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| thomas_bertram_murray-prior_and_his_siblings [2026/03/28 17:42] – judith | thomas_bertram_murray-prior_and_his_siblings [2026/05/30 21:22] (current) – judith |
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| ====== Thomas Bertram Murray-Prior and his siblings ====== | ====== Thomas Bertram Murray-Prior and his siblings ====== |
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| Matilda and Thomas had 12 children, of whom only five had children and only two had any grandchildren. The children of Thomas de Montmorenci and Florence M-P were:\\ | Matilda and Thomas had 12 children, of whom only five had children and only two had any grandchildren. In her notebook Rosa wrote about Tom and Florence's children, probably summarising Nora, that: 'The children are good & with a great deal of beauty amongst them, but I think they have to [sic] much work & too little play. They all look delicate & are wonderfully clever.' ((Praed papers, Box 23, 20250416_115422.jpg)) |
| | These children were:\\ |
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| 1. Florence (known as **Florette**) Elizabeth M-P, was born at Bowen, Queensland on 1 January 1879((QBDM ref C105)) and baptised there by the Rev. M. Ross((‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda to the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry.)). It is likely that, to ensure greater safety with her first birth, she was visiting her mother and stepfather there rather than living there. Florette died in Sydney on 12 July 1956.((NSWBDM registration 21403/1957))\\ | 1. Florence (known as **Florette**) Elizabeth M-P, was born at Bowen, Queensland on 1 January 1879((QBDM ref C105)) and baptised there by the Rev. M. Ross((‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda to the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry.)). It is likely that, to ensure greater safety with her first birth, she was visiting her mother and stepfather there rather than living there. Florette died in Sydney on 12 July 1956.((NSWBDM registration 21403/1957))\\ |
| {{:florette_m-p.jpg?150|}}Young Florette.((Provenance: J. Godden to Jill Fleming.)) Is this the photo that TLM-P refers to in his 1888 diary when he notes that on 10 July Florence had 'an appointment with Malthers for [9 year old] Florette's photograph'?)) \\ | {{:florette_m-p.jpg?150|}}Young Florette.((Provenance: J. Godden to Jill Fleming.)) Is this the photo that TLM-P refers to in his 1888 diary when he notes that on 10 July Florence had 'an appointment with Malthers for [9 year old] Florette's photograph'?)) \\ |
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| Like her sisters, she was educated at //Ascham//, an elite school in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney,{{http://www.ascham.nsw.edu.au/a-strong-history/|Ascham}}.((Miss Wallis, Headmistress to Mrs M-P, n.d. provenance: Jill Fleming; //Ascham Remembered 1886-1986//, Sydney Fine Arts Press, 1986.))\\ | When describing the children in her notebook (and probably summarising Nora) Rosa wrote that: 'Florette is to be the genius of the family. She has a strong nature, & if she has proper training should be a splendid woman, but she wants more love shewn to her & love & sympathy & not hardness, for she already rebels against the strict rule'. In another note she refers to Florette when eight years old, 'reading a dry article in the //Nineteenth Century// aloud to the elders'.((Praed papers, Box 23, 20250416_115422.jpg and 20250416_115551.jpg)))) Like her sisters, she was educated at //Ascham//, an elite school in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney,{{http://www.ascham.nsw.edu.au/a-strong-history/|Ascham}}.((Miss Wallis, Headmistress to Mrs M-P, n.d. provenance: Jill Fleming; //Ascham Remembered 1886-1986//, Sydney Fine Arts Press, 1986.))\\ |
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| On 28 October 1896, the poet/novelist [[wp>James_Brunton_Stephens|James Brunton Stephens]] wrote to her encouraging her to persevere with her poetry, but advising she defer publication.((Provenance: Jill Fleming.)) Prominent feminist Rose Scott also wrote to Florette encouraging her artistic talents.((reference? just brief note found so far.)) In the end, Florence decided on music, with a New Zealand paper reporting in 1906 that she planned to go to Paris for further study.((//Star//, 16 October 1906, p.1.)) Her farewell concert was held in April 1906.(( //The Sydney Morning Herald//, 24 March 1906, p.12; //Sunday Times//, 29 April 1906, p.2)) In 1909 it was announced that she would be part of the Alys Bateman Concert Company to tour New Zealand the following year.((//New Zealand Herald//, supplement, 27 November 1909, p.4.)) When she returned to Australia in 1909, she was described as a contralto who had been overseas for 4 years, having studied for 2 of those years in Paris under the famous baritone [[wp>Jacques_Bouhy| Jacques Bouhy]](( //The Brisbane Courier//, 31 August 1909, p. 2)) Her talent as a singer was something she shared with her mother.((Nora to Rosa, 3 December 1883, JOQ)).\\ | On 28 October 1896, the poet/novelist [[wp>James_Brunton_Stephens|James Brunton Stephens]] wrote to her encouraging her to persevere with her poetry, but advising she defer publication.((Provenance: Jill Fleming.)) Prominent feminist Rose Scott also wrote to Florette encouraging her artistic talents.((reference? just brief note found so far.)) In the end, Florence decided on music, with a New Zealand paper reporting in 1906 that she planned to go to Paris for further study.((//Star//, 16 October 1906, p.1.)) Her farewell concert was held in April 1906.(( //The Sydney Morning Herald//, 24 March 1906, p.12; //Sunday Times//, 29 April 1906, p.2)) In 1909 it was announced that she would be part of the Alys Bateman Concert Company to tour New Zealand the following year.((//New Zealand Herald//, supplement, 27 November 1909, p.4.)) When she returned to Australia in 1909, she was described as a contralto who had been overseas for 4 years, having studied for 2 of those years in Paris under the famous baritone [[wp>Jacques_Bouhy| Jacques Bouhy]](( //The Brisbane Courier//, 31 August 1909, p. 2)) Her talent as a singer was something she shared with her mother.((Nora to Rosa, 3 December 1883, JOQ)).\\ |
| {{:ball_photo_dad_syd_florette_.jpg?300|}} The theme of this ball was The Living Army and it was held in 1932. Florette is 3rd from left in the front; E. Sterling Murray-Prior is third from left at the back; Syd Herring is 4th from left. My recollection is my father (Sterling) telling me that he attended the ball dressed as he was under duress from Florette.((providence Jill Fleming/Judith Godden)) | {{:ball_photo_dad_syd_florette_.jpg?300|}} The theme of this ball was The Living Army and it was held in 1932. Florette is 3rd from left in the front; E. Sterling Murray-Prior is third from left at the back; Syd Herring is 4th from left. My recollection is my father (Sterling) telling me that he attended the ball dressed as he was under duress from Florette.((providence Jill Fleming/Judith Godden)) |
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| Syd and Florette had one child - information about her is available on request to family members.\\ | Syd and Florette had one child - see the next generation.\\ |
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| **For other photos, click on [[Florette]]** | **For other photos, click on [[Florette]]** |
| A young, somewhat idealised Mabel {{:mabel_m-p.jpg?200|}} {{:mabel_mp_horse.jpg?300|}}((Provenance both photos: Jill Fleming. Get better copy of former))\\ | A young, somewhat idealised Mabel {{:mabel_m-p.jpg?200|}} {{:mabel_mp_horse.jpg?300|}}((Provenance both photos: Jill Fleming. Get better copy of former))\\ |
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| An obituary published by the Women's College at the University of Sydney outlines her chequered academic career.((see also Women's College, Calendar, 1910 p.20 and 1919, p.?.)) She was the 41st student to enter the Women's College in 1899 while she studied for an Arts degree. She left after a year with second class honours in French. She returned to the University in 1903 to study medicine; it was a time when higher education was still controversial for women, and medicine particularly so. Medicine had a high failure rate and Mabel left, having only completed the third year of the course, in early 1907. She returned in 1911 in an attempt to finish, but left after a term. It is not known what she did then, though she was probably the 'Miss Murray-Prior' who unsuccessfully applied for the position of Superintendent at the Sydney Medical Mission in December 1911. She was not appointed because she was not medically qualified.((Sydney Medical Mission, minutes, 18 December 1911, Dixson Library (SLNSW), MS218.))\\ | An obituary published by the Women's College at the University of Sydney outlines her chequered academic career.((see also Women's College, Calendar, 1910 p.20 and 1919, p.?.)) She was the 41st student to enter the Women's College in 1899 while she studied for an Arts degree. She left after a year with second class honours in French. She returned to the University in 1903 to study medicine; it was a time when higher education was still controversial for women, and medicine particularly so. Medicine had a high failure rate and Mabel left, having only completed the third year of the course, in early 1907. Her aunt Rosa noted around this time that Mabel had 'failed in her last Exam & was a sad person. I think she is getting tired of College & hard work & not much pleasure & would like just one year in which to frivol really hard & nothing else. She says she wants to experience that side of life ... She feels she is missing something & can't see how much she has ... her education & brains'.