Happy Australia Month!

The Story of Mary Cockerill and Michael Howe.

In the early 19th century, in the rugged wilderness of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), the lives of Mary Cockerill, an Aboriginal woman known as "Black Mary," and Michael Howe, a notorious bushranger, intertwined in a tale of survival, betrayal, and resistance against the backdrop of colonial expansion.

Mary Cockerill, born around 1798 or 1799, was from the Mouheneener people of Nipaluna (Hobart). She was raised by the Cockerill family, with whom she worked as a teenager, maintaining ties with her traditional culture while living among settlers. She was described as articulate, brave, and resolute, often seen in a unique blend of Aboriginal and European attire.

Michael Howe, on the other hand, was an English convict transported to Van Diemen's Land for highway robbery. He soon absconded from his assigned work to join the bushranging gang led by John Whitehead. Howe's notoriety grew as he became one of the most feared bushrangers of his time, leading raids on farms around New Norfolk.

Mary joined Howe's gang around 1815 when she was just 15 or 16 years old, becoming one of the few Aboriginal women known to have been part of such groups. She was not just a companion but likely served as a guide, utilizing her knowledge of the land to aid in evasion and survival. Her presence in the gang was particularly noted during a gunfight with settlers, showcasing her role in the gang's activities.

Their relationship has been romanticized over the years, with tales of love and betrayal. However, contemporary records suggest their bond might have been more practical than romantic. When they were ambushed by soldiers in April 1817, a dramatic turn occurred. According to some accounts, as they fled from the soldiers, Howe shot at Mary, either accidentally or to slow down their pursuers, allowing him to escape. Mary was captured, injured but not mortally wounded, and the notion that she was pregnant at the time lacks substantiation from historical records.

After her capture, Mary's life took a different path. Instead of facing harsh retribution, she was treated with some kindness in an attempt to coax her cooperation. She agreed to help the authorities, using her bush knowledge to lead soldiers in pursuit of Howe and his gang. Her role in this endeavor was significant; she led the military to stolen sheep and provided information that eventually led to Howe's capture.

Howe's end came in October 1818 when, after living a solitary existence in the wilderness, he was finally tracked down, killed, and his head was displayed as a warning to others. Mary Cockerill, however, continued her life, working with the regiment as a tracker and later living among the settlers.

The story of Mary Cockerill and Michael Howe is emblematic of the complex interactions during the early colonial period in Australia, where survival often necessitated alliances across cultural and legal divides. It reflects the harsh realities faced by Indigenous Australians dealing with colonization, the brutality of frontier life, and the individual stories of adaptation, resistance, and survival. Mary's life after Howe illustrates a narrative of resilience, moving from a figure associated with outlawry to one who navigated the colonial system to survive in a rapidly changing world.

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