DIGITIZED BY PETER KILLACKEY
THE BUSHRANGERS - LEMON
James Bonwick - 1856
Lemon was one of Michael Howe's contemporaries. The scene of his exploits is the neighbourhood of Oatlands, in the centre of the island. The swampy source of the River Jordan, once visited by the writer, was known as Lemon's Lagoon. The favourite haunt of this renowned footpad is now called Lemon Springs, half way between Jericho and Oatlands. A low speckled hill near that marsh was his ambush, whence he issued on the approach of a traveller.
We have a luminous account of the capture of this worthy mate of Mike's from the pen of Mr. Parker, barrister, some five-and-twenty years ago, and we cannot do better than give it in that gentleman's own language.
"In the autumn of 1815, Michael Mansfield, a prisoner holding a ticket of leave, and residing near the Black Bush, went forth one afternoon to look for some cattle of his own, and some he had in charge belonging to others. These were grazing at a distance from his hut, and he proceeded briskly onward, following a cattle-track through a dense forest, which he knew led to where the herd was pasturing. Suddenly his progress was arrested by two savage-looking fellows, one emerging from either side of the path. They were dressed in kangaroo skins, sandals of the same on their feet, and knapsacks on their backs; each carried a musket, and one had a brace of pistols stuck in his girdle, Mansfield immediately recognised one as Lemon, the robber and bushranger. Mike, however, being a true son of Hibernia and an old man-of-war's man, was a stranger to fear, and resolved to make the best of a bad bargain. Lemon asked who and what he was, to which Mike answered truly, and in his own native naivete. The Bushrangers then cast off their knapsacks (which seemed well filled), and commanded Mansfield to carry them, warning him at the same time, that if he attempted to escape they would shoot him on the spot. Poor Mansfield jogged on under his weary load, venturing now and then a few remarks on the tratement poor prisoners met with in this cursed country; and "troth and sure," he was but a poor prisoner himself, and never hurt nor meddled with no one, far less a Bushranger; and he was after hoping they were not going to ill-use him, or take him away from his poor dumb bastes; for sure they'd all be astray, master would have him catted, and poor Mick would be a ruined man for ever and a day. At this pathetic appeal the Bushrangers seemed to soften, and after consulting together, they proposed, on certain conditions, to allow him to depart. They stipulated that he should meet them on an appointed day at a particular spot, and bring them flour, tea, sugar, and spirits, if he could procure any ; they would lie on the look out, and his signal to them was to be the smoke of a fire which he was to light. Mike promised to comply, and was allowed to go his way without further molestation. On the day appointed, he selected one of his men on whom he could depend, and taking his musket and dogs, gave out that he was going to shoot kangaroos. When he had gone a short distance, he asked Phelim "Would he like to see ould Dublin?" "By the Piper of Leinster ! that I would, master," was the reply. "Then by the holy poker, ye may," said Mike, "if you only stand by me and do a bould deed." "And won't I, sure," said Phelim, "only make me certain of setting my foot in ould Dublin agen, and I'll stand by you, master of mine, until every bone in this skin is bate to shivereens." "Well, I intend to take Lemon, and if you'll stand by me, we'll both of us just get pardoned, and you'll be sent to ould Ireland agen as free as the babe just born." " Then I am the boy that will lend you a hand."
