Female – 4 – 1847 – Scholar – Arnold
• Dorothy Wheelhouse – Lodger – Married – Female – 59 – 1792 – Annuitant – Notts

• The birth of Caroline in 1826 places the family in Arnold at this time; confirmed by the Will of Joseph’s father in 1828 and the 1841 census
• Census 1841: Front Street, Arnold; an older child is listed – Frederic Mann – age 17 – born 1824. Also, Eliza Mann – age 9 – born 1832 (not listed in the household in 1851 (above). Also, Samuel Frost – age 21 – 1820.
• Census 1861: Joseph is listed as a tailor visiting the Waddington household at 12, Northumberland St, St Mary, Nottingham.
• No further records found.

Elizabeth Mann (bap. 1810)

Elizabeth Mann’s burial is recorded in Hickling churchyard on 17^th August 1836 – no further detail given. There is no surviving headstone.

Anna Mann (bap. 1812)

No records found.

The Life of William Mann (1806-1892)

Life in England.

The earliest record for William Mann is his baptism at St. Luke’s Hickling in 1806; the parish registers give his parents as William and Abigail Mann of Hickling. Both of his parents died in 1828 when he was aged about 22. At the time of his father’s death, William is referred to as living in Rugby, Warwickshire and he is in debt to his father’s Estate (see above).

• Click here: the Will of William Mann 1828

It may or may not be a coincidence that William Mann was transported in March 1833 for theft at a time when this debt was due to be repaid.

News reports:

Unusually, no newspaper reports have been found which specifically refer to the events leading up to William Mann’s (of Hickling) transportation; however, these are the most likely/probable:

• (possible) Nottingham Review and Advertiser 6thApril 1832: William Mann, aged 28, was charged with receiving a quantity of apparel knowing them to be stolen. Mr George Hopkinson called John Blackney, servant to Mr James Hole, maltster, Caunton; on the afternoon of Friday, March 16, locked the door of the saddle-room, and put the key in his pocket; there were seven pair of boots, four pair of shoes, three pair of children’s shoes, two pair of small clothes, a hat, and pair of stockings; the hat, jacket, breeches, and a pair of boots belonged to witness; three pair of boots belonged to Henry Morris, and three to Mr Hole. The next morning at six found that the door had been forced, and the property stolen. – James Hole, the prosecutor, missed the property in question, and also a sack bag. Thomas Kirk, Nile Street, lace-dealer and broker, knows the prisoner by sight; he was at witness’s house on Saturday morning, March 17; he came to ask if witness would buy a lot of boots, a person had brought them to be looked at. He brought them at night, witness was busy, and told him to come again on Monday morning, the prisoner said the man had collected them while travelling, he came no more. Thebag was left with witness; gave the bag and its contents to Rowbottom – cross-examined by Mr Payne – Was taken into custody, and kept for eight or nine days; never had dealings with Mann before; has heard that he keeps a lodging house. – Ann Kirk, proved the prisoner coming on the Saturday evening with the sack. – Eliza Martin, mother of the last witness, proved seeing the prisoner carry the bag up stairs. NW Selby, lives in Beck-street, and is a pawnbroker; Kirk brought a boot on the Monday morning to ask the value; told him there had been some stolen, and sent for Rowbottom. – Rowbottom constable, produced the property. Henry Morris, Caunton, nephew of the prosecutor, recognised seven pair of the boots as his; Mr Hole, proved that three pairs were his, and the man owned one pair; the sack in which the property was, was also proved to be Mr Hole’s. – Mary Linley, worked at Kirk’s, at the lace work, the prisoner came on the Saturday afternoon; – Not Guilty.
• (possible) Nottingham Journal 7^th April 1832: William Mann, aged 28, was charged with receiving a quantity of stolen property. – Mr Hole of Caunton, and John Blackney, proved that the stable house of Mr Hole was broken open during the night of Friday the 16^th of March, and a quantity of boots and shoes, wearing apparel, &c stolen. – Thomas Kirk, Nile Street, is a lace-dealer and broker; the prisoner came to him on the Saturday, and wished him to buy some boots and shoes; he left them with witness, who was himself taken into custody for having stolen property in his possession. – Kirk’s wife and her mother confirmed these facts. – WW Sibley had one of the boots offered to him by Kirk, to ascertain its value, and detained Kirk. – John Rowbottom received the property, and produced it. – James Lawson, constable, found two bundles at the prisoner’s lodgings, which he said belonged to a person in the house. – Henry Morris, nephew of the prosecutor, recognised seven pairs of the boots as his, Mr Hole three pair, and the man one pair of boots; the shoes and other apparel were not found; the sack in which they were was also Mr Hole’s. – Not guilty.
• (possible) Nottingham Review and Advertiser 16^th November 1832: November 13, before William Soars, Esq., deputy Mayor. – William Mann was committed to the gaol for trial at the sessions, for stealing a pair of drawers, the property of Mr Thomas Timms.
• (possible) Nottingham Review 4^th January 1833: William Mann, aged 29, was charged with stealing a pair of drawers, the property of Thomas Timms. – Mr Hurst called Joseph Raynor, constable, who said he was in the shop of Mr Henson, grocer, on the evening of Nov. 13, and apprehended the prisoner there; found a pair of drawers in his [hat]. – Elizabeth Pollard, servant to Mr Timms tailor, Beastmarket-hill, saw the prisoner come about a quarter past five to her master’s shop, and he asked for change for one shilling; there had been some drawers on the counter; in about ten minutes her mistress came down. – S.A. Timms, wife of the prosecutor, said that she discovered that a pair of drawers had been stolen. – They were then identified. – Guilty. A former conviction of the prisoner at Doncaster, at the Christmas sessions, was then read. Mr Wild, constable of Sheffield, proved having apprehended this prisoner in the month of November, 1825, for having picked pockets at Sheffield, of which he was convicted at Doncaster, and sentenced to transportation. – He was now sentenced to fourteen years’ transportation.
  • No reports have been found for the conviction in Sheffield, nor an explanation for why he wasn’t transported in 1825/6.

The following transcriptions include more unlikely/unconfirmed newspaper reports; we know that William Mann resided in Rugby, Warwickshire at the time of his father’s Will and death in 1828. These transcriptions are included in case names and/or locations are found to coincide and support a record of William Mann’s life away from Hickling and before his transportation. By 1832, William Mann may be back in the Nottingham area (see above):

• (unlikely) 3^rd March 1821 Northampton Mercury: At the Assizes […] William Mann, Thomas Cleaver and Joseph Hall, for breaking open a barn and stable, and stealing therefrom a number of ducks, fowls, and a winnowing sheet, the property of Saml Sewell, of Preston Capes […].
• (unlikely) Hawkers & Pedlars. – At Ludlow, notice has been given that hawkers and pedlars cannot (unless real manufacturers of their goods) according to the 29^th Geo.3,c.26,a16, expose to sale any goods, wares, or merchandize, in any part of that town, except on market and fair days, and then in the open marked places only, nor within two miles of that town, without incurring the penalty of ten pounds; half of which is given to the informer. See a decided case, page […] of vol.2. Barn’s Justice, edition 1820. William Mann has been committed to Worcester City Gaol for three months for hawking goods for sale, without a licence.
• (unlikely) Sun London 11 March 1823 (and multiple other national and local newspapers): Oxford Assizes. – The following very brutal wager has led to an action at the Oxford Assizes:-“Burford July 8, 1822. A bet is this day made between Mr Mann and Mr Cole, for thirty pounds, in the manner following:- Mr Cole to ride a bay poney, in his possession, and Mr William Mann to ride a chestnut hackney, in his possession, each party to ride his own horse through Cheltenham as far as Gloucester, and back to Burford, (the place whence they start) They are to start on July 16^th together, and that which returns to Burford first, to be the winner. Each to ride the same road. – Signed by both the parties, and witnessed by Mr Henry Webb.” The result of the above wager was, that each party rode hiss own horse sixty-four miles in 5 hours and a half, and that the lives of both animals fell victims to the cruelty of their owners. The advantage, however, was with Mann, but he disputed his loss to Cole, on the ground that he (Cole) had got off his horse before he arrived at Burford, and had walked by the side of the animal into the town. The question was then referred to the Jockey Club at Newmarket, and the Club decided that it was a “drawn bet” – Notwithstanding this decision, Mr Beale, the stake-holder, refused to deliver up the stakes to the parties; which might be owing to the circumstances of a number of other wagers and other sums of money which he held depending upon the issue of the present case, and an action was brought by Cole against Beale. – Verdict for the plaintiff, damages 19l.,the amount of the stake.
• (unlikely) New Times (London) 17 January 1824 (& other national & local newspapers): Surrey Sessions Jan.16: John Clifford and William Mann were indicted for stealing, at Newington, a Brussels carpet, the property of Samuel Crowder. The prosecutor deposed, that he resides in Church-row, Newington, and is by trade a broker. On the 8^th of the present month, about four o’clock, saw the prisoner Mann looking into his shop; witness suspecting the prisoner, determined to watch him; the prisoner then went away, and in about three minutes Mann returned in company with Clifford; they both passed and repassed for nearly half an hour, and at last succeeded in taking the carpet now produced; witness immediately pursued the prisoners, and took them into custody, together with the property stolen. The prisoners in their defence denied the charge, and said they were apprehended while walking along Newington, by two men who conveyed them to the shop of the prosecutor. The Chairan having summed up, the Jury returned a verdict of Guilty against both prisoners. The Court then sentenced Clifford to 12 months and Mann to nine months’ hard labour at Guildford.
• (unlikely) John Bull 19^th April 1824: Bow-Street. – On Thursday James Clarke and Joseph Logan, artillarymen, were charged with having obtained two several sums at Chelsea Hospital, under the false representation of having been entitled to prize money, due for taking Guadaloupe and the Isle of France. The one represented himself to be William Mann, and the other Joseph Worthington. But the fraud was subsequently discovered, and they were apprehended. They stated that they were instigated to the offence by a brother soldier, named Colclough, who was acquainted with the fact of the prize money being due, and unclaimed. – They were both with Colclough, remanded for further examination.
• (unlikely) New Times (London) 11 Matrch 1825: Worcester March 9. Before Mr Baron Garrow. Crown Side. – Manslaughter. William Mann was indicted fr manslaughter, in killing Richard Beard. – Verdict – Not Guilty.
• (unlikely) John Taylor and William Mann were found guilty of stealing 18 gallons of ale, the property of Mr T Steward, near Kidderminster. Taylor was footman to Mr Steward and Mann a helper in te stables. On the night of the 15^th of October, Mrs Steward saw Taylor unlock the cellar door, the key of which he had in custody, and bring up a barrell of ale with Mann. – Seven years’ transportation.
• (unlikely) South Eastern Gazette (Maidstone, Kent) 1^st May 1827: Rochester sessions. William Mann for stealing on the 10^th February, two silver spoons, value 16s., the property of William Wilson, Messman at Fort Pitt. The prisoner, a soldier, having been seen to quit the room just as the cloth was laid for dinner, suspicion arose; and Wilson immediately missing the articles, applied to the Serjeant Major, who dispatched several persons in pursuit in different directions, and the prisoner was taken on the Brook, and one of the spoons found on him. He was sentenced to seven years transportation.
• (unlikely) Leamington Spa Courier 5^th January 1833: Sarah Mann, wife of William Mann, charged with stealing seven sovereigns, the property of Joseph Dunn, at Birmingham, was acquitted.
• (unlikely; William Mann convict ship departed in March 1833) February 1833, several reports in London: William Mann & John Lee, two Paddington omnibus drivers,  indicted for the theft of silver.
• There are a number of news reports for a William Mann in the Norwich area which are unlikely to be linked.
• There are news reports from1834 (following transportation) of a William Mann of Kegworth, Leics charged with stealing – this may discount the Nottingham Assizes reports.
• Essex Herald 8^th July 1834: reports William Edmund Mann, soldier, who had been discharged with a pensioner and then worked as a shoemaker. He left his employer, stealing shoes as he left and then masquerading as a long-dead colleague to take advantage of the dead soldier’s family. He was unmasked, returned the stolen goods and was, ‘liberated to practise his ingenuity in some other quarters.’ This may refer to the same soldier in reports, above – discounting him as the Hickling William Mann.

The Life of William Mann (1806-1892)

Transportation

The Waterloo

• https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/waterloo/voyages/330
• https://www.freesettlerorfelon.com/convict_ship_waterloo_1833.htm

The Waterloo undertook 7 convict voyages between 1829 and 1842. In 1842, the Waterloo was shipwrecked off the South African Cape with few survivors. William Mann was transported on the 1833 voyage; she set sail with 216 convicts on board on 11th March 1833, after 145 days she landed in New South Wales on 3^rd August 1833.

• Other convicts from Nottinghamshire are listed on the voyage: John Ward (no details); Joseph Thompson Smith (no details); John Smallbrook (no details, but later convict records show that he was convicted at the same Notts Quarterly sessions as William Mann); John Goodhead (no details); James Henry Fullerd (no details); Charles Fowler (no details); Joseph Finney (b.1799 d.1857); Charles Castles (no details); William Brown (no details).
• So far, no connections have been made between William Mann and any of these men.

The Ship – The Waterloo:

• https://redcoat-settlerswa.com/ships/waterloo-1837-38-a-different-battle/
• Image of the ship when it was wrecked in 1842
• Image label & credits: “Waterloo wrecked at Table Bay [Charles Hutchins lithograph from a sketch by Lieutenant Hext, survivor]”

Extracts from the journal (held at the National Archives) of the ship’s surgeon, John Stephenson,  give some idea of William Mann’s experiences on the voyage:

https://www.freesettlerorfelon.com/convict_ship_waterloo_1833.htm

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11509397

• John Stephenson kept a Medical Journal from 17 February to 21 August 1833.
• The Waterloo arrived in Sheerness from Deptford on 3rd March and by the 10th March had received 214 convicts. One of those men was William Death aged 28 who was put on the sick list suffering from pneumonia and typhus on 6th March. He died on 10th March 1833.
• After this unfortunate beginning the surgeon was hopeful that there would be no more sickness, however on the morning of the 12th March while preparing to get under weigh, the mother and wife of convict Robert Coney (age 28) were allowed on board to see him. “Whilst talking with them on deck, he was suddenly seized with vertigo, universal tremor, nausea and vomiting, and such a state of weakness that he was unable to support himself. He was taken below and in less than an hour had every symptom of malignant cholera. At first his symptoms, which included tremor, nausea and vomiting, were supposed to be the effect of ‘mental affection’ on seeing his wife, the surgeon was called to see him an hour afterwards. ‘He became insensible and died about 2am on the 14th.”
• Three days later they returned having lost all three anchors in a gale off Margate. They stayed until the 27th and then sailed to the Mother bank where a serious outbreak of cholera forced them to remain in quarantine until 8th April 1833. John Stephenson was experienced in treating cholera as he had encountered similar conditions on the Katherine Stewart Forbes the previous year. The sick were removed to the Tremendous and the convicts joined them a few hours a day while the ship was thoroughly cleaned.
• About 40 convicts were treated for cholera and 9 men died of the disease. Two of the men who died of cholera weighed heavily on the mind of the surgeon. They had been attendants on one of their mess mates who had been struck with the illness. Both contracted the disease and died almost immediately. There were no further outbreaks past the 9th April and the surgeon ordered the clothing and blankets of the dead to be destroyed. He was dismayed to later discover that ‘the wretches had actually slept night after night under the blankets I had ordered to be destroyed’.
• The Voyage: three weeks of bad weather after sailing made it impossible to keep the prisoners clean or dry and they were forced to remain below decks much of the time. Few convicts had changes of clothes. The end of April and all of May the weather was fine, June and July were very bad with gales, rain and hail. During the rest of the passage the prisoners mostly enjoyed good health although one more convict passed away.
• The surgeon noted in his journal the death of one of the Guard, Private Daniel Conolly – Whilst sentry on the poop his musket went off by accident and the ball entered between the 6th and 5fth ribs on the right side and passed outwards to the top of the shoulder leaving a large hole and copious bleeding from both points. Despite such serious internal injuries he lived for another three hours.
• Port Jackson: The Waterloo arrived in Port Jackson on 3 August 1833 with 203 male prisoners. Information in the convict indents includes name, age, education, religion, marital status, family, native place, trade, when and where convicted, sentence, prior convictions and physical description. Additional information such as dates and place of death after arrival, pardons and colonial crimes are also occasionally included.
• Assignment: About fifty-five men were assigned to government service or private settlers in the Hunter Valley region in the following years. Prisoners and passengers of the Waterloo identified in the Hunter Valley region. Many settled to a new way of life. They were granted tickets of leave or certificates of freedom and they married and raised families. There were others however who did not adapt and in desperation to escape unending toil and harsh punishments, they took to the bush.

