John Vane (bushranger)

John Vane (1842-1906) was an Australian bushranger who rode with the Ben Hall gang. He was the only member of the gang in 1863 who was not killed or executed.^[1][2]

Early Life

John Vane was born near Singleton in New South Wales on June 26, 1842 to William and Ann Vane. The Vanes were Free Settlers and young John developed a reputation as a skilled horseman.

His family had moved to Neville and John got work with a blacksmith. He left and went gold prospecting and spent about 18 months on the goldfields. He then returned home and with his cousins Mickey and Jim Burke became cattle thieves.

Bushranging

In early 1863 Vane and Mickey Burke met John Gilbert and John O'Meally, members of Ben Hall's gang who had heard of their exploits. They joined the gang and took part in many robberies.

When his best friend Mickey Burke was shot and fatally wounded when the gang attacked a homestead at Dunn's Plains. Vane was enraged and mortified at the loss of his friend and left the gang. Vane was persuaded by a local priest to surrender to police and turned himself in to Superintendant Morrisset at Bathurst. He was tried in April 1864 and received a sentence of 15 years for Robbery Under Arms and was released in February 1870.

He remained in Sydney for a few years before returning to to the western districts and resuming his old criminal ways. he got five years gaol for sheep stealing at Bathurst in 1880 and was released in August 1884. He found work for a number of local properties in the Abercrombie Ranges.

Death

Vane died from Crohn's Disease on 30th January 1906 at Cowra.

References

External links

• John Vane at Ned Kelly World.
• The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger