JAMES ATTERALL

James was possibly born in Lewes, in Essex, England about 1814. It is believed that his father was a pastry cook and trained his son to be a baker. But James couldn't have liked the trade for he soon set out on a life of crime. This included the theft of a pair of shoes, assault, and finally on the 2-nd January, 1834, he was found guilty of highway robbery and sentenced to transportation for life.

On his arrival to Tasmania he escaped and joined up with James Regan, Anthony Banks and William Davis.. In no time this notorious gang had the police after them.

In February 1838, a party of police and Royal Fusiliers heard at Jerusalem that the gang were headed for Brown Mountain. On reaching the summit they found a hut and surrounded it. Realising the game was up, the bushrangers tried to bargain their way out, but to no avail. Atterall was caught trying to sneak out and the others surrendered. The four men were taken to Hobart where they were tried in June 1838 for the death of R. Morley. They were all found guilty and sentenced to death. Fortunately for William Davis his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, while James Atterall and the others were hanged on the 21st June, 1838.