John Tennant
Encyclopedia
John Tennant was an Australia
n bushranger
who was active around the Canberra
district in the 1820s. Mount Tennent
is named after him as it was on the slopes of this steep mountain behind the village of Tharwa
where he would hide.
Tennant was born in Belfast
, Ireland
and was 29 years old when he was sentenced to transportation to Australia for life in 1823. He arrived in Sydney on 12 July 1824 on the 'Prince Regent'. He was assigned to Joshua John Moore
and sent with two other men, James Clarke and John McLaughlin, to establish Moore's property Canberry or Canberra, the first European habitation on the Limestone Plains
.
In 1828 Tennant and another man, John Ricks, absconded from their assigned landholder and took to the bush. Another reference states that in November 1827, he and John Ricks (some references spell it Rix) robbed the camp of James Ainslie
, the overseer at Duntroon
. He stole nine vests of various colours, foreign and local currency, two silk handkerchiefs, 150 lbs of flour and 29 lbs of Brazilian tobacco. He then hid out on Mount Tennant, then called Mount Currie, for some months before striking again.
John Gale
in his book Canberra, its history and legends described Tennant in romantic terms stating: Tennant descending from his look-out (on Mount Tennent) would bail up (a dray) - but only when his larder or wardrobe needed replenishing - terrorising the driver by presenting fire-arms and abstracting from the loading whatsoever he needed just then and order the man in charge of the team to drive on again. He never was known to use unnecessary violence or to wantonly destroy valuable cargo for what he had no need. Where Tennant stored his booty... was never discovered, not withstanding frequent and ... exhaustive serches to this end. The mountain had numerous caves and mazes well adapted... many never explored.
This description of Tennant contradicts the evidence brought against him when he and Ricks were tried on 30 May 1828 in the New South Wales Supreme Court for stealing and putting John Farrell and Thomas Simpson in bodily fear. Farrell described part of the attack on him: Tennant then said, that they would boy-whip me and not take my life, and as he had a boatswain of his own, I should have fifty lashes; they then tied me up to a post, and took down my trowsers, and Tennant ordered me to receive fifty lashes, which were inflicted by Ricks, with the buckle end of a strap, and when I was ordered by Tennant to be taken down, he gave me three additional lashes; I was severely hurt, and bled very much; the prisoners took an old carbine, and an old musket, worth altogether about 10s. out of the hut, but they were brought back by the overseer immediately.
Tennant was eventually found guilty. According to Fraser and McJannett Tennant was hanged. According to Macquarie University, and Dowling Tennant was transported to Norfolk Island
) for seven years. According to Gale, Tennant was never captured, but in after years was found to be leading a respectable and law-abiding life somewhere down the Lachlan River
. Nor was he prosecuted for his deeds. It is apparent from court sources that Gale was wrong about Tennant being captured and tried. He returned after seven years from Norfolk Island a broken man and died at Windsor
the following year.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n bushranger
Bushranger
Bushrangers, or bush rangers, originally referred to runaway convicts in the early years of the British settlement of Australia who had the survival skills necessary to use the Australian bush as a refuge to hide from the authorities...
who was active around the Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
district in the 1820s. Mount Tennent
Mount Tennent
Mount Tennent is a mountain in the southern part of the Australian Capital Territory. At the base of the mountain flows the Gudgenby River and this is a site for the proposed Mount Tennent Dam....
is named after him as it was on the slopes of this steep mountain behind the village of Tharwa
Tharwa, Australian Capital Territory
Tharwa is a small village within the Australian Capital Territory, south of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. At the 2006 census, Tharwa had a population of 109....
where he would hide.
Tennant was born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and was 29 years old when he was sentenced to transportation to Australia for life in 1823. He arrived in Sydney on 12 July 1824 on the 'Prince Regent'. He was assigned to Joshua John Moore
Joshua John Moore
Joshua John Moore , a grazier and large owner of land by occupation, was born to John Moore, yeoman farmer, at Horningsea, Cambridgeshire, England....
and sent with two other men, James Clarke and John McLaughlin, to establish Moore's property Canberry or Canberra, the first European habitation on the Limestone Plains
Limestone Plains
The Limestone Plains were broad, frost-hollow floodplains through which the Molonglo River flowed. Early settlers named this floodplain after the occasional small outcrops of limestone found on it. The Limestone Plains were the area Australia's capital city Canberra was built on...
.
In 1828 Tennant and another man, John Ricks, absconded from their assigned landholder and took to the bush. Another reference states that in November 1827, he and John Ricks (some references spell it Rix) robbed the camp of James Ainslie
James Ainslie (pastoralist)
James Ainslie was a Scottish pastoralist, best known as the first overseer of the property known as Duntroon in the Australian Capital Territory, he increased the size of the property's sheep flock from 700 to 20,000 in 12 years. He lived in a relationship with an Aboriginal woman and she bore him...
, the overseer at Duntroon
Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory
Duntroon is a suburb of the city of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory.-History:Robert Campbell's property Duntroon was situated on the limestone plains of New South Wales in the area that is now covered by the ACT....
. He stole nine vests of various colours, foreign and local currency, two silk handkerchiefs, 150 lbs of flour and 29 lbs of Brazilian tobacco. He then hid out on Mount Tennant, then called Mount Currie, for some months before striking again.
John Gale
John Gale (journalist)
John Gale was the founder of the Queanbeyan Age, the first newspaper to serve Queanbeyan District...
in his book Canberra, its history and legends described Tennant in romantic terms stating: Tennant descending from his look-out (on Mount Tennent) would bail up (a dray) - but only when his larder or wardrobe needed replenishing - terrorising the driver by presenting fire-arms and abstracting from the loading whatsoever he needed just then and order the man in charge of the team to drive on again. He never was known to use unnecessary violence or to wantonly destroy valuable cargo for what he had no need. Where Tennant stored his booty... was never discovered, not withstanding frequent and ... exhaustive serches to this end. The mountain had numerous caves and mazes well adapted... many never explored.
This description of Tennant contradicts the evidence brought against him when he and Ricks were tried on 30 May 1828 in the New South Wales Supreme Court for stealing and putting John Farrell and Thomas Simpson in bodily fear. Farrell described part of the attack on him: Tennant then said, that they would boy-whip me and not take my life, and as he had a boatswain of his own, I should have fifty lashes; they then tied me up to a post, and took down my trowsers, and Tennant ordered me to receive fifty lashes, which were inflicted by Ricks, with the buckle end of a strap, and when I was ordered by Tennant to be taken down, he gave me three additional lashes; I was severely hurt, and bled very much; the prisoners took an old carbine, and an old musket, worth altogether about 10s. out of the hut, but they were brought back by the overseer immediately.
Tennant was eventually found guilty. According to Fraser and McJannett Tennant was hanged. According to Macquarie University, and Dowling Tennant was transported to Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
) for seven years. According to Gale, Tennant was never captured, but in after years was found to be leading a respectable and law-abiding life somewhere down the Lachlan River
Lachlan River
- Course :The river rises in the central highland of New South Wales, part of the Great Dividing Range, 13 km east of Gunning. Its major headwaters, the Carcoar River, the Belubula River and the Abercrombie River converge near the town of Cowra. Minor tributaries include the Morongla Creek...
. Nor was he prosecuted for his deeds. It is apparent from court sources that Gale was wrong about Tennant being captured and tried. He returned after seven years from Norfolk Island a broken man and died at Windsor
Windsor, New South Wales
Windsor is a town in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Windsor is located in the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury. It sits on the Hawkesbury River, on the north-western outskirts of the Sydney metropolitan area. At the 2006 census, Windsor had a population of...
the following year.