((Praed papers, Rosa's notebook Box 23/6/? 20250416_115914.jpg)) Mabel returned in 1911 in an attempt to finish, but left after a term. It is not known what she did then, though she was probably the 'Miss Murray-Prior' who unsuccessfully applied for the position of Superintendent at the Sydney Medical Mission in December 1911. She was not appointed because she was not medically qualified.((Sydney Medical Mission, minutes, 18 December 1911, Dixson Library (SLNSW), MS218.))\\ |
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| In January 1914 Rosa Praed wrote how she was pleased Mabel had had 'an extremely good time ... [and] some English hunting' and was about to leave for home with Mary Bundock, Thomas de M. M-P's second wife.((Rosa Praed to Ethel Butler, 1 January 1914, in Rosa Praed Papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, MSOM64-01, Box 4, item 355.)) Mabel took her time returning as, when World War I began in July 1914, she was in Hong Kong. She then returned to England and qualified in 1915 as a V.A.D. ([[wiki>Voluntary_Aid_Detachment]]) - as did her cousins Ruth M-P and probably Dorothy M-P. In December 1914, Ruth wrote that Mabel was accompanying her sister Florette to Europe: most likely when Florette was trying to see her husband Sydney Herring who was on active duty.((M-P family papers, NLA MS 7801, Box 4, folder 26)) Mabel subsequently worked as a VAD in an unnamed English hospital. Dublin University was one of the few universities that admitted women, and she went there to complete her medical degree. After qualifying as a doctor, she was a medical resident for 6 months at the Royal Herbert Military Hospital in Woolwich, London then moved to Edinburgh Hospital, Scotland where she worked until mid-1919. In 1917, she was awarded a Doctor of Medicine at University of Edinburgh.((//Magazine of the Women's College//, 1917, p.20; University of Sydney, //Beyond 1914 - Book of Remembrance//, includes details of Mabel's war record completed by her sister Florette Herring. See [[http://beyond1914.sydney.edu.au/profile/3705/mabel-murray-prior#]])) \\ | Ironically for someone who Rosa said was 'very patriotic' towards Australia rather than Britain,((Praed papers, Rosa's notebook Box 23/6/1? 20250416_115914.jpg, unlike her more English-inclined sister Ethel)) Mabel spent most of the rest of her life in Britain. In January 1914 Rosa Praed wrote how she was pleased Mabel had had 'an extremely good time ... [and] some English hunting' and was about to leave for home with Mary Bundock, Thomas de M. M-P's second wife.((Rosa Praed to Ethel Butler, 1 January 1914, in Rosa Praed Papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, MSOM64-01, Box 4, item 355.)) Mabel took her time returning as, when World War I began in July 1914, she was in Hong Kong. She then returned to England and qualified in 1915 as a V.A.D. ([[wiki>Voluntary_Aid_Detachment]]) - as did her cousins Ruth M-P and probably Dorothy M-P. In December 1914, Ruth wrote that Mabel was accompanying her sister Florette to Europe: most likely when Florette was trying to see her husband Sydney Herring who was on active duty.((M-P family papers, NLA MS 7801, Box 4, folder 26)) Mabel subsequently worked as a VAD in an unnamed English hospital. Dublin University was one of the few universities that admitted women, and she went there to complete her medical degree. After qualifying as a doctor, she was a medical resident for 6 months at the Royal Herbert Military Hospital in Woolwich, London then moved to Edinburgh Hospital, Scotland where she worked until mid-1919. In 1917, she was awarded a Doctor of Medicine at University of Edinburgh.((//Magazine of the Women's College//, 1917, p.20; University of Sydney, //Beyond 1914 - Book of Remembrance//, includes details of Mabel's war record completed by her sister Florette Herring. See [[http://beyond1914.sydney.edu.au/profile/3705/mabel-murray-prior#]])) \\ |
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| There is a letter dated 19 January 1915(( or check if 1914?)) from Ruth M-P to Rosa, saying that Mabel was engaged: if so, it was unofficial as another family member thought she was 'only fooling', and had booked to go to Japan, 'sans the man'.((M-P family papers, NLA MS 7801, Box 4, folder 26)) Her family viewed Mabel as eccentric: her aunt Rosa Praed, for example, wrote to Ruth M-P after Mabel qualified as a physician: 'I suppose from Mabel's point of view it is a good thing, but I can't help feeling sorry for her patients. No doubt, however, the soldiers will adore her and she may put her best self into their ills.'((M-P family papers, NLA MS 7801, Box 1, folder 2. Also anecdotes by E.S. & B.I. M-P, pers.comm; Praed papers, Box 10, QJO.)) Others were more forthright. Max Barton wrote to his mother in 1916 referring to Doris Kennedy, an Irish cousin: 'I did hear that Doris’s housekeeper expressed the opinion that Mabel M.P. was mad.'(([[https://maxandtonybartonww1lettershome.wordpress.com/page/8/|Max letter to his mother, 16 April 1916]])) Nevertheless, the extended family remained close and when Mabel wrote to Nora M-P, her father's stepmother, it was to 'My dear Grandmother Nora'.((M-P papers, NLA, MS 7801, Box 1, folder 2.)) Another sign of the closeness between the step-relatives is that, after her death, C.B. Darvall, one of Nora's relatives, acted on behalf of Mabel's two executors (her elder siblings Thomas and Florette).((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p.93.)) \\ | There is a letter dated 19 January 1915(( or check if 1914?)) from Ruth M-P to Rosa, saying that Mabel was engaged: if so, it was unofficial as another family member thought she was 'only fooling', and had booked to go to Japan, 'sans the man'.((M-P family papers, NLA MS 7801, Box 4, folder 26)) Her family viewed Mabel as eccentric: her aunt Rosa Praed, for example, wrote to Ruth M-P after Mabel qualified as a physician: 'I suppose from Mabel's point of view it is a good thing, but I can't help feeling sorry for her patients. No doubt, however, the soldiers will adore her and she may put her best self into their ills.'((M-P family papers, NLA MS 7801, Box 1, folder 2. Also anecdotes by E.S. & B.I. M-P, pers.comm; Praed papers, Box 10, QJO.)) Others were more forthright. Max Barton wrote to his mother in 1916 referring to Doris Kennedy, an Irish cousin: 'I did hear that Doris’s housekeeper expressed the opinion that Mabel M.P. was mad.'(([[https://maxandtonybartonww1lettershome.wordpress.com/page/8/|Max letter to his mother, 16 April 1916]])) Nevertheless, the extended family remained close and when Mabel wrote to Nora M-P, her father's stepmother, it was to 'My dear Grandmother Nora'.((M-P papers, NLA, MS 7801, Box 1, folder 2.)) Another sign of the closeness between the step-relatives is that, after her death, C.B. Darvall, one of Nora's relatives, acted on behalf of Mabel's two executors (her elder siblings Thomas and Florette).((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p.93.)) \\ |
| Thomas Bertram was Thomas de Montmorenci and Florence M-P's third child and only son. He was the 5th consecutive Thomas Murray-Prior. His mother unsuccessfully tried to subvert the tradition of calling the first-born son Thomas - she called him Bertie, though it seems the rest of the family stuck with Tom. TLM-P and his aunt Rosa Praed were godparents.((Nora to Rosa, 3 December 1883)) There is confusion over his place of birth. TLM-P wrote that Thomas Bertram was born at Moonbago Station, South Kennedy, Bully Creek, a station owned by TLM-P.(('Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda by the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry; H. Mortimer Franklyn, //A glance at Australia in 1880// at [[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=QgRLAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PR2]])). Matthew Fox ((//The history of Queensland: its people and industries: an historical and commercial review descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations: an epitome of progress//, Brisbane: States Publishing Company, 1919, vol.1, p.173)) states he was 'born on "Bulliwallah" Station, Northern Queensland'. Thomas Bertram's death certificate, which did not have a family member as an informant, assumed he was born at Maroon. It is most likely that TLM-P was correct, and that he was born at Moonbago Station.\\ | Thomas Bertram was Thomas de Montmorenci and Florence M-P's third child and only son. He was the 5th consecutive Thomas Murray-Prior. His mother unsuccessfully tried to subvert the tradition of calling the first-born son Thomas - she called him Bertie, though it seems the rest of the family stuck with Tom. TLM-P and his aunt Rosa Praed were godparents.((Nora to Rosa, 3 December 1883)) There is confusion over his place of birth. TLM-P wrote that Thomas Bertram was born at Moonbago Station, South Kennedy, Bully Creek, a station owned by TLM-P.(('Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda by the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry; H. Mortimer Franklyn, //A glance at Australia in 1880// at [[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=QgRLAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PR2]])). Matthew Fox ((//The history of Queensland: its people and industries: an historical and commercial review descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations: an epitome of progress//, Brisbane: States Publishing Company, 1919, vol.1, p.173)) states he was 'born on "Bulliwallah" Station, Northern Queensland'. Thomas Bertram's death certificate, which did not have a family member as an informant, assumed he was born at Maroon. It is most likely that TLM-P was correct, and that he was born at Moonbago Station.\\ |