The Life of William Mann (1806-1892)

In Australia (Mann becomes Manns):

• Bill Christopher from Orange in Australia (who shared his family research with Roy Mann in Nottinghamshire), writes that he believes the addition of an ‘s’ to the surname happened at the time of William and Mary’s marriage in 1836 and was a mistake by the registrar which, for whatever reason, stuck. 
• Marriage permission documents:
  • Parties – man: William Mann – 29 – Bachelor – Waterloo 3 – 1833 – 14 yrs – Bond
  • Parties – woman: Mary Turner – 22 – Spinster – James Pattison – 1836 – came – free
  • Character given as ‘well conducted’, character & permission given by Mr [Kerr]
  • Others named: Frederick A [Hely] esq, Principal Supert of Convicts and William Cowper
  • In the event of the above-named Man and Woman being permitted to marry, I hereby engage to keep them both in my service, until the Man obtains his Freedom, or a Ticket-of-Leave.
  • Date: 26^th of August 1836
  • Signature: William [ … Kerr]
  • NB this engagement is to be forwarded (by the clergyman) to the Principal Superintendent of Convicts, with the Application for the Publication of Banns.
• William Mann married Mary Turner; 13^th October 1836, St Philips Church, Sydney
  • Mary was born in 1813 in County Cork, Ireland
  • It isn’t known when or how they met and Mary Turner arrived in Australia in the same year that they married. The James Pattison sailed from Ireland, which implies the couple didn’t know each other prior to William Mann’s conviction and transportation; so it seems most likely that they met in Sydney: “On 28 April 1835, the James Pattison carried 238 free women emigrating from Ireland to New South Wales under the auspices of the Committee for Promoting the Emigration of Single Women (the London Emigration Commission). She arrived at Port Jackson on 2 February 1836. On the 1^st March 1836, the Sydney Gazette reported that some 82 remained without employment.” (Trove)
• Interestingly, the Convict ships also proved to be a useful source of up-to-date news from Europe: The Sydney Herald MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1833. THE Convict-ship Waterloo, which arrived on the evening of Friday last, having sailed from Portsmouth, the 8^th of April, has put us in possession of News from Europe up to the date of her departure. We have received London papers to the 5th, and Provincial papers to the 8th of April, inclusive, being 17-days later news than that brought by the last arrival from England. We have gone carefully over our files, and have extracted everything the most important and interesting. We beg to refer our readers to the Supplement of this day, which contains our gleanings of European Extracts. (Trove)
• Sydney Gazette (Trove):  “Shipping Intelligence. ARRIVALS. From England, on Saturday last, having left Portsmouth the 8th of April, the ship Waterloo (414 tons), Captain Caw, with 203 male prisoners. Surgeon Superintendent, S. Stephenson, Esq., R. N. The guard consists of 8 rank and file of the 4th Regiment, 2 women and 7 children, under the orders of Captain Mondilhan, of the 64th, and Lieutenant Lackie, of the 39th Regt. From Port Macquarie, the same day, the cutter Mary Anne, Watson master, with a cargo of cedar, hides, &c.”
• Sydney Gazette 17^th Sept 1833 (Trove): For the same port, the same day, the ship Waterloo, Captain Cow, with flour, wheat, &c. Passenger, Dr. Stephenson.

Transcripts of convict records (source information incomplete):

• 14 Feb 1840: Ticket of Leave 40/516 (not fully completed)
  • Prisoner’s No.   33/1545
  • Name                    William Mann
  • Ship                       Waterloo
  • Master                  [John] Cow
  • Year                       1833
  • Native Place
  • Trade or calling
  • Offence
  • Place of Trial     Notts (town) [2.ch]
  • Date of Trial       2^nd January 1833
  • Sentence            14 years
  • Year of birth
  • Height
  • Compexion
  • Hair
  • Eyes
  • General remarks
  • Allowed to remain in the district of Campbell [Town]
  • On recommendation of the Sydney Bench
  • Dated October 1839
• NSW & Tasmania settlers & convict records (alphabetic register, undated):
  • William Mann – age 39 – arrived on the Waterloo in 1833 – name of Master, Mr H [Kerr] – Sydney.
• William Mann 1833 – convict ANZ_AUSREC_2428_00559. There are 2 entries next to each other:
  • William Mann – Notts (town) quarter sessions – 2^nd January 1833 – Fourteen years
  • John Smallbrook – ditto – 2^nd January 1833 – Seven years (in the document, below, Smallbrook is recorded as: a waterman and seaman – convicted of street robbery – convicted at the same time as William Mann – sentenced to 7 years – previous conviction for 7 years – height 5’7” – dark sallow complexion – brown to grey hair – hazel eyes – small scar under tip of chin, breast hairy, scar back of left thumb, served 3 years at Portsmouth)
• Ledger (typed transcription): New South Wales 1833 – p.91 – List of male convicts by the ship Waterloo (3) – Master John Cow
  • Standing no. of Convict                33-1545
  • Index no                                              153
  • Name                                                    William Mann
  • Age                                                        26
  • Education – read/write                 R W
  • Religion                                               Catholic*
  • Single, married, widowed                Single
  • Children male/female                   none
  • Native place                                      Nottingham
  • Trade or calling                                 Groom and horse dealer
  • Offence                                                stealing clothes
  • Tried – where/when                        Notts (Town) Quarter Sessions
  • Indent no                                            2^nd January 1833
  • Sentence                                            14 years
  • Former conviction                          7 years
  • Feet/inches                                        5’1”
  • Complexion                                       dark/ruddy
  • Color of hair/eyes                           brown/greenish
  • Particular marks or scars & Remarks: large scar left side of chin, blue ring middle finger of left hand, breast hairy, served 6 years at Chatham
  • Colonial History: Colonial Sentence/Ticket of Exemption or leave/Pardon conditional or absolute or colonial/Certificate of Freedom/Dead, or left the colony [no entries in these columns]  
  • * religion is listed as Catholic which is notable for Hickling at that time – all other entries are either Protestant or Catholic. Note; this may be a transcription/recording error.
  • Note; John Smallbrook (see above) is listed below William Mann
• Also; handwritten convict records (Waterloo/3); same id 153 and information as above.
  • Benjamin Mann (id 185, age 27, of Worcester listed on the same page; farm labourer who had lost a hand and convicted of stealing

The Life of William Mann (1806-1892)

Life as a free man:

To date, no records have been found to confirm when William Mann was made ‘free’.

• William & Mary Mann[s] seem to have had 9 children:
  • William born 1837, baptised St. Peters Church, Campbelltown, NSW (it appears that this William also had a son named William (born 1859) who fathered 29 children).
  • Henry born 1839; hanged for his part in the Eugowra Gold Escort Robbery
  • Mary born 1841
  • Jane 1843
  • Isabella & John 1845
  • Thomas 1848
  • George 1849
  • Samuel
• The family farmed at Campbelltown and later moved to Wagga Wagga/Adelong.
• Mary (Turner) Manns (poss. record) died 5th March 1874 in Adelong, New South Wales
  • (Trove) Sydney Herald 7^th March 1874: MANNS.—March 5, at her residence, Adelong Crossing, Mary Manns, aged 63, the beloved wife of William Manns, leaving an affectionate family to deplore their loss.
• William Manns died 7th August 1892, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales; age 86, and buried on 9th August 1892 in Wagga Wagga Cemetery. A transcript of his Will and Probate show that he was a retired farmer and that he left his Estate of £262 to his daughter (and sole executor) Mary Yabsley of Wagga Wagga – she is described as ‘late innkeeper’. Reference is also made to separate trusts and mortgages to be dealt with according to their respective terms.

(Trove) Possible news articles:

• (unlikely) Sydney Gazette 1^st August 1834 – horse dealer: SUPREME CRIMINAL, COURT. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1 1834 (Before the Chief Justice, and a Jury of Civil Inhabitants. } Thomas Connell was indicted for stealing at Illawarra, one horse, of the value of £8, the property of the Reverend Frederick Wilkinson. The prosecutor deposed that the animal was stolen from a station at Wollongong on the day mentioned in the information, and that he did not see it again until it was shewn to him in the the custody of the Sydney police.-William Mann, ahorse-dealer residing on the Liverpool road, deposed that the prisoner sold him the pony which was subsequently claimed by the prosecutor, on the 12th April, for the sum of £7, which he paid him, taking his receipt for the payment, which was witnessed and signed by two persons named Smith and Whitehouse. In a few days afterwards one of the Liverpool constables took the witness and the pony into custody, and on the arrival of the former at the watch-house in Sydney, he there recognised the prisoner, who he instantly charged with selling him the stolen animal, in effecting which he gave his name to the witness as William Brady. Thomas Smith, one of the subscribing witnesses to the receipt, which was produced in evidence and identified, deposed that on the morning of the 12th of April the prisoner came to his house, which is situated about eight miles off on the Liverpool road, and told him that he had just come down from the district of Illawarra; that he had stopped at Liverpool on his way, where he spent all his money ; and that he now wished to dispose of his horse. He then promised the witness to remunerate him for his loss of time, if he would assist him to dispose of the horse, and Smith thereupon took him to Mann’s, where the bargain was effected, and the pony delivered on payment of £7, which was paid in a five-pound note and two one-pound notes. The witness, Smith, and the prisoner then proceeded in company to Sydney, where they regaled themselves at the Albion Inn, on the Market Wharf, where, to use the words of Smith, they became speechless drunk. When the prisoner awoke about 11 o’clock from his stupor, he found that Smith had left the Inn, and that his pockets were emptied of their contents. Several other witnesses were called and proved having seen the prisoner on the road from Campbell Town with a pony, before he came to Smith’s or Mann’s house, and the case was then closed on the part of the prosecution. The prisoner in his defence called upon Mr. Taggart, the landlord of the Albion Inn, to shew that he had been robbed by Smith at that house, and that it was from a fear of prosecution for that offence, that he gave the testimony which he had sworn in court, but the prisoner failed in establishing anything like proof of this. Mr. Taggart, however, proved the important fact that the prisoner changed a £5. note in his house, and that he had also a £1. note in his possession. The learned Judge in his charge, told the jury that if they disbelieved the witness Smith, they might dismiss his testimony from their minds, as though he had never been placed in the witness box, and apply themselves to the other parts of the evidence. The prisoner was convicted, and sentenced to be transported to a penal settlement for the term of his natural life.
  • There are several similar reports for William Mann/s as a horse dealer but also receiving stolen horses, stealing oxen in subsequent reports.
• (unlikely) There are multiple references to William Mann linking him to a public house in (Freemasons Arms?) Sussex Street, Sydney.
• Also, references to William Mann esq. of Launceston, Van Dieman’s Land (including post not collected)
• (Trove) In addition to references to ‘William Manns’ found there are references to other individuals with the surname including in New Zealand which are unlikely to share the same family roots which may broaden the origin story for ‘Manns’ as a surname.
• There is also some lack of clarity; William and Mary’s eldest son is also named William and it isn’t always clear which ‘William’ is being referred to (see also, below).

Wagga Wagga Advertiser 9^th August 1892

The death is announced of Mr. William Manns, of Wagga, in his 94th year. The deceased, who was the father of Mrs. John Yabsley, of Wagga, was an old resident of this town, and was also well-known in the Adelong and Gundagai districts. Mr. Manns has been in very feeble health for years, and the immediate cause of his death was due to natural causes. For some time previous to his death he resided with his son-in-law, Mr. John Yabsley. Although he may not have been known to many persons in Wagga, yet his face was familiar to a number of regular pedestrians in Baylis-street, as he used to be seen frequently sunning himself in front of the Exchange Hotel during the time that hostelry was in the possession of Mr. Yabsley. The funeral will leave the residence of Mrs. John Yabsley, Tompson Street, at 3 o’clock this afternoon, for the Wagga Cemetery.

Also:

• (Trove) Gundgai Times 25^th Feb 1871: The only selection made at the Gundagai Land Office on Thursday was:—William Manns, senr., 53 acres, parish of Bangus, county Wynyard.
• (Trove) Yass Courier 11^th Nov 1873: COURT OF REQUESTS. — The following cases were then heard, or as under disposed of; [ …]  John Tiliet v. William Manns, claim, 71., value of a filly appropriated. Postponed for a week for a second magistrate.
• (Trove) Gundagai Times 4^th Nov 1881: SMALL DEBTS COURT. Tuesday, Nov. 1. (Before Mr. Love, P.M.). WILLIAMS V. MANNS. In these cases the. plaintiff, William Williams senior, of Adelong Crossing, sued William Manns, of the same place, for £10 as damages for the trespass of his cattle on plaintiff’s land. Plaintiff also, in another suit, sought to recover £5 for the trespass of some pigs ; but Mr. Perkins, who appeared for the defendant, argued that both nations would not lie, inasmuch as plaintiff had split his demand, which was contrary to the Act The Police Magistrate, however, overruled the objection, and, having heard the evidence, which was somewhat lengthy, a verdict was given for the defendant in the cattle case, and for the plaintiff, with 30s damages and 30s oosts, in the pig case. W. MANNS Y. W. WILLIAMS. In this case plaintiff claimed £10 for damages for the trespass of 60 or 80 geese on his enclosed land. From the evidence it appeared that plaintiff had sustained damage to the extent of £2, and a verdict was accordingly given for that sum, together with the costs of three witnesses. In these cases Mr. Perkins appeared for Manns, and Williams conducted his own.
• (Trove) 19/8/1892 New South Wales Gov’t Gazette: In the Supreme Court of New South Wales. PROBATE JURISDICTION. In the will of William Manns, late of Wagga Wagga, in the Colony of New South Wales, retired farmer, deceased. APPLICATION will be made, after fourteen days from the publication hereof, that probate of the will of the abovenamed deceased may be granted to Mary Yabsley, wife of John Yabsley, of Wagga Wagga aforesaid, the daughter of the said deceased and the sole executrix named in the said will.—Dated this 15th day of August, A.D. 1892. ERNEST E. MORGAN, Proctor for the said Executrix, Wagga Wagga. By LAURENCE & RICH, his Agents, 13, Castlereagh-street, Sydney. 6866 6s. 6d. (Trove) Wagga Wagg Advertiser 9th Aug 1892: The death is announced of Mr. William Manns, of Wagga, in his 94th year. The deceased, who was the father of Mrs. John Yabsley, of Wagga, was an old resident of this town, and was also well-known in the Adelong and Gundagai districts. Mr. Manns has been in very feeble health for years, and the immediate cause of his death was due to natural causes. For some time previous to his death he resided with his son-in-law, Mr. John Yabsley. Although he may not have been known to many persons in Wagga, yet his face was familiar to a number of regular pedestrians in Baylis-street, as he used to be seen frequently sunning himself in front of the Exchange Hotel during the time that hostelry was in the possession of Mr. Yabsley. The funeral will leave the residence of Mrs. John Yabsley, Tompson street, at 3 o’clock this afternoon, for the Wagga Cemetery.
• (Trove) Sydney Morning Herald (10^th Aug 1892): two old residents died on Sunday, namely, William Manns, aged 93 years, who was well known in the Gundagai and Adelong districts ; and James JonoB, 68 years of age.

William & Mary Manns’ children

• Newspaper links
• Bushranger Henry Manns

William & Mary Mann[s] seem to have had 9 children:

• William born 1837, baptised St. Peters Church, Campbelltown, NSW (it appears that this William also had a son named William (born 1859) who fathered 29 children).
• Henry born 1839; hanged for his part in the Eugowra Gold Escort Robbery
• Mary born 1841
• Jane 1843
• Isabella & John 1845
• Thomas 1848
• George 1849
• Samuel

William & Mary Manns’ children

Newspaper links:

The Australian newspaper archive, Trove, carries a number of articles which may refer to William and Mary Manns’ sons, George and Samuel; some of these searches have brought up reports of criminal trials connected to the Manns family (search criteria; Manns – Wagga – date range) which are quite sensitive in nature. These reports are held on file but are not currently published online; however, it is possible that the reputations of the brothers may have impacted the decision to execute Henry Manns (see section, below).

• There is also some lack of clarity; William and Mary’s eldest son is also named William and it isn’t always clear which ‘William’ is being referred to.
• The story of Henry Mann, Bushranger is well-publicised and reports are listed separately, below.
• Newspaper articles search criteria: date range covering William Manns’ lifetime in Australia (1836-1893)
• These searches are rather cursory and are likely to refer to members of William & Mary Manns’ family but this hasn’t been double-checked. There are a considerable number of reports for the ‘Mann’, ‘Manners’ and ‘McManus’ families which haven’t been transcribed but which may include mis-spellings of ‘Manns’.

Newspaper Reports (miscellaneous, chronological):

• New South Wales Gov’t Gazette 11^th Jan 1870: Timber license – County of Cumberland, Dubbo; John Manns, hardwood, fee paid 5 shillings.
• (Trove) Gundagai Times 17^th Sept 1870: Challenge. We the undersigned hereby challenge to pull any two bullock teams in the Tunet District for £20 or £50 aside. Men and money ready at any time on application to Thomas Cribb John Manns. Tunut, Sept. 11 1870.
• (Trove) The Melbourne Argus 3^rd March 1871: [likely to refer to John Manners, son of Anthony Manners] The Bendigo Advertiser reports the discovery of the missing boy John Mannes [Manners], of Axe Creek. His body was found on Tuesday in a waterhole of the creek, on his father’s farm. “The tracks of his naked feet were found on one side and his boots on the other showing evidently that he had taken off his boots and thrown them over, with the intention of wading the creek at a place where the water was 18 inches deep, but, as a strong current was running, it is supposed that he was swept off his feet into the waterhole and drowned. The little fellow was only 10 years of ago. The road he had taken home was not the ordinary one. It was ascertained that two of his schoolfellows, Cahills by name, had quarrelled with and threatened to beat him, if he went as far as the bridge, which was the proper road for him to take, and, fearing this beating, he took another road, and was drowned.
• (Trove) 2^nd March 1872 Gundugai Times: We regret to record that on Monday last a son of Mr. William Manns, of Adelong Crossing Place, fell down in a fit, and so injured his head that he sustained a concussion of the brain, and remained for many hours insensible. Dr. Henderson was called in, but the sufferer expired on Thursday evening.
• (Trove) Wagga Wagga Express 9^th July 1873:  Albury Land Office.— The following selections were taken up at the Gundagai Land Office, on Thursday last :  Thomas Manns, 40 acres, Samuel Manns, 50 acres,
• (Trove) Melbourne Argus 27^th August 1873 – shipping passengers: Rangatira, s.s., 700 tons, Captain B. Paddle, from Sydney. Passengers – saloon : Miss Buck, Miss Brown, Messrs. H. C. Alffort, M. Taylor, J. Cousley, F. Coake, Edwards, Brown, McDougall, Urquhart, Captain Phillips ; per Dallam Tower – Miss Manns, Messrs. Dickens (four), B. Dickens, C. A. Newton, T. S. Baker, Owens, C. Manns, S. E. Brent, H. Scott T. Dickens ; and nine in the steerage. Messrs. White and Co., agents.
• (Trove) Yass Courier 16^th Sept 1873: Approved [Auriffrous] leases […] John Manns and another, Big Bon Creek, Gundagai, quartz, 2 acres, rent £2, survey fee £2.
• (Trove) Sydney Morning Herald 7^th March 1874:  MANNS.—March 5, at her residence, Adelong Crossing, Mary Manns, aged 63, the beloved wife of William Manns, leaving an affectionate family to deplore their loss.
• (Trove) Sydney Morning Herald 21st March 1874: Family Notices […] MANNS—March 5, Adelong Crossing, Mary Manns, wife of William Manns, aged 63 years.
• (Trove) Gundagai Times 23^rd Oct 1875: Miss Manns and W. Manns jnr are separately listed as contributors to the “Church of England, Quarterly contributions in aid of the W \ Clergyman’s Stipend, ending September 30^th.
• (Trove) Riverine Grazier 15^th March 1876: Hay Land office, March 7th. — […] John Manns, 150a. county Blaxland on [Bouhari], on boundary fence of Murrin and [Jaddrha].
• (Trove)Wagga Wagga Advertiser18^th Oct 1876: LAND NOTES. A Crown Lands sale of the following country lots will be held at the Police Office, Wagga Wagga, on Wednesday, the 22nd day of November, 1876: […] Samuel Manns 300a, on Merri Merrigal run, south bank of the Lachlan River
• (Trove) Australian Town & Country Journal 21^st Oct 1876: A trotting match for £5 a-side came off at Adelong Crossing on Monday last, between a grey mare of Mr. Smokey’s, ridden by Alfred Luff, and a bay more of Mr. Manns’, ridden by George Manns, distance three miles, from Mr. Jamieson’s, Snowball Creek, to Mr. J. Tillet’s, Adelong Crossing. The grey mare proved the better horse, and won easily ; time, 13min.
• (Trove) Albury Banner 15^th March 1879: MIDDLE CREEK STATE SCHOOL.—The annual picnic in connection with the Middle Creek State School passed off very (successfully. The day was fine and the attendance numerous. The visitors began to assemble about noon, and broke up into little parties to enjoy the various sports provided. The Middle Creek Cricket Club enjoyed a game at cricket, whilst others of the visitors amused themselves with joining or directing the sports of the juveniles. Tea was served (after a delay of an hour and a half, caused by the negligence of a perverse baker who supplied the buns) at 6 o’clock. After tea an adjournment was made to the State school, which was packed literally full of children. Mr. D. Ferguson, of Wodonga, occupied the chair. The first item on the programme was an opening chorus well sung by the pupils of the school, who also during the evening sang another glee with equal spirit and precision. Miss Janet Stewart, of Albury, sang ” Jessie’s Dream ” in her usual pleasing manner. Mr. and Mrs. Gray, from Wodonga, sang the duet ” Flow on, thou shining river.” Miss Boyes and Miss Manns also sang a duet ” The Swallows.” After another duet, ” The Wind and the Harp,” very tastefully rendered by Mrs. Manns and Miss Manns, a dialogue from the “Clandestine Marriage” was capitally given by Masters D. Williams and J. G. Boyes. A reading by Miss Williams, ” Mary Queen of Scots,” and another— ” Waterloo”—by R. Craig followed, both readers displaying highly creditable elocutionary powers. The distribution of prizes then took place. The most important prizes were gained by the following :—Miss Sarah Boyes, of the day school—Good Conduct; Miss Emma Williams, of the day school —Good Conduct. These are prizes awarded by the votes of the children themselves to the one whom they believe to be the most deserving. Two prizes were given by Mr. Billson—one to the day, the other to the night school—awarded to the pupil who should show the greatest proficiency in all the subjects taught in the school. These fell to Oscar Heilmaun, of the day school, and Francis Manns, of the evening school. The Chairman made a few most appropriate remarks to the impilson the subject of their studies, and showed the interest both he and Mrs. Ferguson took in the school by offering a prize to the best all-round boy and girl at the next annual examination. A vote of thanks to the ladies by the head teacher, seconded by Mr. William Street, and one to the Chairman “by Mr. George Street, (President of the Wodonga Shire), seconded by Mr. Blackmore, together with the singing of the National Anthem, terminated the most enjoyable festival.
• (Trove) The Hay Standard 24^th March 1880: Merry Abba Hotel. Merri Merrigal. John Manns has much pleasure in announcing to his friends and the public that he has opened the above Hotel, and the same will be found replete with every requisite for the travelling public. Splendid paddocks. First class stabling. A large boat for crossing the river. Wines and spirits of the very best brands.
• New South Wales Police Gazette 6^th Oct 1880: Henry Laugenboker, Thomas Manns and Michael McLachlan, charged on warrant with forcibly rescuing a number of horses and cattle from Duff, have been arrested by Sergeant Brennan, and Constable Armstrong, Narrabri Police. Remanded to Mogil Mogil. Bail allowed.
• New South Wales Police Gazette 20^th October 1880: Vide Police Gazette, 1880, page 374: Henry Langenboker, Thomas Manns, and Michael M’Lachlan, charged with forcibly rescuing a number of horses and cattle from J. Duff, have each been fined £2 and 7s. 8d. costs, in default of payment ten days imprisonment. Fines and costs paid.
• (Trove) The Albury Banner 22^nd April 1881: LENEVA MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.—A concert was held at the above-named society’s hall on Thursday, the 14th inst. Although on Good Friday eve, the audience numbered 60. Mr. Manns (at the eleventh hour, Mr. Ferguson being expected to do so) was voted to the chair; and some fifteen or sixteen songs, readings, soles, &c., made up the programme, most of these being especially well rendered. Special mention must be made of Mr. Merrin and Miss Ferrier. Of Wodonga; Miss Janet Stewart, of Albury (the song of the latter being encored). ” The Jolly Irishman,” by Mr. Merrin, was most comically sung and created great merriment. Of local talent, Miss Ada Williams made her debut, singing ” Whip Poor Will,” and did well for a first appearance. Mrs. and Miss Manns sang the ” Wind and the Harp” at the special request of the audience, and gave great satisfaction by the way in which they acquitted themselves therein ; Mr. Manns also sang ” Ring the Banjo,” and was in excellent voice. After the concert a vote of thanks was given to the ladies, proposed by the secretary and seconded by Mr. Boyes ; a vote of thanks was also accorded to the secretary. A dance after the concert continued until about 1a.m., when the whole party broke up. It is something for Victorians to boast of that in a small and scattered bush township like Leneva such an institution should have been established, such an audience and amount of local talent gathered together, and such a hall (capable of holding 300 people) should have been erected. It would be easy to name hundreds, if not thousands, of English villages and towns with a concentrated population of from 500 to 1030 which are unable to boast of any such spacious assembly-room.
• (Trove) Hay Standard 13^th July 1881: Hillston Crown Lands Office. — The follow conditional purchases were taken up on the 7^th instant:— 220 acres 5 roods, on Merri Merrigal, by John Manns […],
• (Trove) Riverine Grazier 27^th May 1882: Licensing Act of 1882. Notice of Application for Renewal of License. I JOHN MANNS, publican, residing at Merri Merrigal do hereby give notice that I desire to obtain and will at the next Licensing Court to be holden at Hillston on tbe 13th day of June now next, apply for a certificate authorising the renewal of my publican’s license for the premises now occupied by me of Merri Merrigal, aforesaid and known as the Merri Abba Hotel. Dated the 15th day of May, 1882. JOHN MANNS, 5530-C08 Applicant, Merri Merriga.
• (Trove) Hillston News 23rd June 1883:  Merri Abba Hotel. JOHN MANNS. BEGS to inform the public that every comfort can be found for travellers at his hotel, 40 miles from Hillston, on the main road to Lake Cudgellieo, Enabalong, etc. Plenty of feed for horses.
• (Trove) Wagga Wagga Advertiser 18^th Nov 1883: Murrumbidgee Election. The following Gentlemen have formed themselves int o a committee to secure the election of GC Loughnan. […] John Manns […] William Manns […] George Manns […].
• (Trove) Wagga Wagga Advertiser 8^th August 1885: Thomas Manns, of tho Rock, SGOa, original conditional purchase, county Mitchell, parish Leiteh, being measured portions 40 and 55.
• (Trove) Wagga Advertiser 10^th Nov 1885: The undermentioned applications for conditional purchases under the Crown Lands Act of 1884 will be-dealt with in open Court at the-Local Land- Board Office on the 24th November :— […] C P 85-12—Thomas Manns, 880 acres, section 42, county Mitchell, parish Leitch.
• (Trove) New south Wales Government Gazette 3^rd Sept 1886: THE following Return of Publicans’ Licenses, which have been issued from the 1st to 31st August, 1886, upon Certificate granted under the ” Licensing Acts, 1882-1883,” is published for general information. Gh EAGAK, Under Secretary for Finance and Trade. John Manns, Merri Abba Hotel, Hillston, 14^th July 1886 – 13^th July 1887.
• (Trove) The Albury Banner 15^th October 1886: The Board then considered the proposed conversion of water reserve No. 2, portions 80, 85, and 86, parish Pearson, county Mitchell, notified June 10,1885, into a reserve for the passage of travelling stock, under the provisions of the Crown Lands Act of 1884. Mr. E. B. Thompson appeared on behalf of Messrs. G. Power and Patrick Eeiran, who lodged a petition for the proposed conversion, and Mr. H. B. Fitzharding on behalf of Messrs. Mackay and Copeland, lessees of Pomingalarna run, on which the reserve is situated. A quantity of evidence was taken. Messrs. G. Power, S. Taylor, John Mackay, Patrick Joseph Kelly, Michael Bourke, Patrick Kieran, Thomas H. Manns, John Hely, Jas Elliott, and James Jones testified in support of the applicants, and Messrs. T. P. Archer and F. Tilden on behalf of the lessees. The board was of opinion that the petition to convert the reserve into a travelling stock road was not to be taken into account as an expression of the public want, nor was any weight to be attached to the opinions of the witnesses in support of the petition. In view of Mr. District Surveyor Bolton’s and Mr. Stock Inspector Brentnall’s reports, and upon inspection of the maps, the Board recommended that portions 80, 85, and 86 be set apart as a road for the passage of travelling stock, under the provisions of section 109 of the Crown Lands Act of 1884.
• (Possible) (Trove transcription) Gundagai Times 27th Aug 1887: [Ajbomewiiat] unusual, peculiar, and painful accident occurred to Mr. William Manns, black smith and wheelwright, of Adelong Crossing, during the past week. Mr. Manns has for some time past been engaged In splitting timber for posts and rails, to fence in his freehold land, adjoining workshops, at the Crossing. Last Thursday, whilst engaged in […] open a log with wedges, for the purpose of obtaining fencing posts, in some untoward manner in striking with a heavy [maulttit a wodgo ho] was driving into a tough and twisty piece of timber, the [maul glidoil] off the wedge, striking Mr: Manns with great force on the shin bone of his left log, fracturing the bone. With considerable trouble, and suffering [iutcuso] pain, Mr. Manns reached his house and had the leg bandaged, thinking that rest and ordinary care would be sufficient to place matters all right. Finding no relief, and suffering excruciating pain for two days and nights, Mr. Manns was [ncces Marshall] accordingly summoned [rihrattoliaance] last! Saturday.’ .’On arrival at Mr. Mann’s house Dr [Marahair^educcir] the fracture and gave the requisite treatment. We are happy to hear Mr. Manns is progressing as favourably as can be expected, which is exceedingly gratifying to his numerous sympathising friends and his [go connection]
• (Trove) Albury Banner 9^th Dec 1887: YER0NG. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) On Saturday, the 26th alt., a very enjoyable picnic, given by Mr. and Mrs. Attwater, took place at The Rock, at which about 160 persons —children and adults — attended. The picnic was held in a large marquee, close to the railway station. The tables were very tastefully laid out, and decorated with flowers and delicious pyramids of fruit; the more substantial dishes being well and abundantly represented, and patronised by the visitors in a manner that must have convinced Mr. and Mrs. Attwater that their efforts as caterers were fully appreciated. Many thanks are due to them and other kind friends who were untiring in their efforts to please everyone, in which they were eminently successful. Music was supplied by the two gifted Italian brothers, D. and G. Butta, on the harp and violin, and was a treat in itself not soon to be forgotten. During the day the usual picnic games were indulged in, viz., rounders, ” jolly miller,” “disappointment,” &c., by the young people, and were much enjoyed, as the weather was deliciously cool with plenty of shade-trees at hand, The juveniles competed for prises, and were happy to a degree, if one might-judge -by their smiling and happy faces. . Some horseracing also took place. In the evening a ball was held, at which about 40 couples attended, and dancing was kept up by the devotees of Terpsichore till about half-past 11 o’clock, to the inspiring strains of the harp and violin; and lovers of the light fantastic were perhaps never better pleased than on’ this occasion. Some good songs were sung during the evening, in a manner which showed clearly that the vocalists were thoroughly master of their art, and received a well-merited applause. The happy throng, while promenading between the dances, presented a gay and animated appearance, that seemed to my admiring gaze like a vision of Fairyland. I am wondering and longing again to behold such a scene of youth and beauty. Mr. W. Pepper officiated as M.C., to the satisfaction of all concerned, showing that the onerous duty was not new to him. I may here mention that I noticed visitors from Junee, Wagga, Germanton, and Yerong. Appended is a list of the costumes worn on the occasion :— […] Miss M’Manns, cream dress and pale-blue bows […]
• (Trove) Goulburn Herald 3^rd Dec 1889: Bankruptcy.— Meetings: Estates of […] and Samuel Manns of Burrawang, farmer, single at Moss Vale December 19; Thomas Armstrong […].
• (Trove) Albury Banner 16^th August 1889: MASONIC BALL.—A grand Masonic ball under the auspices of the Combermere Lodge took place on Tuesday at the Mechanics’ Institute, and proved highly successful. The music was provided by Bellini’s band, a sufficient guarantee for excellence, and the catering was well looked after by Mr. Humphries. Most of the Masons present were in regalia, and the brilliant colors of the Royal Arch and craft insignia relieved the more sombre hue of the ordinary evening dress. The ladies were all tastefully and in many instances richly attired. The ball was formally opened by the W.M., Bro. Manns, of Leneva, who was, however, prevented by the delicate state of his health from remaining to participate in the festivities.
• (Trove) Albury Banner 16th August 1889: VICTORIAN MAIL SERVICES.—Tenders have been accepted for various mail contracts in the North-Eastern district of Victoria, as follows : —To and from post office and railway station, […] To and from Wodonga and Leneva, two days a week —Jane M. Manns, £20. […]
• (Trove) New South Wales Gazette 18^th July 1890: In the Supreme Court of New South Wales. IN BANKRUPTCY. Notice to Creditors. ACCOUNTS with plans of distribution in the undermentioned estates, showing dividends as specified, are now filed in the Office of the Registrar in Bankruptcy, Chancery-square, Sydney, for the inspection of persons interested ; and notice is hereby given that such accounts and plans will be submitted to the Court for confirmation, on Tuesday, the 5th August, 1890, at 11 a m., if not previously objected […] Also, accounts only, showing debit balances in the following estates:— […] George Manns, of Hillston, labourer (No. 2,416).
• New South Wales Government Gazette 7^th Aug 1891: DISEASES IN SHEEP ACTS AMENDMENT ACT OF 1878. IT is hereby notified, for public information, that the following Sheep Brands and Marks have been duly recorded by the Inspectors of Sheep for the several Sheep Districts mentioned, in terms of section 34 of the abovenamed Act, for the Quarter ending 31^st March, 1891. ALEX. BBUCE, Chief Inspector of Sheep. […] Gundagai District – Manns Wm Adelong Crossing (no sheep mark drawn) […] 
• (Trove) The Albury Banner Friday 15^th April 1892: Wanted, a nursery governess to teach two little girls, also music and to do house needlework. Apply at once to Mrs John Manns, Merri Abba Hotel, via Hillston, N.E.W.
• Wagga Wagga Advertiser 15th Dec 1892: Wagga Police Court. Tuesday, December 13. (Before the Police Magistrate.) […] STRAYING CATTLE. Several persons were proceeded against by the Inspector of Nuisances for allowing cattle to stray in the streets. The following fines were inflicted :—George Wheeler, IOs ; John Maloney, 5s ; Bridget Moloney, 5s ; George Manns, 5s, with 4s 1Od costs in each case.
• (Trove) Evening News Sydney 21^st April 1893: Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children met at the board room of the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company, 62 Pitt-street, on Tuesday. There were present: […] The receipt was acknowledged of £9 3s 4d per Mrs. Wilson and Miss Mann, being the proceeds of a juvenile sale held in St. Barnabas schoolroom, which had been kindly lent for the occasion.
• (Trove) Sydney Evening News 13^th Sept 1893: The Band of Hope and Sunday School children belonging to the Waterloo Congregational Church gave a very successful entertainment last evening in the schoolroom, in aid of the fund for reducing the church debt. The Rsv J. Beckenham presided, and the children were very efficiently managed by Miss C. M Manns. Recitations were given by Miss M Manns and Miss Morrison, a song by Mister Morrison, and a reading by the Rev. J. Beckenham.
• (2nd Nov 1893) a similar report – ‘[…] George Manns, one cow, 7s 6d (second offence) […]

