Michael Howe--The Last and Worst of the Bush-Rangers of Van Dieman's Land

Michael Howe, who acted the principal part in the transactions about
to be narrated, was born at Pontefract in Yorkshire in the year 1787,
and was bound apprentice to a merchant vessel at Hull; but he served
only two years when he ran away and entered on board a man-of-war.

In the year 1811 he was apprehended for robbing a miller on the
highway, and tried at the York assizes following; but from an
informality in the indictment the capital part of the charge was
abandoned, and he received sentence of seven years transportation. He
arrived at this settlement in the ship Indefatigable Captain Cross in
the month of October 1812.

During his passage from England his habits were rather industrious,
and, though always mischievously inclined, he exhibited no symptoms of
that daring and wanton conduct which manifested itself in his future
Life, unless we may consider as such his leaping overboard whilst the
vessel was in port and swimming a considerable distance before he was
taken.

As a leader of a band of desperadoes, Howe may not unaptly be compared
to Three-fingered Jack, who was so long the terror of the peaceable
settlers in the plantations of Jamaica; and who, notwithstanding every
exertion to take him, long ranged the woods of that island, committing
the most cruel and daring acts of murder and robbery, until, from the
large rewards offered by the Government, he was arrested by the hands
of justice.

Howe was only a few days at Government public labor before he was
assigned, as a Crown servant, to Mr. Ingle, a merchant and grazier;
from whose service he eloped into the woods and joined twenty-eight
felons at that time at large committing depredations.

With a view of inducing those deluded people to return to their duty
to Government, His Excellency Governor Macquarie, on the 14th May,
1814, was pleased to extend to them the Royal clemency for all
offences committed during their unlawful absence (the crime of wilful
murder excepted); provided they should return to their lawful
occupations by the 1st day of December following; denouncing all who
should neglect to do so as outlaws.

This banditti, now consisting of twenty-nine persons, amongst whom
were Michael Howe and John Whitehead, an equally desperate offender,
availed themselves of the proffered clemency and surrendered to
Government.

Although Howe and his companions must at this period have been
sensible that their lives would have been forfeit to the Laws, but for
the mercy extended to them, this reflection did not operate to amend
their future conduct; for we soon after find Howe and Whitehead again
in the woods with a new set of desperadoes, adding murder to robbery.

After some minor depredations, this band, headed by Whitehead,
stripped nearly the whole of the settlers at New Norfolk of their
portable property, together with all arms and ammunition; and from
thence proceeded to Pitt Water and robbed Mr. Fisk a new settler at
that place.