Mansfield handed Phelim a trooper's pistol, and desired him to conceal it; and setting briskly forward, consulted how they should best accomplish their enterprise. A good deal of rain had fallen, and it was nearly dark when they reached the place of rendezvous. Phelim, with the aid of his tinder-box, proceeded to kindle a fire, and Mike, with flour which he had provided for the purpose, daubed his own and his man's clothes, to make it appear they had been carrying a load. When the fire began to burn they cast themselves on the ground, pretending to be quite exhausted, anxiously waiting the arrival of the Bushrangers. In about half-an-hour they made their appearance, both well armed. Mike spun a long yarn about losing his way, being overcome with fatigue, and obliged to leave the prog about four miles off, in the hollow of a burned tree, declaring he was unable to retrace his steps that night, but if the Bushrangers would give him rest and food, he would go with them early in the morning and bring them all he had promised, as he concluded he produced a bottle of spirits, of which they all partook, and agreed to adjourn to the Bushrangers' hut, about two miles off. The hut was constructed of turf, low and uncomfortable in the extreme, covered with sheets of bark stripped from the large forest trees. The fire-place, also of turf, lined with stones at the bottom, was at one end of the hut, and within it a huge fire soon blazed. Some excellent beef was broiled, which Mike strongly suspected to be part of his own kine. They had neither bread nor potatoes to eat with their meat, but the two Bushrangers, long accustomed to such fare, made a hasty meal; the others swallowed a few morsels, and after finishing the bottle of spirits, they all laid down on kangaroo skins spread on the floor; first Lemon, then Mansfield, then the other Bushranger, and last Phelim. Mike and Phelim snored away, but slept none. In the morning Mansfield began to toss and tumble about, to try if Lemon would easily awake, but finding that both the Bushrangers slept soundly, he cautiously withdrew the pistols from Lemon's belt, rose warily, gave one pistol to Phelim (who was still on the floor) and concealed the other. He then went to a corner where the muskets stood, took all but his own, and put them in a pool of water before the hut; returning to the cabin, he examined the flint and priming of his own piece. Finding all right, he gave the Bushranger a push with his foot, calling out at the same time, " Lemon, you are my prisoner." Lemon felt on one side and then on the other for his pistols; finding them gone he started to his feet, and drawing a long knife, was about to make a lunge, when Mansfield pulled the trigger. The ball went through the robber's head, and he fell a lifeless corpse. The report of Mansfield's musket awoke the other outlaw, who, seeing his companion's corpse, dropped on his knees and implored mercy. Mansfield only said, "Now, my tight fellow, be after taking that there knife, cut your master's head off, put it into that bag (pointing to it), throw it over your shoulder, and trudge along with us." The man shuddered at the command, and it required threats, and promises of intercession with the Governor, to prevail on him to do the deed. ' By Saint Patrick!' ejaculated Phelim, ' its a clane job, anyhow, barrin' the bloody head. Not a minnit ago it was the shy of a copper whose throats were cut. Be off on yer ten toes, ye thaef of the world, and bless the saints ye don't carry yer own ugly mug in the bag with yer master's."
They had thirty-six miles to walk, and it was night when they reached Hobart Town. Mansfield, however, went directly to Government House, and was most graciously received. The news spread quickly, but all considered Mike and Phelim deserved public rewards. The Governor accordingly gave each a free pardon, and to Mike a grant of land on the Derwent, and to Phelim a free passage to 'Ould Ireland.' The prisoner's life was spared, but he was banished to a penal settlement."

Reader's Letters

Hi Peter, Thanks for a great site for those like me, madly interested in Oz history. I've just read Bonwick's account of the capture of Lemon by my ancestor, Michael Mansfield, based on another's account.
Amazing how wrong history can be, even close to the event! Michael was NOT a prisoner, he arrived as a seaman on one of the first two ships to settle Hobart, the Ocean, in 1804, and settled as a free man, and married a rellie of mine whom he met on the Ocean voyage. He did not live at Black Brush but in the Risdon area at a place called Geilston (I have a map showing his grant), and the year was 1808. However, he did kill Lemon, and wounded his associate Brown, and forced Brown to carry Lemon's head back to Hobart Town to collect his reward. Brown was sent to Sydney for trial, and hung. I've many more details if you want to place a correct version of the event on your site. This was the first capture of bushrangers in VDL's history, only four years after white settlement began.
Thought you might be interested in the correct version, and feel sad that all these years Michael has been described as a felon :) I'm related to many convicts, and I'm proud of them, but he's not one of them!
Best wishes,
Carol B.
Melbourne.

Carol's attached file
The Knopwood Diaries
The capture of Lemon and Brown by Mansfield, Jones and Duff.

Tuesday, 24 January 1804 Port Phillip Bay.
...At 2 p.m. 120 of the convicts went on board the Ocean transport with their baggage. At 3 one of the prisoners that had been absent a long time returned in a very weak state; his name Jones.

Friday, 19 December 1806 Hobart.
A.M. This morn engaged upon the bench and had the following prisoners to try, myself being the only acting magistrate in the colony. At 11, Capt. Johnson, Lieut. Lord, Lieut. Breedon, Mr Bowden, surgeon attended at the court. Absent 11 weeks - 300 Lashes - Duff - for absenting himself from labour and dog stealing.

Saturday, 20 December 1806.
...At 11 the punishment of the prisoners took place.

Saturday, 15 August 1807.
The names of the prisoners which are bushrangers at this time, and they are all well armed and have plenty of dogs: - James Carrot, Ths. Story, Joseph Fernandez, James Watts, John Williams alias Rush, Richd. Grover, Joseph Myers, Wm. Russell, Sam Tomlins, Wm. Marsh, John Brown, James Duff, John Parish, Wm. Bowers.

Sunday, 6 December 1807.
At 1 p.m. the following prisoners who had been absent from the colony for a very long time and had accepted the Lt. Govnrs. pardon on their returning to the settlement arrvd at Govrnt. House when the Govnr. sent for me : - Duff, Quinn, Meyers, Grover, Story, Watts, Russel, Fernandez.

Thursday, 31 December, 1807.
Men come in : - Duff, Quinn, Meyers, Grover, Story, Watts, Russel, Fernandez.

Tuesday, 5 January 1808.
A.M. This day Mr. & Mrs. Mc (Sergt. James and Mrs. Maria Macauley) and self went to Mich. Mansfield's. (Geilston Bay, near Risdon) The day very wet and came home late.

Sunday 7 February 1808.
A.M. At 11 performed Divine Service attended by all the military and civil etc. During the time we were at church a Serjt. Brumley and 7 men arrived here from Port Dalrymple. They came after some men (Lemon, Brown et al) that had absconded from the settlement.

Monday, 8 February 1808.
...a party of men was sent off after the port Dalrymple bushrangers.

Tuesday 16 February, 1808.
A.M.... At 8 Sarjt. Broomley and the party that went out after Lemon and Brown returnd without seeing them.

Wednesday 17 February 1808.
A.M. ...The party of Port Dalrymple men went away.....

Tuesday, 1 March 1808.
A.M. ...At 9, Sargt. Brumley and 2 privates arrived from Pt. Dalrymple with dispatches from Govnr. Patterson....... At 11 Mich. Mansfield, Duff and Jones came in with the head of Lemon and brought Brown in prisoner, the two Port Dalrymple murderers.

Friday, 4 April 1808.
A.M. This day at 12 Lt. Breedon on the R.M.F. went to Pt. Dalrymple and a party with Brown the murderer to be delivered up to Govnr. Patterson. Lemon was killed by Mansfield, a settler.

Monday, 28 March, 1814.
The Old Road and Names to Port Dalrymple. Included: Scanlans Valley. (Additional new) Names given by His Excellency, Govnr. Macquarie on his way to Pt. Dalrymple. Included: Lemon Springs.

Wednesday, 8 November, 1815.
Information was received by Mr Morgans men from Scantlands Plains....

Pete says:
Wow, thank-you for for taking the time out to email me that interesting information Carol and the right details as you know them to be today. The information that I have included on Lemon above was written by James Bonwick in 1856. Of course, for historical purposes I need to leave it intact but adding your input has certainly opened up new doors for me and added a new dimension to the Lemon saga. I'll now be paying extra attention looking for more details as they come along.