Miscellaneous news articles post-1893:

• (Trove) Riverine Grazier 23^rd Jan 1878: Proposed Transfers. — […]. Mr Henry Manns intends to apply for a license for his Warargay Hotel, Nine Mile Box, near Hay.
• (Trove) Wagga Wagga Advertiser 24^th Dec 1904: At the Wagga Methodist Church on Wednesday evening a very quiet wedding was celebrated, when Mr Thos. Henry Manns was married to Miss Ada L Cupitt, both of Wagga. The Rev. G C Percival was the officiating minister.
• (Trove) New South Wales Police Gazette 21^st August 1907: Wagga Wagga – A warrant has been issued by the Bench for the arrest of Thomas Henry Manns, charged with wife desertion. He is 23 years of age, 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, slight, build, fair complexion, hair, and moustache only, light-brown eyes; dressed in a bluish-grey sac suit, light-grey felt hat, white shirt with black and white striped cuffs, grey and red striped tie, white celluloid collar, and tan boots; a labourer. Complainant, Ada Louisa Manns, Wagga Wagga.
• (Trove) Cootamundra Herald 9^th May 1924: Married last week ‘William, ‘ first son’ of’ Mr and Mrs Henry Goorge Manns, to Jessie. Florence, second daughter of Mr and Mrs Wm. Kite, of Adeiong, in All Saint’s Church, Turnut.
• (Trove) Tumut and Adelong Times 16^th November 1942: Mr. Albert Manns, of Bombowlee, who has been doing garrison duty with the military, is a patient in the Tumut and District Hospital after some time in the Cootamundra Hospital.
• (Trove) Cootamundra Herald 1^st Dec 1942:  The death occurred in Tumut of Mr. Albert Henry Manns, son of the late Mr. Henry G. Manns and of Mrs. Manns, of Tumut, at the age of 35. Deceased, who was unmarried, was a native of Tumut. He enlisted, and was accepted for garrison work, and was stationed at Cootamundra. About seven weeks ago he underwent an operation in the Cootamundra District Hospital, and after his discharge from the institution he was sent home to Tumut on a fortnight’s sick leave to recuperate. However, he suffered a recurrence of the old trouble, was admitted to Tumut Hospital, and wasted away after being in that Institution for a fortnight. Besides his mother there are five brothers — William, Milton, Allan (Tumut), Horace (Laurel Hill), and Oliver (A.I.F.), and four sisters— Alecia (Mrs. W. Callaway, Gilmore), Elsie (Mrs. E. Buckley, Tumut), Leila (Mrs. P. B. McGrath, Bombowlee), and Jessie (Mrs. J. Duncan, Tumut).

Henry Manns (Bushranger):

Trove news articles (chronological)

There are a large number of news articles available on Trove which are likely to add more detail to Henry Manns’ life before and after the robbery which saw him captured and executed. The decision to condemn him to execution followed by the horrible manner of his death have placed his story firmly in the history of the period. A sample have been transcribed, below.

The Robbery and trial:

