Exploring a cave in the Hunter where the Jewboy bushranger gang hid from the law

With his gang of bushrangers, he robbed from the rich and gave to the poor - while keeping some of the booty for himself.

In December 1840, the gang had seven members, comprised mainly of escaped convicts.

The gang had committed robberies, but no murders at this point. Teddy - whose name was Edward Davis - believed they should only use violence for self defence.

Boolaroo's Col Maybury paid a visit to one of the gang's lairs.

Despite the Robin Hood moniker, Col said the "the Hunter area was being terrorised" by the Jewboy Gang about 180 years ago.

"They rode speedy horses that were stolen, of course," Col said.

They would rob hapless settlers and vanish into the "rugged Sugarloaf ranges beyond West Wallsend", where their "superb bush skills" helped them survive.

"It was rumoured they had a hole out in a cave, west of Seahampton," he said.

Col recalled hearing the story of the Jewboy Gang and their cave home about 40 years ago.

"I approached Clarry Harris of Edgeworth, a superb horseman of times past. He directed me to the cave just north of the Richmond Vale railway line on Blue Gum Creek. I found it," he said.

"Now 40 years later with my son Kieran and grandson Arlo, I led them to the cave below the brow of the Hunter Expressway and slightly northeast of the Nuttyoon Bridge. As we sat in that cool safe refuge, Arlo found a large lump of pure Sugarloaf coal and I thought of the bushranger gang that once sheltered here and their cruel end."

The gang did eventually turn to murder. On December 21, 1840, they robbed Thomas Dangar's store in Scone.

The store clerk fired a shot and gang member John Shea returned fire, killing him.

They fled to one of their hiding places at Doughboy Hollow near Murrurundi, where a posse of settlers pursued them led by police magistrate Edward Denny Day.

They surprised the gang at the hideout and a shootout occurred. Six of the gang were captured, including Teddy.

They were all hanged, despite public appeals to spare Teddy's life because he was averse to bloodshed.

Margaret McNaughton has made a comeback.

Margaret told the Newcastle Herald in January that, after 70 years of singing and performing in public with her accordion and piano, she was going to retire because of COVID restrictions.

But music is in her blood, as the Dudley Pensioners Club found out when she performed for members last week. Plus, restrictions have eased.

"The club is about 105 years old and has been in recess due to COVID for 12 months," club publicity officer Les Powell said.

IN THE NEWS:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: