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--- matilda_m-p [2024/08/08 20:31] – [Family circle] judith
+++ matilda_m-p [2025/04/29 21:43] (current) – judith
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 Given her father's love of poetry and lack of desire to tackle alternative employment, it is understandable that numerous writers have assumed that Thomas was the brother of the prominent colonial poet, Charles Harpur. Additionally, Matilda also was a talented writer, though her talent was used mainly used to educate her children to appreciate English literature and history. Charles Harpur, like Matilda, was also to die of tuberculosis.((http://www.middlemiss.org/matilda/2009/10/reprint-obituary-the-late-mr-charles-harpur.html)) However, a shared surname appears the only traceable family connection.((Patricia Clarke, 'Rosa Praed's Irish Connections', //The Australian Journal of Irish Studies//, vol. 1, 2001, p.119; Patricia Clarke, The //Other// Harpur, Or, How I stumbled across an unknown Colonial Poet', //National Library of Australia News// Vol. 8, no. 6, March 1889, pp.18-21.)) None who assert that Charles and Thomas Harpur were brothers have provided any evidence of the supposed relationship. Thomas Harpur was born in Ireland in 1797, migrating to Australia in 1840. Charles Harpur was born in Australia in 1813; his parents were both convicts and married in 1814. Charles' father, who had been a school master, was transported for highway robbery in 1800.(({{https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/harpur-charles-2158}}:__ BROKEN-LINK:[[https://australianroyalty.net.au/individual.php?pid=I52597&ged=purnellmccord.ged]]LINK-BROKEN__ [[https://www.geni.com/people/Joseph-Harpur-Convict-Royal-Admiral-1800/6000000006583612112]]))\\
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-What little we know about Matilda is all positive. Her daughter Rosa recalled her as 'a wise woman and most tenderly sympathetic'.((Patricia Clarke, 'Rosa Praed's Irish Connections', //The Australian Journal of Irish Studies//, vol. 1, 2001, p.120 citing Rosa "My Literary Beginnings', Praed papers 2/29/1.)) One piece of evidence tells us more about her: a book that belonged to her, with her name, address and a dedication as seen below ('Miss Matilda Harpur as a very slight expression of my estimation of her superior moral & intellectual qualifications & scientific attainments.'). The book was the //Companion to the Bible. Intended for Bible Classes, Families, and Young Persons in General//, published by the [[wp>Religious_Tract_Society|Religious Tract Society]].((Provenance: J. Godden to T.A. & M.T. M-P)) It confirms that the Harpurs were Protestant with evangelical leanings, and that they lived in College Square, Belfast. It also provides evidence that Matilda Harpur was considered exceptionally bright.\\
+What little we know about Matilda is all positive. In 1900, her daughter Rosa recalled her mother in idealistic terms, remembering the log on which they would sit and with her 'tired mother ... [her] pale sweet face, the bright eyes, the fragile form, in which spirit strove sometimes vainly to overbear weakness of flesh ... [talking of] aspirations after higher things.... Our mother was a wise woman and most tenderly sympathetic' and so first planned the //Maroon Magazine//. It was educational in purpose, Rosa realised, but it was also play 'and therein lay our joy'.((Rosa Praed, "My Literary Beginnings', //Brisbane Grammar School Magazine//, pp.15-22, Praed papers Box 2, item 120) One piece of evidence tells us more about her: a book that belonged to her, with her name, address and a dedication as seen below ('Miss Matilda Harpur as a very slight expression of my estimation of her superior moral & intellectual qualifications & scientific attainments.'). The book was the //Companion to the Bible. Intended for Bible Classes, Families, and Young Persons in General//, published by the [[wp>Religious_Tract_Society|Religious Tract Society]].((Provenance: J. Godden to T.A. & M.T. M-P)) It confirms that the Harpurs were Protestant with evangelical leanings, and that they lived in College Square, Belfast. It also provides evidence that Matilda Harpur was considered exceptionally bright.\\
 {{:whewell_dedication_enhanced.jpg?300|}}   {{:matilda_dedication.jpg?300|}} Title page and dedication of the book presented to Matilda Harpur.\\
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 ==== Family circle ====
-Matilda's sisters Rosa and Elizabeth Harpur visited her after her marriage and they too married Queensland squatters. These relatives were especially important given the small (white) settler population - Queensland only had around 30,000 settlers in 1861, and about two-thirds were men.((D. Waterson and M. French, //From the Frontier. A Pictorial History of Queensland to 1920//, St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, 1987, pp.3,8.))  Elizabeth Harpur married William Barker of //Tamrookum// station on 8 July 1847: TLM-P was one of the witnesses.((Elizabeth Harpur, Queensland marriage certificate, 1847, BM54.)) They had six sons and two daughters.((Brisbane paper, //The Week//, 13 July 1900, p.17.)) In the late 1860s, the well-known poet and novelist, [[http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/stephens-james-brunton-4642|James Brunton Stephens]], was employed as their tutor at //Tamrookum//. TLM-P's ledger for Bugrooperia indicates that he had business dealings with William Barker and //Tamrookum//((MLMSS3117, box 6/item 5)). A Hawkwood ledger lists 'Mr J. B. Stephens' buying stores including books costing £4.5.6.(MLMSS3117, box7X, p.44))\\