• Bathurst Free Press & Mining Journal Saturday 12^th July 1862: (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) 5.25 p.m. Sir F. Pottinger has secured two of the Bushrangers near Wagga Wagga having one hundred and eighty (180) ounces of gold, about two hundred notes, and a Forbes’ gold-bag in their possession. 8.5 p.m. A Telegram from Sir Frederick Pottinger states that on the 7th he stopped three men with horses; one escaped and the other two he apprehended. Their names are Turner and Darcy. In their possession were found 185 pounds in Banknotes, and 185 ounces of gold ; also one of the stolen gold bags. Turner made a desperate attempt to escape. The Telegram comes from Wagga Wagga
• (Trove) Bell’s Life in Sydney  Sat 7^th Feb 1863: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD. Before His Honor Mr Justice Wise, and a mixed jury THE ESCORT ROBBERY Alexander Fordyce, John Bow, John Macquire, and Henry Manns otherwise Henry Turner, were indicted for that they, in company with certain other persons to the Attorney-General unknown, did, on the 15th June last, assault James Condell, Henry Moran, William Haviland, and John Fegan, and put them in bodily fear and danger of their lives, and steal from them four boxes and ten bags, 2719 ounces of gold, the property of Her Majesty the Queen, £3700 the property of the Bank of Savr South Wales, £3700 the property of the Commercial Bank ; and that they did steal certain articles from the persona of the said Condell, Moran, Haviland, and Fegan ; and that they immediately before the said robbery did feloniously wound the said James Condell. A second count charged the wounding at the time of the robbery ; and a third count charged it immediately after the robbery […] Mantis was remanded for trial until the 23rd inst. Fordyce and Bow were defended by Mr Martin, and Macquire by Mr Isaacs. […] evidence of the robbery […] furnishes a full narrative of the outrage, and as the trial terminated so unsatisfactorily, we deem it unnecessary to publish more than […]. Daniel Charters sworn : I lived at Humbug Creek, on the other side of the Lachlan ; in the beginning of June last I was within twenty-five miles of Forbes it was on the […]th June ¡ I know the prisoners ; I saw John Bow and Fordyce on the 12th June; they “were within a quarter mile of Mrs Phooly’s station, called the “[…]” I was driving some horses ¡ I met Frank Gardiner, John Gilbert, and the two prisoners, Bow and Fordyce ; Gardiner is a bushranger in that part of the country ; they were coming towards me ; Gardiner rode up to me about fifteen yards in advance of the others he asked me where I was going to I said to my sisters ; he then said he wanted me to go with him for a few days ; I said I could not, for if seen with him I should be thought as bad as him ; he said I must go as he wanted me to show him the road to some place that he did not name ; Gardiner was armed ; he had a double-barrelled gun slung to his horse, and two revolvers on his person ; Gilbert was armed, and, Fordyce also was armed ; when I declined going with him, Gardiner put his hand on his revolver, and said, “I’ve come for you, and you must go.” I then went with him. We went towards John Reeve’s place ; when we came there Gardiner sent Gilbert for some oats ; he went, and shortly afterwards he returned with some oats ; on the next (Friday) morning, Gardiner said we had to go in the direction of Forbes ; on the Friday we got within six miles of Forbes, and camped there ; afterwards we went on within a mile and a half of the police camp at Forbes. By His Honor : I was driving four horses to my sister’s when Gardiner met me. Examination continued :—We camped again, and Gilbert went into Forbes ; I heard Gardiner tell him to fetch six double-barrelled guns, some rations, an American tomahawk, some blacking, some comforters, and some caps, and also a flask of powder. The men were at this time camped at a fire, lying down. Gilbert returned about one or two in the morning ; he had three other men with him ; one of them “Charley,” I had some knowledge of. One was called “Harry,” and the other “Billy ;” I saw him (Harry) in the Sydney Police Office since ; Gardiner said shortly after that “no man’s name was to be mentioned, but it did not matter about him.” When the men came they had six guns, and the other articles which were sent for ; they had some rations also, and we consumed part of them. Heard Gilbert say he had great trouble in getting the guns and the axe, as there was only one store where he could get one. One gun with a rifle barrel and a nice carved stock, Gardiner chose for himself. On the Saturday morning, Gardiner said, “Go on to the Eugora Mountain.” As we reached the river near Robert’s station, I saw a gentleman on the other side of the river whom I knew to be Rutherton ; I was not armed ; I was mounted, and led a horse ; we cantered across a piece of clear ground towards the river, and in doing so, Gilbert lost his revolver ; he wanted to return to look for it, but Gardiner would not let him, saying there was no time to lose ; Gilbert cut down the fence at Roberts’, and we went on towards Eugora ; Gardiner rode mostly behind the others ; I asked him where we were going; he said he’d tell me by and by; we camped on the Saturday night between Eugora and Campbell’s. On the Sunday, Gardiner rose early and ordered the arms to be loaded ; I asked what he was going to do, and he said, “We’d see ; that if he was lucky he meant that day to stick up the escort.” [The witness here identified the prisoner Manns as one of the men] Examination resumed : I saw Gardiner load the pieces ; he put seven or eight revolver balls in each gun barrel ; we […] lobsters and, sardines for breakfast, that were brought by Gilbert ; the blacking was used in disguising the faces on the Sunday morning ; only two were blackened ; Gardiner said the blacking was no good, and would not do. We crossed the creek, and went on to the Eugora Mountains ; when within half a mile, Gardiner looked at the rations and said there would not be enough to bring us back. Ho asked me where we could got a supply, and I told him there was a shanty at the crossing-place at Eugora, whore some might be got. Harry was then sent on there, and returned with some gin, old tom, and a large loaf, and a bone of meat. On Sunday morning we went to the mountain ; we tied our horses up hy direction of Gardiner ; we each had a gun then ; we then went to the large rooks overlooking the road ; we remained a short time ; Gardiner went down to the road, stepped tile distance, returned, and said, ” That will do.” At about three o’clock some ono said, “It would boa b——y lark to get the escort horses to take them back ;” it was then suggested that someone should go back and look to the horses we had left tied. I proposed to go back, and after Gardiner stood for a while -he said, *’ very well, you go; you’re b–y frightened of your life, amt -you’re the best to go.” I said I had never done anything of the kind, and did not- like firing on men who never did me any harm, I then went away, leaving seven men at the rocks, of whom Fordyce and Bow were two; Fordyce was under the influence of drink, and, two or three times Gardiner said-.”If he didn’t wake up and look sharp, he’d out his rations b–y. short.” I went and found the horse allright. While away, I heard firing, several discharges ; the men returned with some gold-boxes, some rifles, and a cloak ; the gold was placed on horses ; Gardiner made the remark that ” It was a very narrow escape” ; I saw the cloak it was [apolico]cloak; I noticed that the cloak had a bullet hole in the cape; this is the same cloak ; I have not before seen it till today till I seen it at the rock’s ; when, the man came back, I asked Gardiner if anyone was shot? He said. “No, and he was b—y glad of it, but if there had been it was their own fault, for he told them to stand, and they fired upon him” ; when the man came back, Gardiner said “Get ready and make for where we camped last night;” we came on to a piece of clear, ground, about a mile and a half near a creek, when Gardiner said, ” We’ll stop, upon these gold boxes, and lighten the ‘ loads on the horses” ; [..] boxes were opened with a tomahawk ; “we all lent a hand in the opening. – I saw the gold-bags and money taken out of the boxes ; did not notice how many bags there were; I think there were three parcels. We left, […] boxes there, and we burnt some of the red comforters which had been used, in the attack for disguise. We packed the gold afresh on one of the escort horses, and on Gardiner’s own horse ; this occurred on the piece of clear ground near the fence ; we then went on; Gardiner told […] to go on. […] direct as possible to where we camped on the Saturday night ;” we went on till we reached Clement’s fence ; I knew it, and we turned and went along it; I was loading Gardiner’s pack-horse ; we were all together, I was leading the way ; we came to and crossed an awkward […] creek ; after crossing it we again came to the fence j.7 Gilbert got off and cut down the fence; the rails were cut down and we went through the fence was cut about twenty panola  from the creek. We then travelled towards the Lachlan Road ; this was in the dark ; we came on the road close by the creek ; wo went about 300 yards along the road, then turned off, and came on it again. We again went off, and did not get on the road afterwards till we came near to Waygar, Clements’ station. When we came to the fence, 1 made for the slip-[…], and we [crossed] the river after that we camped on the bank we made a small fire at the foot of a gum tree. Here the mail letters were opened. I forgot to say that when the guns wero reloaded when we reached where the gold boxes were opened, Fordyce’s gun was found to be loaded, but the [caps] were off. Gardiner swore at him, and said, ” You were afraid to […], but I’ll stop your b-y rations.” […] near Eugora, whore the gold-boxes-were, opened. I think each man reloaded his own guns. We camped only a short time there. It was about nine miles from the place where we opened the “boxes to where we camped that night ; the place where the boxes wore opened was about two miles from the scene, of the […]. We crossed the river about two [… at night … we did … … … more than two hour … … opened … Harry … brought wh.. they were going to the rock …] After […] we went to [Nowell’s], where Harry got […] of oysters or sardine, two loaves of bread, and […] We left […] at the foot of the gum tree; on leaving, Gardiner said, ” Go as crooked as you can, so as to bother the trackers.” We went on’ till we saw [… drays], when we turned, off : and came to the gate at [Hr Suitor’s] station. We went through and travelled about half-a-mile, till we saw another small […]; we again turned off ; the pack-horses were going two and two ; I was leading the foremost horse ; we went on by direction of Gardiner, till we came within a view (eight or nine) miles of Forbes. When daylight arrived, Gardiner said, “we’ll go on to John Keovu’s; we went on, and after taking a drink at a creek Gardiner said ” make for the […] Mountain ; we went on past [Eugoro] house, and reached the top of the mountain, whore we camped about 2 p.m. on the Monday. This place was about sixty miles from where the robbery was done. After camping, Gardiner went down to some rocks, and brought back a pair of scales, some weights, and […]; we remained there for that evening. On Tuesday night it rained. We rigged a tent with a blanket ; we weighed the gold, rigging up three sticks to support the scales. I assisted along with the others; as Gardiner weighed the gold, he put the gold on a newspaper or a sheepskin, he also counted the notes ; I heard him say there was £3501 in notes ; he weighed the gold off in lots and said, ” there was about [22lbs] weight for each man. Each man a […] was put up in lots ; Gardiner shared out the gold and notes. We gave Harry and the other [strange] men their shares. They packed it up and strapped it in a police cloak or lining. Gardiner said to Gilbert “you had batter go down to McGuire’s and tell him to send me some rations -enough for two. or three, days. He alluded to the prisoner at the bar. McGuire lived close to the place where we camped. I did not see McGuire on the occasion, nor had I seen him since I joined, with Gardiner. Gilbert went away in the direction of McGuire’s. Gilbèrt was absent for about two hours. He returned with some rations in a large dish, and […] tin with tea. We had something to eat there. I saw tea taken out of the can at the camp. After we had something to eat, the three strange men, Harry, Billy, and Charley packed up their gold in a police cloak or in the lining ; they got on their horses, and went away ; each man’s gold was packed on his saddle. They bid us “good bye,” and went away; they took their guns with them; Harry said he was going to the […] after some bullocks that he left there ; I did not see Harry again till I saw him on Tuesday at the Control […] Court. We remained at the camp till the Wednesday morning ; Gardiner and I never left the mountain. Bow, Fordyce, and Gilbert went after the […] on the Wednesday morning and brought them up ; on Thursday we got ready to start Gardiner said he wished he had another pair of saddle bags, […] sent Gilbert to go and see if McGuire’s had some ; he went away, but returned very shortly after […], saying that, as he came near McGuires, he saw a lot of police coming from the direction of Hall’s towards McGuire’s. After that we all got ready to start after we got ready we could hear the tramp of the police horses coming up the mountain ; we left the bottles and […] other things we had no lime to shift them ; we were then five in number-myself, Gardiner, Gilbert, Fordyce, and Bow ; we travelled through some thick scrub, and Gardiner had got off his horse to [… drink] of spirits and water, when I heard the police horses behind us. Gardiner was with […]. I looked back and saw what I thought was a black-fellow on a white horse ; he was about 100 yards behind me […] just see him through the scrub. I pointed him out to Gardiner ; he said, ” O Christ here they are.” I then cantered away ; Gardiner called to me not to go away that way. Gilbert went in one direction, Fordyce in another ; Gardiner was prodding his packhorse with the end of his gun to urge him along, till […] could not get him [along] he left him. This was in a very, scrubby, place close to the Weddell Mountains. Gardiner galloped after me […] said ” pull -up,  He said ” he had lost the gold and it was a bad job,”. We asked to go back, as they might miss the pack  horse ; we turned, and looking through the scrub, saw three men on foot catching the horse ; Gardiner then said, ” We’ll get on to [Nowlan’s, at the Weddin] Mountain ” I went to [Nowlan’s] ; there were several persons there, amongst others Johnny Welsh, and [Nowlan] and his son; shortly after I was there, [Nowlan] said ” the escort had been robbed ;” Bow and Fordyce came in ; I asked [Nowlan] for some rations and said they were for a friend. I told Bow and Fordyce where Gardiner was; […], and they went to […] afterwards they […] I saw my horse going towards the water, and I went and got him, and bid Gardiner “goodbye.” He called me back, and said,” Here’s £50 ; it’s all I can give you now we’ve lost the gold, […] such a bad job of lt.” Bow lived al […] – […]. “I had known Bow for about two years. Gardiner did not go in with me to [Nowlan’s] they were at meals when I went in. I did not see Bow after I left [Nowlan’s] until I came into Forbes. I only saw the guns loaded twice. – My gun was only loaded once; it was never discharged. It was loaded on the Sunday morning. I did not remember, til my evidence when I was first examined at Bathurst. I give evidence at first, and subsequently added what I had forgotten. I do not remember the date when I first gave evidence I think it was in September last. I feigned my […] to the depositions I gave respecting this case. SECOND DAY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7. Daniel Charters cross-examined by Mr Martin : I am not a native of this colony. I have resided at the Lachlan for about eighteen years. I have not been residing there uninterruptedly not all this Before the robbery I resided at Burrowa, I was my own master at that time. I […] a cattle station at that time. I had 300 cattle there, half of which belonged to my sister. I had several […] for the station ; I cannot say how many. I had not a license-from the Crown before I lived at this run I was living at my Mater’s. My sister does not reside at the station. I was at the station two years, and the cattle I had were not increased in number during that time. I became acquainted with Bow and Fordyce during that time during those two years. I became acquainted with Fordyce at Nowlan’s. From Nowlan’s to [Fheeley’s] the distance is about three miles. I did not say that the distance was five miles. Bow was always living at Nowlan’s before the robbery-for two years previous. Fordyce was living at [O’Meelloy’s] Fordyce was serving at the bar at [O’Malloy’s], and doing other work there. From [O’Moalley’s] to Nowlan’s the distance is about thirty miles. I have known Frank Gardiner for about thirteen years, from first to Inst. I have not known him to speak to him until the last eighteen months. He used to do horse-racing in the district. I did not know him as a bushranger until lately. I saw Gardiner at Maguire’s about six weeks before meeting him in June last. I was here (at Maguire’s) in June last, and had some drink. Maguire told me that a man who was there was Frank Gardiner. I knew him by eyesight before that time, for some years. I know he was a bushranger at that time. Gardiner had some grog with him, and we drank some of it. I saw him next at the “Pinnacle.” He had been sticking up some people all along the road, and came there for something to drink, with another man. He was at that time pursued closely by the police, and had to escape […] by the fence of the house. He presented a pistol, and told me to fetch him a horse, that was near. I did as I was told, and brought the horse to him. He got away on that occasion. I saw him afterwards at [ Wheogo]. I have seen Gardiner oftener at Maguire’s than at any other place. He came in there when I was there, on two occasions. I was pressed into the affairr (the escort robbery) by Gardiner. He compelled me to go with him. I met Gardiner first on the Thursday, at sundown, and […] till he gave me the money and nugget, and let me go away. The robbery was committed on Sunday at about three o’clock, I was never allowed out of Gardiner’s company the whole of the time I have mentioned. I made no attempt to escape). I asked Gardiner to let me go, and he said he would not. I was within one mile and a half of the Police Station on the Saturday night. I am quite certain that I was not out of Gardiner’s company all that time from the time he first obliged me to go with him until he let me go away, after the gold was taken. I am mistaken. I forgot Gardiner was away for several hours when he went away for […] oats to [McGuire’s] place. I was left with the other man. The man Gilbert was away for about an hour. I do not remember swearing that Gilbert was not away more than a quarter of an hour on the Thursday night. I do not recollect saying that Gardiner was not away more then a quarter of an hour. I do not remember swearing in my examination before Mr Palmer that Gardiner and Gilbert were away together not more than a quarter of an hour. If I said not more than a quarter of an hour, it was a bad mistake. There was no firing of any of the guns from the first time that they were charged until they were in my hearing fired off at the escort. None of the charges were drawn during the [interval]. They were loaded on the Sunday morning. I remember swearing that the: guns wore loaded with powder and ball, but not that they were so loaded by Gardiner and Gilbert on the Friday night. I didn’t say that they were loaded on the Friday night. The charges I saw drawn were charged [drawn from the gun … … …  day night]. I may have sworn to it if […] the deposition. If I […] that the gun was loaded all the Friday night, I [… … a great mistake] The honoured counsel read the [deposition] of Charter before Dr […], in which he swore distinctly, that the first loading of the gun was on the Friday night. I saw Gardiner loading the guns. He put balls in the barrels of them. He had two or three balls in his hand or it may be more for each. I proposed to go back to the horse before the escort was fired […]. The horses which was left behind at a short distance from where the robbery was committed, were only carelessly hooked on to some bushes among the rucks. […Bow] Fordyce were with Gardiner when I first met Gardiner before the robbery. I believe thus Bow and Forilyce did hear what Gardiner then said to me. They were near enough to hear what he said. In my evidence before Dr […], I believe what X said was that they might not have heard him. They were close enough to hear him the words were not spoken in a low voice. If I did say that the two men positively did not hear me, it was a mistake of mine. I have not made any memorandum as to what took place. There are some scrubby bushes and rock at the place where the horses were left before the robbery. There was a mountain with trees on it, between the place where the mail was robbed and where the horses wore fastened up. I did not think of going to warn the mail that they were about to be robbed. I was afraid of Gardiner, and thought I should be safer if I staid where I was. I might have easily warned the persons in the until, but if Gardiner had got away from the police he would have come and shot me. He was better acquainted with that part of the country than I was and had more friends there too. I asked Gardiner to let me go away before the two men went away on the [Whego] mountain, but he refused he said I was in a great hurry to go. I did not leave Gardiner when the police were close upon us, because he galloped after me, and I stopped when he told me to stop. After I had received £60 and the nugget from Gardiner I did not see him again. I went to look after my cattle, and was taken about two months afterwards. I did not hear that [… …] offered for the taking of any of the men. I saw that [£100] was offered for each of the guilty parties apprehended, and that a free pardon would be offered to an accomplice. I did not understand that the accomplice giving information would receive money. I saw Bow and Fordyce in custody at […] I was in custody there for about seven days. I was bailed out for [£1000-two sureties at £250 and myself in £500]. I was out for ten days or a fortnight before I gave any information about Gardiner and these men. I went and spoke to Sir Frederick Pottinger. ‘ He made me no promises. X went to got my free pardon, under the proclamation, as an accomplice. I remember all the particulars very distinctly, because I know the country very well, […] X ought to remember what has involved my [ruination]. I do not remember omitting to state at my examination at […] : [first] that Fordyce’s gun was found not to have been discharged at the robbery. I think I did mention if [… …] DAY, THURSDAY, [February …] Mr [Murtin] having addressed the jury; for the prisoners Fordyce and Bow, and Mr […] McGuire. His Honor summed up, and the jury retired at twenty five minutes to 5 o’clock. On being recalled into Court at 10 o’clock, they intimated through their foreman that there was little probability of their agreeing upon a verdict. They were consequently, locked up , for the night. [… …] DAY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6^th. His Honor, took his seat at 9 o’clock, and the jury being Introduced stated their inability to agree, whereupon His Honor discharged them, and remanded the prisoners to be tried again on Monday, the 33^rd inst. Whoever saw a case so thoroughly bungled by the. Crown and should not have been the least surprised [… …] jury acquitted the prisoner.
• Goulburn Herald 4thMarch1863: TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.] FORBES, Monday, 5 p.m. THERE has been a desperate conflict been bushrangers and the police, in the course of which Inspector Norton was captured by the bushrangers. They have declared their intention of hanging him if the prisoners now under sentence of death for the Lachlan gold escort robbery, shall be punished. SYDNEY, Tuesday, 5.35 p.m. The government telegram from Forbes states that Inspector Norton was accompanied only by the black tracker when captured by the bushrangers. A strong body of police, twenty-five in number, left here last night for the western districts. The executive council sat yesterday (Monday) on the cases of the prisoners convicted at the late special sitting of the criminal court. William O’Connor, for wounding and robbing Mr. Stephens at Caloola, and Alexander Fordyce, for the robbery of the Lachlan gold escort, are to have their sentences commuted to imprisonment for life. Alexander and Charles Ross, for the Caloola outrage, are to be executed on the 18th instant; and John Bow and Henry Manns, for the escort robbery, on the 26th.