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| Matthew Fox ((//The history of Queensland: its people and industries: an historical and commercial review descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations: an epitome of progress//, Brisbane: States Publishing Company, 1919, vol.1, pp.173-74)) claims that Thomas Bertram was educated at Armidale, NSW, until he was 18 years old. If so, the school he attended was almost certainly [[https://as.edu.au/tas-community/history-of-the-school/|The Armidale School (TAS)]]. Thomas Bertram then returned to Maroon Station, and a year later his father died. Thomas B. M-P was 'one of the trustees of the estate', and 'became manager until (most of) the property, which originally comprised 10,000 acres, was sold for purposes of closer settlement.' Thomas B. M-P kept the old homestead, with 600 acres of land, 'with its picturesquely wooded hills and well-grassed pasture lands.' He mainly used the remaining land to breed 'shorthorn cattle from stock originally introduced by his late father' and stock imported from New Zealand, 'the progeny from which have been frequent prizewinners at Brisbane shows.' In the early 1920s, when Fox was writing the entry, Thomas Bertram had a stud consisting of 'about 50 cows of the finest shorthorn type'. In addition, he was planning to introduce mixed farming to Maroon. The success of Thomas Bertram's stud is indicated by the sale of two bulls in 1914 for, respectively, 32 and 110 guineas (in 2022 values, the latter is around $22,185).((Matthew Fox, The history of Queensland : its people and industries : an historical and commercial review descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations : an epitome of progress, Brisbane: States Publishing Company, 1923, vol.1, p.379.))\\ | When describing the children in her notebook (probably summarising Nora) Rosa wrote that: 'Bertie the boy is a perfect picture of beauty with his delicate well-cut face, big dreamy blue eyes & yellow curls & lovely complexion.'((Praed papers, Box 23, 20250416_115422.jpg)) Matthew Fox ((//The history of Queensland: its people and industries: an historical and commercial review descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations: an epitome of progress//, Brisbane: States Publishing Company, 1919, vol.1, pp.173-74)) claims that Thomas Bertram was educated at Armidale, NSW, until he was 18 years old. If so, the school he attended was almost certainly [[https://as.edu.au/tas-community/history-of-the-school/|The Armidale School (TAS)]]. Thomas Bertram then returned to Maroon Station, and a year later his father died. Thomas B. M-P was 'one of the trustees of the estate', and 'became manager until (most of) the property, which originally comprised 10,000 acres, was sold for purposes of closer settlement.' Thomas B. M-P kept the old homestead, with 600 acres of land, 'with its picturesquely wooded hills and well-grassed pasture lands.' He mainly used the remaining land to breed 'shorthorn cattle from stock originally introduced by his late father' and stock imported from New Zealand, 'the progeny from which have been frequent prizewinners at Brisbane shows.' In the early 1920s, when Fox was writing the entry, Thomas Bertram had a stud consisting of 'about 50 cows of the finest shorthorn type'. In addition, he was planning to introduce mixed farming to Maroon. The success of Thomas Bertram's stud is indicated by the sale of two bulls in 1914 for, respectively, 32 and 110 guineas (in 2022 values, the latter is around $22,185).((Matthew Fox, The history of Queensland : its people and industries : an historical and commercial review descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations : an epitome of progress, Brisbane: States Publishing Company, 1923, vol.1, p.379.))\\ |
