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| The report of the inquest into Hervey's death is available online from the Queensland Archives. Hervey's death lead to family rumours. He was found collapsed on the bank of the creek at Harpur's Crossing, Coochin Coochin, dying shortly afterwards. His stepbrother Robert later wrote, 'of supposed heart failure, although his actual cause of death has remained a mystery and a worry'.((Robert M-P, //The Blood Royal of the Murray-Priors//, p.16.)) Perhaps he relied on early reports which described Hervey's death as 'mysterious', in that he appeared to be thrown from his horse but had no bruises.((//Darling Downs Gazette//, 3 January 1887 p.3.)) The truth, however, appears straight-forward. Hervey's death was reported in //The Queenslander// 8 January 1887 p.55. It described how, some months before his death, Hervey had been 'thrown from his horse ... He was severely injured in the head, and was unable to resume his duties at the Titles Office for about six or seven weeks.' Unfortunately, riding to //Maroon// for a holiday, 'he "lunched" at the Peak Mountain Hotel'. He then, against advice, continued to ride the remaining 30 miles to //Maroon// despite heat and a thunderstorm. He lost his way during the night and had 'a fit' - presumably a stroke as, when he was found, he could only utter 'a few incoherent words' before dying. His body was examined by Dr Lightoller((whose daughter married Hervey's nephew Thomas B. M-P)) who declared that 'heart disease was the immediate cause of death'. The article then went on to describe him in a way that would make heart disease no surprise: 'The deceased gentleman, whose portly frame was well known in legal and club circles in Brisbane ....'\\ | The report of the inquest into Hervey's death is available online from the Queensland Archives. Hervey's death lead to family rumours. He was found collapsed on the bank of the creek at Harpur's Crossing, Coochin Coochin, dying shortly afterwards. His stepbrother Robert later wrote, 'of supposed heart failure, although his actual cause of death has remained a mystery and a worry'.((Robert M-P, //The Blood Royal of the Murray-Priors//, p.16.)) Perhaps he relied on early reports which described Hervey's death as 'mysterious', in that he appeared to be thrown from his horse but had no bruises.((//Darling Downs Gazette//, 3 January 1887 p.3.)) The truth, however, appears straight-forward. Hervey's death was reported in //The Queenslander// 8 January 1887 p.55. It described how, some months before his death, Hervey had been 'thrown from his horse ... He was severely injured in the head, and was unable to resume his duties at the Titles Office for about six or seven weeks.' Unfortunately, riding to //Maroon// for a holiday, 'he "lunched" at the Peak Mountain Hotel'. He then, against advice, continued to ride the remaining 30 miles to //Maroon// despite heat and a thunderstorm. He lost his way during the night and had 'a fit' - presumably a stroke as, when he was found, he could only utter 'a few incoherent words' before dying. His body was examined by Dr Lightoller((whose daughter married Hervey's nephew Thomas B. M-P)) who declared that 'heart disease was the immediate cause of death'. The article then went on to describe him in a way that would make heart disease no surprise: 'The deceased gentleman, whose portly frame was well known in legal and club circles in Brisbane ....'\\ |
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| | Hervey initially appointed his wife Margaret as his sole executor, but in a codicil revoked that to appoint Ernest Arthur Augustus Rasch his sole executor. In the codicil, Hervey described Rasch as a friend, but he was only minimally qualified. When Rasch died from epilepsy in 1888, he was described as 'formerly law student, Brisbane'.((The Queenslander, 6 October 1888, p.593.)) Harvey left everything he possessed to Maggie, including two life insurance policies worth a total of £1,305. That appeared his sole good investment. The only shares he owned, Shawn OFarrell Gympie, were valued as worthless - these were for a gold mining company. He owned an allotment at Enoggera, a north-western suburb of Brisbane, valued at £100 but it had a £150 mortgage on it. More alarmingly, his debts totalled £868.11.10. Probate was sworn at £1,900. His executor Ernest Rasch thought that his second name was 'Morris' - perhaps a misreading or Hervey had deliberately adopted the more conventional name. \ |
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| Like others in his family, Hervey was buried in [[family_burial_site_toowong_cemetery_brisbane|Toowong Cemetery]].((‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda by the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry: TLM-P referred to it as 'South Brisbane cemetery'.)) However, his grave is apart from the large family plot for reasons which are now unknown.((T.A. & M.T. M-P, pers. comm.)) \\ | Like others in his family, Hervey was buried in [[family_burial_site_toowong_cemetery_brisbane|Toowong Cemetery]].((‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda by the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry: TLM-P referred to it as 'South Brisbane cemetery'.)) However, his grave is apart from the large family plot for reasons which are now unknown.((T.A. & M.T. M-P, pers. comm.)) \\ |
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| Maggie M-P remarried on 2 September 1891, to another barrister, Charles Crawford Smyth.((Robert M-P, //The Blood Royal of the Murray-Priors//, p.16; Qld marriage registration B15171.)) Ever the conscientious patriarch, TLM-P assured her that the allowance he had given her would continue in her son's favour.((M-P Family papers, NLA MS 7801, special set 12, folder 8, 12/70 and 12/76.)) His care extended beyond his death: in his will and his second codicil, he left young Hervey £3,000 to be invested with the interest paid to support his 'maintenance education and advancement in life'.\\ | Maggie M-P remarried on 2 September 1891, to Charles Crawford Smyth, a 'mining agent'.((Robert M-P, //The Blood Royal of the Murray-Priors//, p.16 described him as a barrister but he was often mistaken about his step-family; Qld marriage registration B15171; Probate papers for Harvey M MacDonald M-P, Queensland Archives).)) Ever the conscientious patriarch, TLM-P assured her that the allowance he had given her would continue in her son's favour.((M-P Family papers, NLA MS 7801, special set 12, folder 8, 12/70 and 12/76.)) His care extended beyond his death: in his will and his second codicil, he left young Hervey £3,000 to be invested with the interest paid to support his 'maintenance education and advancement in life'.\\ |
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