"[After] having a family it has long been my desire to leave on record for their information, if for nothing else, an account of my experience with the Kelly Gang of Bushranger"
- Thomas McIntyre

McIntyre suffered ill-health after Stringybark Creek (in modern terms, it is quite likely he had post-traumatic stress disorder) as a result he retired from Victoria Police in 1881 at only 35 years of age.

Despite his traumatic experience at the hands of the Kelly Gang, he went on to live a long and full life with his wife and children. He and his wife, Eliza, moved to Alexandra and then Ballarat after his retirement. They had eight children between 1880 and 1895.

Eliza died in 1906 at 48 years of age, leaving McIntyre to raise his family alone. He has been described by his family as a pacifist and spent much of his time writing poetry.

Thomas McIntyre died in 1918, aged 72 years.