Michael Howe (bushranger)
| Michael Howe | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Pontefract, Yorkshire c.1787 |
| Died | 21 October 1818 |
| Cause of death | Died in struggle |
| Other names | Demon Bushranger |
| Details | |
| Victims | 5+ |
| Country | Australia |
| State(s) | Tasmania |
Michael Howe (1787 – 21 October 1818) was the leader of a gang of bushrangers in Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) being a convict transported to Australia.
Howe was born at Pontefract, Yorkshire, England, son of Thomas Howe and his wife Elizabeth. He served two years on a merchant vessel at Hull before deserting to join the navy as a seaman. He later owned his own small craft.
On 31 July 1811 he was sentenced to seven years transportation for robbing a miller on the highway. He arrived in Van Diemen's Land in October 1812 in the Indefatigable, and was assigned to a Mr. John Ingle, a merchant and . Howe refused the assignment, declaring that, "having served the King, he would be no man's slave". He escaped, and joined a large party of escaped convicts in the bush.
In May 1814 Howe gave himself up to the authorities in response to an offer of clemency made by Governor Macquarie. (For copy of proclamation see Historical Records of Australia, ser. I, Vol. VIII, p. 264). Howe, however, took to the bush again and joined a band of bushrangers led by John Whitehead. Houses were robbed and ricks burned by his gang, and being pursued by an armed party of settlers, two of the latter were killed and others wounded in a fight which followed. Rewards were offered for the apprehension of the bushrangers and parties of soldiers were sent out to search for them. On one occasion the bushrangers fired a volley through the windows of a house in which soldiers were stationed, and Whitehead was killed by the return fire. Before death, Whitehead begged Howe to cut off his head, and take it, so that it couldn't be taken by his pursuers, and used as evidence to claim the offered reward. Howe complied with the request.
Howe then became the leader of the bushrangers, and although two of the gang were caught and executed, many robberies ensued. In February 1817 two more bushrangers were shot and another captured, and in the following month Howe left the party accompanied only by an Aboriginal girl. On one occasion, finding the military close on his heels, he attempted to shoot the girl, but only succeeded in wounding her slightly.
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