Rowdy Renegade: An Australian Bushranger in the Family

Another Storyteller Tuesday challenge from Robin Stewart:

Each week, Genealogy Matters publishes a challenge for anyone interested in family history called Storyteller Tuesday Challenge. The challenge is that your post should be 350 words or less and should directly address the prompt for that week.

Genealogy Matters Storyteller Tuesday Challenge: ROWDY RENEGADE
Tell the story of one of your ancestors who broke the rules, the law, the tradition or the mold and did something shady, outlandish, surprising or different than the rest of the family.

My Connection

My family member who could be described as a ‘Rowdy Renegade’ is a cousin of my second great uncle. Read below of the company he kept and the life of crime that he led. His main claim to fame was that he was considered to be the ‘5th member of the Kelly Gang’.

Who is Ned Kelly?

Ned Kelly (1854-1890) was an Australian bushranger, outlaw, gang leader, horse thief, bank robber and convicted police-murderer. One of the last bushrangers, he is known for wearing a suit of bulletproof armour. during his final shootout with the police. During the mid to late 1800s the Kelly Gang ran rampant around central Victoria, terrorising people and making life more than difficult for the police.

Ned Kelly’s suit of armour, which he wore in shoot-outs with the police. It shows 18 bullet marks which is on display at the State Library of Victoria

Bushranger - Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly

It seems that everyone in Australia is related to Ned Kelly, or they think they are. It’s a bit like claiming a family connection to royalty.

The Thomas Lloyd Connection

Thomas Lloyd is a cousin to Ned Kelly. The connection to my family is quite tenuous, and really, we just hang by the fingernails to Ned’s family tree. But Thomas Lloyd does rate a mention in the Kelly family tree. This tiny connection really is enough to keep me interested in the the Ned Kelly story.

Thomas Lloyd was the first cousin of my great uncle. He and Ned Kelly were cousins.
Thomas Lloyd and the Kellys all grew up together and when he was older, Thomas ‘ran with the Kelly gang’ as his involvement was referred to in the news papers of the time.

Thomas Lloyd wasn’t considered to be officially a member of the Kelly gang, but he was often there with them when bad things were happening. He is usually described as a sympathiser of the Kelly Gang.

The final last stand of the Kelly Gang happened at Glenrowan in Victoria, where there was an all night siege and a huge shoot out with police with many wounded, three fatalities, and eventually led to Ned’s arrest, after being wounded. After trial, Ned Kelly was hanged in Melbourne.

The Last Stand of the Kelly Gang - Glenrowan. During the very long siege, journalists, photographers and artists gathered and watched the drama unfold. The above photos were taken on the day - Monday 29 June 1880 - victoriancollections.net.au

Thomas Lloyd wasn’t at Glenrowan, with the Kelly Gang, however it is said that he was meant to be there. It has been written many times that during the afternoon he had gone to Beechworth, a nearby town to sell gold, and his return had been delayed. He was never arrested on charges relating to the siege.

My relative, Thomas Lloyd did spend time in gaol in relation to horse stealing, assault of members of the public and police, and more. As with Ned Kelly, there is much more to the Thomas Lloyd story in the links below.

Image generated by ChatGPT

I could write pages and pages about Ned Kelly, but there is no need, as there have probably never been as much written in Australia about anyone. He is both loved and despised in our country. There are both truths and many untruths, along with countless opinions to Ned Kelly, the Kelly Gang, and their close supporters. The links included will send you down many rabbit holes if you allow them.

Following are links to further reading:

Tom Lloyd - Kelly Gang
Ned Kelly: Wikipedia
Ned Kelly's Suit of Armour
Images: Siege at Glenrowan