+Matilda's sisters Rosa and Elizabeth Harpur visited her after her marriage and they too married Queensland squatters. These relatives were especially important given the small (white) settler population - Queensland only had around 30,000 settlers in 1861, and about two-thirds were men.((D. Waterson and M. French, //From the Frontier. A Pictorial History of Queensland to 1920//, St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, 1987, pp.3,8.))  Elizabeth Harpur married William Barker of //Tamrookum// station on 8 July 1847: TLM-P was one of the witnesses.((Elizabeth Harpur, Queensland marriage certificate, 1847, BM54.)) They had six sons and two daughters.((Brisbane paper, //The Week//, 13 July 1900, p.17.)) In the late 1860s, the well-known poet and novelist, [[http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/stephens-james-brunton-4642|James Brunton Stephens]], was employed as their tutor at //Tamrookum//. TLM-P's ledger for Bugrooperia indicates that he had business dealings with William Barker and //Tamrookum//((MLMSS3117, box 6/item 5)). A Hawkwood ledger c.1856 lists 'Mr J. B. Stephens' buying stores including books costing £4.5.6.(MLMSS3117, box7X, p.44))\\
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-Six years later, on 3 September 1853, Rosa Harpur married [[http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/haly-charles-robert-3699|Charles Robert Haly (1816-92)]]. Again TLM-P was one of the witnesses who signed the marriage register.((Queensland Marriage registration, 1854/BMA/41)) Rosa and Charles Haly lived at //Taabinga// Station in the Burnett district until he was forced to sell it due to 'diseases in his sheep and the rapid spread of speargrass'. In 1882 he became police magistrate at Dalby where, from 1891, he was also clerk of Petty Sessions. He died the following year, reportedly survived by 11 of his 14 children.(([[http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/haly-charles-robert-3699]] I can only find 9 children under the Queensland birth registrations. See also Elizabeth Caffery & George Groves, //The Gathering of the Waters. A short history of the Nanango Shire//,Nanango Shire Council, 2007; Rosa Harpur, Queensland marriage certificate, 1854, BM227.)) In 1881, Nora M-P mentions 'Rosie Haly', apparently named after her mother, as someone who might help Lizzie look after the children at Maroon while Nora had her baby in Brisbane. At least Nora expected it would be Rosie Haly 'in default of anyone more interesting'.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, Praed papers, 3 April 1881, QJO)) In 1882 TLM-P visited Captain O. G. Haly when he saw the name on an office in the army's Intelligence office, where he was visiting one of his second wife's relatives. Captain Haly had been close to Charles Haly's brother William. The brothers had migrated together to Queensland, with Captain Haly commenting that 'all the sons of the family are in Australia'.((TLM-P, Diary 18 July 1882)).\\
+Six years later, on 3 September 1853, Rosa Harpur married [[http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/haly-charles-robert-3699|Charles Robert Haly (1816-92)]]. Again TLM-P was one of the witnesses who signed the marriage register.((Queensland Marriage registration, 1854/BMA/41)) Rosa and Charles Haly lived at //Taabinga// Station in the Burnett district until he was forced to sell it due to 'diseases in his sheep and the rapid spread of speargrass'. In 1882 he became police magistrate at Dalby where, from 1891, he was also clerk of Petty Sessions. He died the following year, reportedly survived by 11 of his 14 children.(([[http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/haly-charles-robert-3699]] I can only find 9 children under the Queensland birth registrations. Similarly the records at Rathdowney only list nine: Anastasia Matilda (latter Hatton); Charles William; George Standish (b.1860); Rosa Jane (b. 1861); Aylmer Cardew (b. 1866); Charles Henry (b. 1867); Arthur (b. 1873) and Frank (b. 1871).((in Murray-Prior file, Rathdowney Visitor Information Centre and Historical Museum)) See also Elizabeth Caffery & George Groves, //The Gathering of the Waters. A short history of the Nanango Shire//,Nanango Shire Council, 2007; Rosa Harpur, Queensland marriage certificate, 1854, BM227.)) In 1881, Nora M-P considered possible people who could help her stepdaughter Lizzie look after the children at //Maroon// while Nora had her baby in Brisbane. She mentioned Rosie Haly as a possibility, 'in default of anyone more interesting'.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, Praed papers, 3 April 1881, QJO)) Rosa Jane (Rosie) Haly was then 19 years old.((born 09/09/1861, Registration details: 1861/C/342. She died in 1905.)) In 1882 TLM-P visited Captain O. G. Haly when he saw the name on an office in the army's Intelligence office, where he was visiting one of his second wife's relatives. Captain Haly had been close to Charles Haly's brother William. The brothers had migrated together to Queensland, with Captain Haly commenting that 'all the sons of the family are in Australia'.((TLM-P, Diary 18 July 1882)).\\
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-The three Harpur sisters and their families were close, and the small European population promoted everyday interactions.((Introduction to Praed papers, JOLQ, p.5.)) TLM-P's diaries indicate that the relationship between the families remained close after Matilda died and he remarried. TLM-P also had business dealings with his brother-in-law Charles Haly. A note in TLM-P's 1864 diary refers to him paying interest, and that TLM-P offered to sell him some land.((TLM-P, diary, 17 May 1864.)) As well, Haly also occupied TLM-P's property //Creallagh// in 1863. TLM-P's ledger entry for 5 May 1867 has a heading Chas R. Haly Esq and the explanation that 33 acres of land at Indooroopilly occupied by Mr Pitman had been originally sold to A. V. Drury Esq. then the mortgage transferred to (his brother) Ed. Drury (the sons of TLM-P childhood teacher in Brussels, the Rev. William Drury) and afterwards to C.R. Haly. TLM-P paid £330 and three interest payments at 10 per cent. By January 1868 he had paid the capital and interest totally £360.14.9. ((Ledger, MLMSS CHECK WHICH BOX ETC)) \\
+The three Harpur sisters and their families were close, and the small European population promoted everyday interactions.((Introduction to Praed papers, JOLQ, p.5.)) TLM-P's diaries indicate that the relationship between the families remained close after Matilda died and he remarried. TLM-P also had business dealings with his brother-in-law Charles Haly including lending him money to mortgage land.((HALY, Charles Robert (Mortgagor) and PRIOR, Thomas Lodge Murray (Mortgagee), 21-30 October 1863, Queensland archives, ID ITM1959373)) A note in TLM-P's 1864 diary refers to him paying interest, and that TLM-P offered to sell him some land.((TLM-P, diary, 17 May 1864.)) As well, Haly also occupied TLM-P's property //Creallagh// in 1863. TLM-P's ledger entry for 5 May 1867 has a heading Chas R. Haly Esq and the explanation that 33 acres of land at Indooroopilly occupied by Mr Pitman had been originally sold to A. V. Drury Esq. then the mortgage transferred to (his brother) Ed. Drury (the sons of TLM-P childhood teacher in Brussels, the Rev. William Drury) and afterwards to C.R. Haly. TLM-P paid £330 and three interest payments at 10 per cent. By January 1868 he had paid the capital and interest totally £360.14.9. ((Ledger, MLMSS CHECK WHICH BOX ETC)) \\
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 Another witness to Charles Haly and Rosa Harpur's marriage was Charles' brother William O'Grady Haly. ((Queensland B,D & M, 1866 registration number C153.)) He also illustrates the close-knit nature of Queensland society. 'Mr O'Grady Haly' had been superintendent at //Maroon// to an earlier owner of that property.((Angela Collyer, The Process of Settlement. Land Occupation and Usage in Boonah 1842-1870s, MA (Local History), University of Queensland, 1991, p.63.)) When he (or a namesake died), TLM-P was a co-trustee/executor.((//The Courier//, 10 August 1861, p.1; A collection of Newfoundland Wills, entry for William O'Grady Haly, probate 1906.)) Similarly, the small circles in which they moved is illustrated by the experience of Matilda's other sister Elizabeth. When her husband William Barker retired from //Tamrookum//, they purchased //Nunnington//, a house at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane. It was sold to them by Frederick Orme Darvell, then Registrar-General of Queensland, and Nora M-P's uncle. [[wp>Nunnington|Nunnington]] was named what the Darvalls believed to be a family home in Yorkshire.((Brisbane paper, //The Week//, 13 July 1900, p.17.))\\
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 . **Weeta** Sophia, b. 24 June 1860((Qld Births registration no. B208)) - 27 July 1860 ((Qld Death registration B488; Robert M-P has 12 June - 8 July 1860; TLM-P mistakenly recorded her death as 1861.))\\
-. **Hugh**, 26 July 1861((Qld Births registration no. B695; TLM-P gives 26 July 1861, TLM-P, genealogical notes in John & John B. Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland: M to Z, London: Henry Colburn Publisher, 1846; Robert M-P has 25 July.)) - 28 December 1895((Burke; Robert M-P states he died c.27 December 1897 but his death was registered in 1896; Qld Death registration C6.))
+. **Hugh**, 25 or 26 July 1861((Qld Births registration no. B695; TLM-P gives 26 July 1861, TLM-P, genealogical notes in John & John B. Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland: M to Z, London: Henry Colburn Publisher, 1846; Robert M-P has 25 July.)) - 28 December 1895((Burke; Robert M-P states he died c.27 December 1897 but his death was registered in 1896; Qld Death registration C6.))
 . **Lodge**, August 1863((Qld Births registration no. B1669; Robert M-P has 29 March 1863)) - September 1863.((Qld Death registration B1158.))\\