| Born |
Andrew George Scott
born before 5 July 1842
Rathfriland, Ireland
|
| Died |
20 January 1880 (aged 38)
Sydney
|
| Resting place |
Gundagai |
| Other names |
Captain Moonlite or Captain Moonlight and also referred to as Alexander Charles Scott |
| Occupation |
Bushranger, public speaker, gold digger, bank robber, combatant (with NZ colonists in armed battle against Maori natives) |
| Criminal status |
Executed by hanging |
| Spouse(s) |
James Nesbitt
Evelin (mother of his child) |
| Children |
1 child out of wedlock |
| Parent(s) |
Father: Thomas (Church of England Minister) |
| |
| Criminal penalty |
Death |
Early Life
Andrew George Scott was born in Rathfriland, Ireland, son of Thomas Scott, an Anglican clergyman and Bessie Jeffares.[3] His father's intention was that he join the priesthood, but Scott instead trained to be an engineer, completing his studies in London.
The family moved to New Zealand in 1861, with Scott intending to try his luck in the Otago goldfields. However, the Māori Wars intervened and Scott signed up as an officer and fought at the battle of Orakau where he was wounded in both legs. After a long convalescence Scott was accused of malingering, and court-martialed. He gave his disquiet at the slaughter of women and children during the siege as the source of his objection to returning to service.
In Melbourne, he met Bishop Charles Perry and, in 1868, he was appointed lay reader at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, with the intention of entering the Anglican priesthood on the completion of his service. He was then sent to the gold mining town of Mount Egerton.