The Execution of Henry Manns:

https://trove.nla.gov.au/search/advanced/category/newspapers?keyword=henry%20manns&keyword.any=forbes%20bushranger%20henry%20turner%20gold%20robbery&date.to=1886-12-30&date.from=1862-01-01

• Sydney Morning Herald Friday 27^th March 1863: EXECUTION OF HENRY MANNS. ANOTHER of those sad and terrible spectacles, a criminal execution, took place at the Darlinghurst gaol, yesterday morning, the dreadful sentence of the law having been carried into effect on the body of Henry Manns, convicted, together with John Bow and Alexander Fordyce, of participation in the gold escort robbery on the 15th June last. Most energetic efforts had been made to procure a commutation of the capital sentence passed on the unfortunate culprit, but although many thousands of signatures were spontaneously appended to a petition, and though several gentlemen of great influence and respectability gave the weight of their support to the memorial, the members of the Executive Council did not feel justified in recommending his Excellency to grant the prayer of the petitioners, by extending the same mercy to Manns which was accorded to Bow and Fordyce. The fact of a portion of the stolen gold being found on the prisoner Manns, coupled with his own wish to plead guilty, was regarded as a corroboration of the approver’s testimony, and in this circumstance, we understand, lay the distinction which, in considering the cases of the prisoners, the Government found it impossible to ignore. Since the period of his condemnation, the unhappy young man, who was only twenty-four years of age, had conducted himself in gaol with great propriety, and under the zealous and untiring efforts of the clergymen who attended him, devoted himself earnestly to preparation for the awful ordeal through which he was to pass ; though it would seem he was not wholly without hope up to Wednesday evening that his life would be spared. This belief was intensified no doubt from his learning what had been done in the case of Bow, and the strong efforts which were being made on his own behalf. The Executive, however, did not feel justified in acceding to the prayer of the memorialists, and hence, on Wednesday afternoon intimation was forwarded to the Sheriff that the law must take its course. There were but very few persons present at the distressing scene, the spectators not exceeding thirty in number, and the execution was delayed for nearly twenty minutes beyond the usual hour probably with the humane object of allowing any communication in the shape of a respite or reprieve to reach the gaol. No such document, however, arrived, and at about twenty minutes past nine the prisoner was pinioned and brought forth. He was attended by the Venerable Archdeacon McEncroe, the Venerable Archpriest Therry, and the Rev. Father Dwyer, the latter having precedence in the mournful procession. He walked firmly and erect, and though somewhat pallid in expression, he displayed no agitation or want of fortitude—still less anything approaching to bravado or recklessness. Arrived at the foot of the gallows, he remained in prayer for five or six minutes with the reverend attendants, and then ascended the ladder in company with the Venerable Archdeacon and the Rev. Mr. Dwyer. On arriving at the drop, he spoke briefly to the persons assembled, stating that “he had nothing further to say beyond what he had already told ; adding that he was thankful to his friends and the good people in Sydney who had exerted themselves to save his life, for which service he hoped God would bless them.” The clergymen then parted with him, praying as they descended from the platform while the executioner proceeded to perform his terrible office. On this occasion, whether it arose from nervousness or excitement on the part of the executioner, the preliminaries were not so speedily performed as they were in the case of the two men (Ross), a lapse of nearly two minutes occurring ere he had concluded his preparations. When at length these were completed, and the bolt was drawn, there ensued one of the most appalling spectacles ever witnessed at an execution. The noose of the rope, instead of passing tightly round the neck, slipped completely away, the knot coming round in front of the face, while the whole weight of the criminal’s body was sustained by the thick muscles of the pell. The rope, in short, went round the middle of the head, and the work of the hangman proved a most terrible bungle. The sufferings and struggles of the wretched being were heartrending to behold. His body swayed about, and writhed, evidently in the most intense agony. The arms repeatedly rose and fell, and finally, with one of his hands the unfortunate man gripped the rope as if to tear the pressure from his head—a loud gutteral noise the meanwhile proceeding from his throat and lungs, while blood gushed from his nostrils and stained the cap with which his face was covered. This awful scene lasted for more than ten minutes when stillness ensued, and it was hoped that death had terminated the culprit’s suffernigs. Shocking to relate, however, the vital spark was not yet extinguished, and to the horror of all present, the convulsive writhings were renewed the tenacity to life being remarkable, and a repetition of the sickening scene was only at last terminated at the instance of Dr. West, by the aid of four confines, who were made to hold the dying malefactor up in their arms while the executioner re-adjusted the rope, when the body was let fall with a jerk and another minute sufficed to end the agonies of death. The executioner expressed his sorrow to the gaoler and under-sheriff for what had happened, assuring them that it was from no fault or intention of his, but solely the result of accident. The body was lowered into a shell shortly before ten o’clock, and it was with deep regret and indignation that some of the spectators saw the hangman attempt to remove a pair of new boots from the feet of the corpse. This revolting act was, however, instantly prevented, and the body, which was decently attired in a white shirt, moleskin trousers and blouse, was removed to the deadhouse, where it remained untouched till the arrival of a hearse procured by the relatives of the criminal, to whom the authorities had decided to hand it over for interment. Thus miserably and fearfully terminated the life of a man barely in the prime of manhood—one blessed naturally with robust health, and a strong well constituted frame-two good auguries of a protracted existence, had not the temptation to crime and the want of moral principles led him into the commission of an outrage—into the playing of a desperate game where he staked his worldly happiness, liberty, and life against the poor advantage of procuring gold and money without honest labour. Surely such a terrible example must have its influence and serve to make others pause who are treading the dark path which brought this criminal so swiftly to the ignominy of a violent and disgraceful death.
• Manaro Mercury Friday 3^rd April 1863:  EXECUTION OF HENRY MANNS. The interest excited throughout the colony generally on behalf of the two prisoners found guilty at the late Special Assises in Sydney, of being concerned in the Lachlan escort robbery, warrants us in giving our readers what might otherwise be considered a too lengthy account of the execution of the unfortunate young man, Henry Manns, It may be mentioned that Bow’s sentence has been fixed – he is to be imprisoned for life. We are indebted to the Empire for the following particulars :— “The last dread decree of the law was carried out on the ill-fated Henry Manns yesterday morning, at twenty minutes after nine o’clock, within the precincts of Darling hurst Gaol. It was hoped by many, even against hope, that, despite the refusal, on Wednesday, or his Excellency the Governor and the Executive Council to stay the arm of the law, the royal mercy might have been extended, even at the last moment, but such a hope was futile. At an early hour in the morning, the condemned man, who be longed to the Roman Catholic faith, was visited by the Venerable Archdeacon M’Encroe, and the Rev. Fathers Therry and Dwyer, who remained with him until the last moment, administering to him the spiritual consolation so necessary to a man in his awful position. He was also visited by the Sisters of Mercy, who stayed with him for sometime. By nine o’clock the officials whose duty it was to witness the execution, the representatives of the press, and a few other persons, who, impelled by morbid curiosity, had gained the admittance to watch the proceedings, had assembled. The dismal instrument of death stood black and grim in the centre of the yard, and the executioner lingered hard by waiting the signal which should consign his victim into his hands. At a few minutes after nine the Under-Sheriff demanded the body of the condemned man which was given to him by the governor of the gaol. The signal was made, and the hangman commenced his work of death. A few moments sufficed to pinion the prisoner, and he was brought out of the gloomy cell in which he had been immured, to look for the last time upon God’s daylight, and the bright sun which shone in the heavens above him. He appeared quite calm and resigned. A slight nervous tremor only was perceptible in his voice when, responding to the litany pronounced by Archdeacon M’Enoroe, he first caught sight of the gloomy structure before him. That was all the outward sign he showed of regard to earthly matters. All else appeared to denote calm resignation and penitence, the mournful cortege proceeded slowly to the foot of the scaffold, led by the Rev. Father Dwyer, when the prisoner and his spiritual comforters knelt, and the Rev Father Therry, who was visibly affected, prayed long and fervently. The party then mounted the scaffold, and the condemned man, advancing to the front of the structure, said that he humbly thanked the people of Sydney for the kindness they had shown him in trying to get him reprieved. He gave them his blessing and thanks for trying in the way they had done to save him from being hanged; and, although they had not been successful, he thanked them and prayed for them all the same. The executioner immediately proceeded to make the necessary arrangements by placing the rope round his neck, and the cap over his face, the clergy all the while repeating a portion of the liturgy of their church, to which he audibly responded. They then withdrew, the signal was given, and amidst his murmured prayers to the Throne of Grace for pardon, the bolt was drawn. A gleam of something white falling between the black bars of the scaffold, a dull thud, and half sigh, half exclamation from the spectators, and Henry Manns swung by the neck between earth and heaven. For a moment his limbs stiffened, and he remained motionless, and then came that horrible convulsive struggle for the life which was being so cruelly choked out by the fatal rope— choked, and yet not choked; for, from the mal-adjustment of the knot by the old man, it slipped in the fall round to the front, and caught the victim under the chin, forcing his head back, and hanging him by the back of the neck. The sight was shocking in the extreme. By the jerk the blood had been forced out apparently from his eyes, and had spirted about his cap, and downward to his neck, the front of which stretched blue and ghastly to its full extent. The dreadful signs of suffocation— the gurgling in the throat— were plainly to be heard all over the yard, although the knot, precisely against the chin, prevented his screaming or crying out. The convulsions of the limbs at length became fainter and less frequent, although slight shudders still continued to show that Henry Manns yet lived. At the expiration of a quarter of an hour Dr. West, finding that life was not extinct, summoned the hangman from his lair, whither he had retreated immediately on drawing the bolt, and the Under-sheriff ordered him to re-adjust the rope. Four prisoners were then called and the hanging man was lifted up bodily; the knot of the rope was removed to its place, under the cap, and Henry Manns in a few moments died of strangulation. The body was immediately cut down and placed in a coffin, and the dead man’s aged mother, having the grace accorded her of being allowed to take the body, had it carried away for interment. The unfortunate mother of the deceased criminal being anxious to have the body of her son for interment at Campbelltown, made application for that purpose through Dr. Wilson, M.P. The request was at once complied with by Mr. Robertson, the Secretary for Lands. At half-past 10 o’clock accordingly Mr. Loseby, of the Pack Horse Inn, Haymarket, who knew the deceased from his infancy, procured a coffin and hearse at Mis. Hanslow’s, Brickfield hill, and proceeding to Darlinghurst gaol, got the corpse, and depositing it in the hearse, told the driver to proceed with all speed to the Haymarket, as he was afraid that the immense crowd congregated outside the gaol would follow after the vehicle and prevent its easy access into the yard of the Pack Horse Inn, where Mrs. Manns was waiting with anxiety, Mr. Loseby going after in a cab. Arrived at the Inn, the body was removed from the prison shell to the coffin Mr. Loseby had procured, and remained at the Inn until five o’dock in the afternoon, when it was again placed in the hearse, followed by a mourning coach, containing the afflicted mother and three or four friends, who accompanied the poor woman to console her, the processsion proceeding to the railway station for conveyance to Campbelltown, where Mrs. Manns has already a couple of children buried, she having resided in that district for many years although, her present residence is at the Adelong Crossing Place. The crowd at the Hay market yesterday was immense, the people following the hearse to the station, and it was contemplated at the funeral at Campbelltown the people would assemble from many miles around, Manns having been well known about there from his infancy. There was but little alteration in the features of the culprit after death, the chin having only a mark where the rope had slipped, and under one of the eyes was a scrape. We feel it due to Mr. Loseby to state that we understand he closed his establishment all day, while the corpse was in the house, refusing admission to every one, unless the immediate friends of the unfortunate deceased, the bar being closed to all customers. At the Adelong Crossing Place, where Manns’ family is residing, are at present no less than five brothers and two sisters, left this day to deplore the fate of their misguided and unfortunate relative ”
• Sydney Morning Herald 21^st April 1863: EXECUTION OF HENRY MANNS. Another of these sad and terrible spectacles, a criminal execution, took place at the Darlinghurst Gaol, on Thursday morning, 26th ultimo, the dreadful instance of the law having been carried into effect on the body of Henry Manns, convicted, together with John Bow and Alexander Fordyce, of participation in the gold escort robbery on the 15th June last. [article is largely the same as Sydney Morning herald article, above] […] Henry Manns was twenty-four years of age, and a native of Campbelltown. Many, persons who knew him there as a boy and youth have spoken of him favourably as a very well conducted lad. For the last six or seven years-he was employed in looking after stock in the district lying between the Murrumbidgee and the Lachlan Rivers, and for the last twelve or eighteen months was at a station called the Gap, belonging to a Mr.’Sutherland, at no great distance from Burrangong. He was supposed to have made the acquaintance of Gardiner at Lambing Flat where he was frequently seen lounging about the hotels ; and is imagined to have been one of the gang employed by that marauder in that particular part of the country.
• (several very similar articles in the same time period; see link, above)
• Article – Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle Saturday 28 March 1863: THE KILLING OF HENRY MANNS. The ordinary term of ” execution” we cannot in conscience apply to the harrowing scene which took place within the walls of Darlinghurst on Thursday morning. The pen trembles in our hand as we prepare to narrate the frightful details, and we shall perform the painful duty as briefly as possible. Passing over the universe feeling of commiseration for tho misguided culprits, Bow and Manns, which pervaded the community, as testified by no fewer than 15,000 signatures (representative at the very lowest circulation of 30,000) appended to the petition for mercy, obtained without solicitation in sixteen hours : and not trusting ourselves to speculate upon the reasons which influenced His Excellency to exercise the Royal prerogative in favor of the one equally guilty (Bow) with the other, consigned by the Executive to the hangman, we simply place on record the terrible finale. Immediately after the determination of the Executive Council, on Wednesday afternoon, that the law should take its course, the Sherriff proceeded to convey the fatal intelligence to Manns, who received it with submission, expressing himself perfectly resigned ; and subsequently his mother was admitted to take a last farewell of her wretched son. Even at this time a strong hope, verging almost upon certainty, was generally entertained that mercy would be extended even at the foot of the scaffold, and the morning of Thursday dawned with that hope still existent. At half-past eight o’clock, on entering the gaol, we found the usual sad preparations made, but still the shadow of hope appeared to hover around, and not until the fatal hour of 9 struck, was it realized by the few assembled that the intervening arm of mercy was withheld, and the dread sacrifice demanded. The unhappy young man during this period of suspense, of which he was mercifully kept unaware, was engaged in preparing for tho inevitable change, attended by the Venerable Archdeacon McEncroe, the Reverend Father Therry, and the Reverend John Dwyer, who, with the Sisters of Charity, were unremitting in their pious vacation, and with the happiest results; poor Manns being, if ever man in such extremity was, perfectly at peace with his Maker and the world. Hoping against hope, it was not until several minutes past the appointed hour, that the executioner was summoned to pinion the condemned, to which trying ordeal he passively submitted; and, at length the prison bell tolling tho death knell, the melancholy procession entered the yard. Preceded by tho Reverend John Dwyer, the condemned man, walking between the Venerable Archdeacon and Father Therry, advanced steadily and with unfaltering step to the foot of the ladder, where they engaged in prayer for several minutes. Manns, who held a crucifix in his clasped hands, evidenced no emotion of terror, but on the contrary, displayed a calmness and self-possession which in one so young, was scarcely to have been expected. He ascended the ladder without assistance, and, standing on the fatal trap, addressed those present in a few words expressive of his heartfelt thanks for the efforts which had been made to save his life. He could say no more; he know that everything had been done to save him, and lie could only pray God to bless them. The three clergymen then successively shook hands with their penitent, and, having retired, the hangman proceeded to complete the dread preliminaries. The rope was adjusted, the cap drawn over the victim’s face, the signal given, and the drop fell. May God forgive all who were instrumental in, and all who were witnesses of, the tragedy that followed, As the body was jerked up after falling about nine feel, it was apparent that the rope had slipped, the knot being at the extremity of the chin, and the criminal being suspended by the back of the neck alone. In fact the head was half released from the noose. Then commenced the death struggle most horrible. lt seemed as though the half-animate body protested against the merciless decree –IT WOULD NOT DIE-the gurgling, guttural, all but shrieking gasp–the writhing and contortions–the futile endeavour to clutch the rope -must be left to the imagination of those who were fortunate enough not to witness it. We cannot describe it. Not one of those who did witness it but sickened at the revolting spectacle At the expiration of some quarter of an hour, it being evident to the surgeon that death could not ensure unless under agonies protracted beyond tho endurance of human eye-sight, it was suggested that a smaller cord should be placed beneath the halter, and strangulation be in that way effected. The hangman was again summoned, and after consultation it was resolved to raise the still -palpitating body, and endeavour to re-adjust the rope. Four convicts were brought forward, and the endeavour was made, but the hangman was unsuccessful in re-arranging the knot, and the body was then left to swing until life was pronounced extinct by Dr West. We have nothing more to say. The body was delivered over to the relatives of the deceased ; and with this, a dark chapter in the history of N. S. Wales closes, unless it be reopened for addenda by the executors of a deed unparalleled and never to be forgotten.

