14 Facts About Martin Cash

Martin Cash was a notorious Irish-Australian convict bushranger, known for escaping twice from Port Arthur, Van Diemen's Land.

Martin Cash's memoirs describe that, in a jealous rage, he shot at a man named Jessop for making advances to the above-mentioned young lady.

Martin Cash was sentenced to seven years penal transportation, and he left Cork Harbour on board the Marquis of Huntly with 170 other convicts.

Cash was "assigned" to Mr G Bowman of Richmond, who leased other farms on the Hunter River, where Martin was transferred, and where he became a stockrider for nine years.

John Boodle, who had a station on Liverpool Plains, asked Martin Cash to assist him and his brother to brand some cattle which, unknown to Martin Cash, had been stolen.

Martin Cash sailed in the barque Francis Freeling for Hobart Town, and arrived on 10 February 1837.

In Van Diemen's Land, Martin Cash eventually came before John Giles Price, a magistrate at Hobart Town, who sentenced him to two years in addition to his original seven years' sentence, and to four years' imprisonment with hard labour at Port Arthur.

Martin Cash briefly escaped and 18 months was added to his time.

Enraged, Martin Cash swore to kill them both and he made his way to Hobart.

On 29 August 1843 he was spotted in Brisbane Street, Hobart, near the Old Commodore Inn, running down Argyle Street, Martin Cash turned into Melville Street heading towards the Domain and escape, unaware that it was a dead end.

Martin Cash was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging, but a last minute reprieve saw him sentenced to transportation for life at Norfolk Island.

Martin Cash married in 1854, and was granted his ticket of leave later that year.

Martin Cash died in his bed in his farm cottage, now on Montrose Road, Glenorchy in 1877.

Martin Cash is one of the few bushrangers to die of old age.