Later articles relating to the death of Henry Manns:

• Sydney Morning Herald 30^th June 1863: Other Business – notices of motion – […] Mr. Harpur to move, That an address be presented to the Governor, praying that his Excellency will be pleased to cause to be laid upon the table of this House, copies of all correspondence, statements, and petitions, and of all minutes of the Executive Council, relating to the trial and execution of Henry Manns, for robbing the escort; and to the commutation of the sentence of death passed upon Alexander Fordyco and John Bow, convicted of the same offence.
• (Trove) The Armidale Express 1^st April 1865: Mr. Daryall said, in his speech on moving the second reading of the Felons Apprehension Bill:—He would not give the House any detail in names of those persons who were robbed or murdered, but the result of the police history of the culprits as far as it was known; and it might be presumed that although many crimes had been brought to light the great body of their crimes remained entirely secret. Gardiner was guilty of six mail and highway robberies with arms, of six out rages and robberies with arms (twelve offences), leaving out of consideration whether he might or might not have been convicted of murder. It was unnecessary to swell the account of his crimes. John Peisley was guilty of one murder, three mail robberies, five robberies with arms—altogether, nine. John Davis was guilty of two mail robberies, and one robbery with arms. . Henry Manns was guilty of one mail robbery. John Bow, one mail robbery. Fordyce, one mail robbery. Charters, one mail robbery. John Gilbert was guilty of two murders, twenty-one mail robberies, thirty-seven robberies with arms and violence—altogether, Sixty offences. Hall was guilty of two murders, twenty two robberies with arms, and thirty two other robberies—altogether, fifty-six. O’Meally was guilty of one murder, nine highway robberies, and seventeen other robberies with arms. Patrick Daly was guilty of three robberies with arms. Burke was guilty of two mail robberies, and three with arms; Vane, three mail robberies, and three other robberies with arms; Lowry, one mail robbery, two robberies with arms; Mount, alias GordoD, three robberies, and five others with arms; Dunn, two murders, twelve mail robberies, and fourteen robberies with arms; Dunleavy, one mail robbery, and two robberies with arms; Morgan, twenty robberies with arms, six woundings with intent to kill, and at least two murders. The following description of the bush rangers so long out is from the * Gazette’: Benjamin Hall—About 28 years of age, 5 feet 9 inches high, stout build (would weigh about 13 stone 7 lbs.), figure erect, respectable appearance, light brown wavy hair, short light beard, thick but darker near his throat and jaws, grey eyes, nose inclined to be hooked, and thin compressed lips. John Gilbert—-22 years of age, 5 feet 8£ inches high, slight active figure, brown hair, not very long, no hair nor any particular marks on face, light grey eyes, round nostrils, thick lips, careworn in appearance. John Dunn 19 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches high, small sharp features, no beard. Daniel Morgan 35 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, long black hair, long beard with brown tinge on points,-, long nose, very sharp and straight down face, sallow complexion, with brown spots like freckles, loose jointed, seems to have weak knees, speaks slowly and quietly, lost top of third finger of right hand, the nail growing over it, tumour about the size of a pigeon’s egg on back of head. […] A man named George Rodgam has been committed at Bungendore for personating the bushranger Dunn. Dunleavy, the old mate of Hall and Gardiner, is said to be near Walgett, with horse stealers. […]
• (Trove) The Forbes Advocate 13^th January 1928: Forbes Gold Robbery Attack at Eugowra J. H. M. Abbott’s Story Of all the. ‘-daring and successful robberies in the annals of Australian bushranging, the waylaying of the gold escort from Forbes to Sydney in, the vicinity of Eugowra on -June 15. 1862, by Frank Gardiner and the band of highwaymen organised and led by himself in person, must surely take first place. Nothing quite so impudent was ever attempted by any of the many scores of freebooters who hail “practised” their hazardous profession between the beginnlng of British settlement in this country and the end of the “industry,” which coincides with the destruction of the Kelly gang in Victoria almost half a century ago. And no “sticking-up” episode in all that long course of years netted such a booty as rewarded the efforts of Gardiner and his men, or so- stirred Australia into a sort of morbid admiration for so bold and reckless an enterprise. The police escorts of gold from the diggings to the capitals had been organised after the discovery of gold in N.S.W. and Victoria in the fifties. Almost invariably, individual diggers were accustomed to sell locally the treasure which they won from the earth,- either to private buyers or the banks. The latter also made a business, of forwarding gold for depositors. whether, diggers ‘or speculative buyers. It was packed in sealed . boxes. and handed over to a party of police. who guarded It during its transit from the goldflelds to the coast. The escort started from the diggings usually once a week. A Valuable Consignment. On the morning of Sunday, June 15, 1852, four iron boxes containing gold and banknotes to -the value of £1-1,000, were placed in the mail coach, which was drawn by four horses, at the police camp at Forbes, and was started off on its travels to Sydney. Sergeant Condell was  in charge of the treasure, and he had with him Senior Constable Moran, Constable Haviland, and another constable. The coach was driven by John Fagan, one of the Cobb and Co.’s best known drivers in the Western District. No passengers were carried, and the turn-out was entirely given over to the transport of the banks’ property. The latter was made up as follows: From the Oriental Bank, £700 111 cash and 2067oz. I8dwt. 6gr gold; for the Bank of N.S.W., 521oz. I3dwt. 6gr. of gold; for the Commercial Bank of Sydney, [ ….] in cash and 129oz […]dwt gold. Totalling 271oz 9dwt […]gr of gold and £3,700 in cash.  There was also a heavy mail, which included a large number of registered letters. For the amount or treasure stowed away in the coach, .. the escort was a very small one, and, as the events of the day were to prove, one that was as badly organised as it was inadequate. The sergeant rode on the box beside the driver, and the three constables travelled inside the vehicle in such a situation as to be almost entirely useless in the event of a sudden emergency. With such a valuable consignment in their charge, it might have been expected, as one of the most elementary precautions to be taken, that there would have been provided advance, flank and rear guards, by the local police authorities. At the very least, two of the constables, if not all of them, might have been mounted on horseback — a plan which would have given them some chance of making the effective resistance denied them in case of attack by bushrangers. As it was. they had hardly any. The party left Forbes at midday, and nothing unusual occurred until late in the afternoon, when they had travelled about 25 miles, and were close to Mr. Clements’ Toogong Station. Here they found a couple of bullock teams drawn up in the road way, in such u position that there was only a very narrow passage left between the.- teams and a steep mass of broken rocks that bordered the track. The driver had to bring his team to a walk, in order to pass between the drays and the rocks — but even then no suspicion of danger seems to have occurred to any individual in the escort, who were taking it easy and passing – the time yarning and smoking, as though there was not a possibility of danger. And just here, sudden and swift, disaster overtook them. ATTACK ON THE COACH. Six men, clad In red shirts, and with faces -blackened, sprang from cover behind a line of rocks, aiming rifles and revolvers at the coach. Before the escort had, time to realise the situation, a commanding voice — which Sergl. Condell afterwards declared he recognised to be that of Frank Gardiner, whom he knew well — shouted an order: — “Fire!” A volley instantly crashed into the coach, wounding Sergt. Condell in the side, and Senior Constable Moran in the groin, whilst a bullet passed through the driver’s hat, and several others through the clothing of policemen inside the conveyance. As soon as the bushrangers had emptied their revolvers, another party took their place, and continued to pour a heavy fire into the escort, who were so bewildered and surprised, that, for a few moments, they made no attempt to return the fire of the attackers. After second volley, however, Moran and Haviland let drive with carbines, without doing the bushrangers any harm. Then the horses bolted, the coach was upset, and nothing remained for the driver and the escort had to make a bolt for it into the bush immediately, the bushrangers swooped down upon their booty, and, without the loss of any time at all, packed the gold and most valuable looking portion of the mail upon two of the coach horses. As soon as this operation was completed, they made off into the bush in the direction of a spot they had selected previously as the place where the spoil was to be divided, preparatory to their scattering across the countryside. Midnight Gallop. The owner of Toogong, Mr. Clements, was in his home-paddock, when he heard the firing break out, and immediately galloped towards It. The first person he met. was the driver of the coach, Fagan, whom he sent up to his house, and then he came across Sergt. Condell, limping away from the scene of disaster. The sergeant gave it as his opinion that the rest of the party must have been killed — but just then the other constables made their appearance. After escorting them to his house,. Mr. Clements rode at a hard gallop into Forbes through the night to inform the officer-in-charge of the place there of what had taken place. Immediately on hearing the news, the Inspector-in-charge, Sir Frederick Pottinger, organised a parly of eleven troopers, and rode hard lo Toogong, where he arrived at about 2 o’clock on the Monday morning, only to find the coach and treasure looted, and the robbers departed for parts unknown. Sir Frederick Potlinger and Sergt. Sanderson (afterwards promoted to Superintendent of the Bathurst police district), dividing their force into two parties, commenced an energetic pursuit of the bushrangers, but without any ultimate success, though Sanderson’s contingent, riding worn-out horses to their last gasp, pressed them so hard that they had to abandon one of the pack-horses, which was found to be carrying between 1200 and 1500 ounces of gold. This was the only portion of the treasure ever recovered — though there is a tradition in the district, firmly believed in to-day, that many years afterwards two Americans, equipped with a plan of the locality where the bulk of it had been concealed came and got it. The idea was that they had been given the plan by Gardiner himself, who ended his days as a saloon keeper in San Francisco. Whether there is any truth in this has never been definitely ascertained. GARDINER ARRESTED. From the time of the affair at Eugowra Gardiner disappeared from N.S.W., and it was not until the beginning of 1864 that, owing to the activities of Detective M’GIone. he was apprehended in the Rockhampton district in Queensland. He was brought to Sydney and tried, eventually being sentenced by the Chief Justice, Sir Alfred Stephen, to 32 years’ imprisonment, ten of which he served before he was released conditionally upon his leaving the country. He was deported from Newcastle in a ship bound for China, and eventually found his way to California, where he is said to have died in the early nineties. Owing to one of the party engaged at Eugowra — Daniel Charters — turning Queen’s evidence, several of the gang were apprehended within a few months of the event we are discussing. Three of them — Alexander Fordyce, John Bow, and Henry Manns– were tried and sentenced to death, but only the last-named suffered the extreme’ penalty. His death upon the gallows in Darlinghurst Gaol was marked by the most horrible bungling on the part of the hangman that has probably ever occurred at an execution, and the unfortunate young outlaw had to be twice suspended before life became extinct. Of the many other participants in the affair all were fortunate enough to escape the punishment they had merited.  
• (Trove) The world’s News Sydney 3^rd June 1950: The Forbes By OXLEY BATMAN. SUNDAY, June 15, 1862, was a hot dusty day in the mid-west New South Wales town of Forbes. Preparations were under way for the departure of the Forbes Gold Escort for Sydney. Gold Receiver James Parker handed the bags of gold to Inspector Charles Sanderson, who stacked them in a steel box. Parker made a final check of the 1230 ounces of gold and left the Escort office. Sanderson always checked the gold and packed it himself. That way he could be sure all the gold in charge of the police escort to Sydney really left Forbes. He had watched Parker weigh the gold and would see it leave on the escort in the afternoon. Two men carrying bags and paper packages entered the Escort office. They were Bank of New South Wales clerks, Weekes and Russell. “Morning, Inspector,” said the tall clerk, Weekes. “Here’s our little bit for Sydney.” They put the packages on the office counter and Sanderson counted them—10 bags, each containing 148 ounces of gold. “These are notes worth £3700,” said Weekes, indicating the packages, “so I hope you have a strong guard.” Sanderson grinned and stacked the gold and notes into another steel box. He locked it, and with one of his men carried it to the coach. The escort was now responsible for 2710 ounces of gold and £3700 in notes about £12,500 in all. Sergeant Condell, in charge of the escort, was cursing at the long journey ahead. There was little chance of a hold-up, but the track was dusty and bumpy. Sanderson and the constable put the boxes in the coach under guard of Constables Moran and Havilland Condell climbed on to the box with the coachman, John Fagan, and, with a last warning from Inspector Sanderson to watch the gold, the escort pulled out of Forbes at mid-day. After 30 miles of the dusty bush road, Condell felt like part of the road himself. Dust found every crevice. His mouth was dusty, his neck chafed from the dust between it and the collar. The men in the coach felt no better. Condell was always alert, keenly watching both sides of the track and far ahead. No bushrangers had been reported along the road, but it was best to keep a constant look-out. Eugowra Rocks showed behind a bend in the road, and Condell estimated the time as four o’clock as the coach rounded the bend. Two teams of bullocks were drawn across the road directly in front of the rocks, making the road impassable. Condell thought it strange that the drivers should turn their teams at the Rocks, and ordered Fagan to drive between them and the bullock teams. Fagan whipped his horses up the slope and the coach rolled through. All seemed well, when a shout came from the rocks: “Fire!” Immediately six men, dressed in red shirts and caps, their faces blackened, sprang from the rocks and fired a volley at the coach. Condell was hit in the ribs twice, but he shouted to his men in the coach, and they fired at the bushrangers, who retreated behind a rock. Shots were fired by both sides, then the bushrangers charged and fired another volley at the police. The horses had stopped after the first volley, but they took fright and bolted when the bushrangers charged again. Condell was thrown off the box on to the road, where he lay, feigning death. The coach careered on for another 50 yards, then hit a tree and rolled over. The bushrangers charged, shouting and firing shots. Constable Havilland helped Moran, wounded in the second volley, from the coach and made for the bush. One of the attacking party shouted: “There’s the bloody wretches! Shoot them!” Two shots were fired, but both missed. Condell crawled from the track into the bush and hid while the bush rangers searched the coach. They found the bullion box, and Condell saw them break it open. He waited till all was clear, then struggled to a station nearby. News of the hold-up stirred Forbes when the escort told their story. Sir Frederick Pottinger, inspector of police stationed at Forbes, led a party of police and civilians, including a blacktracker, to the scene. They found letters and papers from mail bags scattered around the upturned coach. Two horses were missing, and from the slashed reins the party gathered that the bushrangers had taken them. Following directions given by Condell, the party went on from Eugowra Rocks and found a camp. The fire was cold, but scraps of food still fresh showed the camp had not been long vacated. Two miles on, one of the party sighted a red object on the path. It was a red woollen comforter partly burned. and probably belonging to the fugitives. Further, they found two of the gold bags taken from the coach. Sir Frederick ordered the party on, and they followed tracks from the gold bags until sundown. Next morning it rained and wiped out the trail in many places, but the party continued, often going astray. It was disheartening work, and on July 7 Sir Frederick was ready to give up. He ordered an early start, intending to search one more day. After riding for half an hour, a policeman who had been riding ahead galloped back to Sir Frederick. “Somebody’s lit a fire about half a mile ahead, sir,” he said. “It may be the bushrangers.” Pottinger took no chances and ordered his men to circle the fire and advance slowly. Sir Frederick and two men, after giving his men time to advance, rode into the gully, where three men were camped. One, cooking breakfast, saw the police and shouted to the others to run. But Pottinger’s plan synchronised perfectly and the police surrounded the men. They surrendered. A search convinced Sir Frederick that they were bushrangers. One, Manns, had £134 and a sack of 213 to 215 ounces of gold in a bag similar to one stolen from the escort. Although the others, John and Darcy Gilbert, had nothing, they were arrested and the police party set out for Forbes. It was too easy, thought Sir Frederick, as the party rode through the bush. They spent that night at Sprowle’s station and continued early next morning, but before going far the party was caught unawares by eight men. It was hard to say which was the more surprised. The bushrangers recovered first and fired at the police, wounding Sergeant Lyon’s horse, carrying the money (but not the gold) taken from Manns. It bolted and was never caught. The police returned the bushrangers’ fire but without effect. Some of the attackers were wearing red shirts, and Sir Frederick realised he had run into the rest of the fugitives. The police were outnumbered and, unless the prisoners were released, the whole party might be killed. He ordered Lyons to let the three prisoners go. Soon after, the bushrangers stopped firing and rode off. The police returned to Forbes with only the comparatively little gold and a few wounds for their efforts. But Sir Frederick didn’t give up. On December 3 he arrested Manns in Battye’s store at Lambing Flat. He had already arrested five other suspects. Inspector Sanderson, sent out to capture the other bushrangers, found a trace of one near Mt. Wheeogo. He followed the man, with the aid of a blacktracker, and about 25 miles from the mount found a pack-horse and on it 1239 ounces of gold. He also found a police cloak and two rifles marked New South Wales Police. He and the tracker found signs of a man on horseback and followed him to a nearby station [Image: A contemporary artist’s impression of the scene in Sydney’s Criminal Court during Gardiner’s trial. Gardiner is in the dock at left.]. Sanderson did not believe the man’s protestations of innocence, and took him to Forbes with the pack-horse and gold. The man’s name was James Fordyce. John Fagan, the coachman, identified the horse as one of his team on the day of the hold-up. Fordyce was held on suspicion. Trial of the men was held on February 24, 1863, at Central Criminal Court. The Attorney-General, Mr. Butler, prosecuted. Suspects were narrowed down to four—Fordyce, John Bow, John Maguire and Henry Manns, all caught either with stolen gold or money. One man, James Charters, 24, arrested on suspicion, confessed when pressed by the police. He gave the inside story of the hold-up and sealed the death warrant of three of the four men on trial. Called to the witness-box on the second day of the trial, Charters said: “I was on my way to my sisters’ home when I met Frank Gardiner, John Bow, Fordyce, Gilbert and two other men. I knew Gardiner and had seen him several times. . .” The prisoners visibly flinched as he gave damning evidence for two days. Charters told how Gardiner threatened him with a gun. “Won’t say he touched the gun,” said Charters, “but his hand went toward it when he asked me to come with him and the others for a few days. “I went with the party and we rode three days through the bush, neither touching a road nor entering a town. When we wanted supplies, Gardiner would send a man into the nearest town.” Charters said he often wondered why the strict secrecy, but every time he approached Gardiner the bushranger would answer: “Wait and see.” “I felt something pretty bad would happen, but I swear I had no idea of the gang’s intention until we reached Eugowra Rocks,” he went on. “Gardiner told us to tie our horses about half a mile from the Rocks, and we set out on foot for the Forbes road. Before we left Gardiner told us to take our coats off and put on crimson shirts, which I had seen one of the men bring from a town the day before. We pulled these over our shirts so they hung over our trousers.” Charters told the intent and crowded court how the men put red comforters on their heads and blackened their faces to complete the disguise. The gang made for Eugowra Rocks and found a good hide-out about 20 yards from the road. They waited till about three o’clock, when one of the men, hot and discontented, said: “It’d be a fine thing if our horses walked off and left us to walk.” Charters said he offered to go back. “Gardiner swore at me, then told me to go.” He went back to the horses, and about an hour later heard shots from the Rocks. Gardiner and the rest of the men returned to camp soon after. Even then Gardiner would not admit to holding up the coach. Charters left with the gang and helped them hide out for a while until they decided to split up. The jury said they didn’t need to hear any more. Even an impassioned speech by the bushrangers’ counsel, Mr. Isaacs, who called Charters an informer and asked the jury whether they could take the word of such a man, had no effect, particularly after the equally damning evidence of Inspector Sanderson and Sir Frederick Pottinger. On February 28, 1862, Fordyce, Bow and Manns were sentenced to death, and hanged soon after. Maguire was acquitted. The gang’s notorious leader, Frank Gardiner, and his close companions, John Gilbert and Ben Hall, escaped the police search. Gilbert and Hall became notorious bushrangers, but Gardiner left New South Wales. He was discovered in March, 1864, at Apis Creek, near Rockhampton, Queensland, keeping an hotel and store. He had resumed his proper name of Christie; was trading normally with the townspeople. A Sydney detective took him back for trial. Chief Justice Stephens, apparently influenced by public sympathy, sentenced him to 32 years hard labor, but made the sentences of 15, 10 and seven years consecutive. Eight years later his sisters asked for a pardon. The Chief Justice refused to mitigate the sentence, and the Governor would only grant a pardon taking effect two years later and on condition that Gardiner left the colony. The pardon was made effective on July 20, 1874, and on July 27 Gardiner left Newcastle for China. He is believed to have died about 1895 in San Francisco. 
• (insert original article screenshots) Daily Mirror June 19^th 1978 – Public Damned Outlaw’s Hanging as Legal Murder.
• (insert Trove screenshots) The Canberra Times 14^th Dec 1988: MIDWEEK MAGAZINE Bushranger rides to rescue brother By ROBERT WILLSON it WAS July, 1862, three weeks after the great Gold Escort robbery near Forbes. Gardiner’s gang had got away with £14,000 in gold and cash, worth at least a million dollars in modern terms. A small police party searching for the robbers rounded a bend on a bush track near Wagga and came face to face with three mounted men. The police were led by Sir Frederick Pottinger, Inspector of Police for the Western District, based at Forbes. The other group was led by John Gilbert who had been involved in the Escort robbery, though Pottinger did not know him. The two men made an interesting contrast. Both came from distant parts of the British Empire. Pottinger had been born in India of aristocratic family, educated at Eton and had been an officer in the Guards. Gambling debts had forced him to come to the colony to dig for gold and then serve in the mounted police, Gilbert had been born in Canada and arrived in Melbourne in 1952, aged 10. Frank Clune states that Gilbert’s father had been a Freeman of the City of London and his sister Ellen later became a nun. Gilbert grew up knowing all the skills of the bush but determined not to work for a living. Both Pottinger and Gilbert were outstanding horsemen but Gilbert was to get the best of their encounter that day. POTTINGER had been in the saddle for weeks leading the manhunt for the Escort gang. He had with him Detective Lyons and a civilian volunteer, Richard Mitchell. When he saw the three men coming towards them he stopped them and asked for proof of ownership of the fine horses they were riding, just as a motorist is asked for a driver’s licence. With Gilbert was his brother Charles and Henry Manns. Edgar Penzig, in his excellent account of what followed, tells us that Gilbert said he had a receipt for the horse and started to fumble in his pocket, while edging his horse towards the side of the track. Suddenly he gave a yell, dug his spurs in, and bolted into the bush, leaving bis pace horse behind. He probably hoped his mates would follow but they were not quick enough. The police party had tired horses and were in no position to chase him but they levelled their revolvers at the other two and arrested them. They gave their names as Dacey and Turner. One can imagine the excitement of Pottinger when a search revealed that, as well as a quantity of money, one of the men had on his none Help saddle an escort bag containing about 200 ounces of gold. Pottinger led the party with their prisoners back to Bolerd Station near Wagga. A jubilant telegram was sent to the Premier, Mr Cowper, and he read it out to members of the Legislative Assembly in Sydney. A close guard was kept on the prisoners and the next day the party started for Forbes. But Pottinger’s triumph was to be short-lived. Johnny Gilbert had no notion of letting his brother Charles be captured with out making a fight of it. He knew that the police party would have to travel slowly because of the prisoners. With luck there might be time to race to the Weddin Mountains and get his mates together to mount an ambush. What follows must be one of the epic feats of riding in Australian history. Gilbert rode 110km in nine hours, much of it at night. Reaching O’Mcally’s shanty he found a group of mates drinking there. Breathlessly he told them what had happened and the party sprang to their horses to make the rescue attempt. They used their brains and matchless knowledge of the bush and calculated that a 1.6km ride across country would enable them to meet Pottinger’s party at a place called Sprowlc’s Station near a lagoon of that name not far from Tomora. The tireless Gilbert led the way in the darkness. Unconscious of the ambush being prepared for them, Pottingcr and his men rode slowly through the bush. Lyons was in front leading the two prisoners who were firmly tied up and their horses coupled together. Then came the packhorses and Pottingcr and Mitchell bringing up the rear. Accounts vary as to exactly how the attack was staged. The bushrangers had a bag loaded with spare firearms. As at the Escort robbery they adopted a uniform of red shirts and night caps over blackened faces. When they reached Sprowle’s Station they forced the occupants, two women, together with a couple of travellers, to go inside and lie low. They rested their horses and loaded their weapons and made final plans for the attack. Pottinger later stated that the gang adopted the same tactics employed in the Escort robbery. The band of seven men divided into two parties of three and four and fired in disciplined volleys — they had clearly practised their tactics. As the police party neared Sprowle’s homestead Lyons was confronted by three men who shouted “Bail Up!” but then opened fire before he had any chance to respond. His horse was shot and bolted into the mulga, hurling him to the ground. He took cover from a hail of bullets. The gang proceeded to release their comrades. Meanwhile, the second division attacked Pottingcr and Mitchell, shouting curses at them as they opened fire. The two men returned the fire, shot for shot. The air was filled with smoke from the black power weapons and with the screeching of bush birds disturbed by the gunfire. POTTINGER later estimated that the battle lasted more than five minutes. The police were out-gunned because the gang had a good store of loaded weapons, throwing each down as it was emptied. Finally Pottinger decided to go for reinforcements and save the escort gold still in his possession. As he and Mitchell retired someone in the gang shouted that they would be back for the money and gold secured by the police When Pottingcr returned later in the day with reinforcements from George’s station he found that Detective Lyons had escaped to the Sprowle homestead. There was no sign of the gang. Reporting the battle of Sprowle’s Station the Burrangong Courier commented that Sir Frederick Pottinger had been indefatigable in his exertions to run down the Escort robbers. The paper commented that few locals believed Frank Gardiner had anything to do with the cowardly attack on the Gold Escort. In fact he had masterminded it. A few weeks later Pottingcr was to have Gardiner literally in the sights of his gun and the fact that he lost him was to be the greatest humiliation of his career. 1862 was the year 1500 young Australians enlisted for military service in the Second Maori War in New Zealand, many of them looking for action and adventure. But there was to be plenty of action much nearer home in the running battle with the bushrangers of the colony.