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| Fox also states that Thomas Bertram was a Justice of the Peace and during 1914-17 was an elected member of the Goolman Shire Council((//Queensland Times//, 10 January 1917, p.1; Collin Pfeffer, //The Fassifern Story: a history of Boonah Shire and surroundings to 1989//, Boonah Shire Council, c.1991, p.148; [H. Krause], //The Story of Maroon. A Souvenir Review of its History and Development 1827-1961//, Maroon Centenary Celebrations Committee, 1961, p.40.)) and on the committee of the Boonah Agricultural Society.((Matthew Fox, //The history of Queensland: its people and industries: an historical and commercial review descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations: an epitome of progress//, Brisbane: States Publishing Company, 1919, vol.1, p.174)) While his father donated the land for the first Maroon School which opened in 1891, mainly for the children of settlers taking advantage of the closer settlement acts, it was Thomas B. M-P who chaired the first committee to establish the school.(([H. Krause], //The Story of Maroon. A Souvenir Review of its History and Development 1827-1961//, Maroon Centenary Celebrations Committee, 1961, p.31.))\\ | Fox also states that Thomas Bertram was a Justice of the Peace and during 1914-17 was an elected member of the Goolman Shire Council((//Queensland Times//, 10 January 1917, p.1; Collin Pfeffer, //The Fassifern Story: a history of Boonah Shire and surroundings to 1989//, Boonah Shire Council, c.1991, p.148; [H. Krause], //The Story of Maroon. A Souvenir Review of its History and Development 1827-1961//, Maroon Centenary Celebrations Committee, 1961, p.40.)) and on the committee of the Boonah Agricultural Society.((Matthew Fox, //The history of Queensland: its people and industries: an historical and commercial review descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations: an epitome of progress//, Brisbane: States Publishing Company, 1919, vol.1, p.174)) While his father donated the land for the first Maroon School which opened in 1891, mainly for the children of settlers taking advantage of the closer settlement acts, it was Thomas B. M-P who chaired the first committee to establish the school.(([H. Krause], //The Story of Maroon. A Souvenir Review of its History and Development 1827-1961//, Maroon Centenary Celebrations Committee, 1961, p.31.))\\ |
| For photographs of the family at Maroon that, from the women's clothes, appear to be in the 1910s, click on [[Maroon]]. | For photographs of the family at Maroon that, from the women's clothes, appear to be in the 1910s, click on [[Maroon]]. |
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| {{:st_andrew_s_church_built_by_mps_built_1907.jpeg?300|}} Card featuring St Andrew's Church, Maroon - the M-Ps, presumably Thomas B. M-P, were responsible for its erection in 1907.((Provenance: T.A. & M.T. M-P))\\ | {{:maroon_church_enhanced_20250416_113318.jpg?350|}} A postcard of the newly erected St Andrews Church Maroon((Praed papers, JOL, Box 23/4/2)) {{:st_andrew_s_church_built_by_mps_built_1907.jpeg?300|}} Card featuring St Andrew's Church, Maroon - the M-Ps, presumably Thomas B. M-P, were responsible for its erection in 1907.((Provenance: T.A. & M.T. M-P))\\ |
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| On 18 February 1911, Thomas B. M-P married his cousin, Elizabeth Katherine (Lizzie Kate) Lightoller (29 October 1887—21 January 1949).((Qld birth registration 1887/C/4807; Qld marriage registration C887; Bernard Burke, //A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry//, Melbourne: E.A. Petherick, 1891-95, p.50)) her name causes confusion: she was registered as Lizzie Kate but the name she gave in her husband's death notice was Elizabeth Katerine. She was commonly known not only as 'Dickie' but also 'Elsie' - the latter name was used in her marriage and death notices in the newspaper.((//The Sydney Morning Herald//, 8 April 1911, p.14; //The Queenslander// 25 February 1911, p.15; //Sydney Morning Herald//, 27 January 1949.)) She was the daughter of well-known Brisbane physician, Dr Henry Lightoller. Dr Lightoller's grandmother was Rosa Haly (nee Harpur), Matilda M-P's sister.(([Thomas A. M-P], Murray-Prior Family, booklet, October 2014.)) Thomas B. and Lizzie M-P had four children - see next generation listed on this website. \\ | On 18 February 1911, Thomas B. M-P married his cousin, Elizabeth Katherine (Lizzie Kate) Lightoller (29 October 1887—21 January 1949).((Qld birth registration 1887/C/4807; Qld marriage registration C887; Bernard Burke, //A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry//, Melbourne: E.A. Petherick, 1891-95, p.50)) her name causes confusion: she was registered as Lizzie Kate but the name she gave in her husband's death notice was Elizabeth Katerine. She was commonly known not only as 'Dickie' but also 'Elsie' - the latter name was used in her marriage and death notices in the newspaper.((//The Sydney Morning Herald//, 8 April 1911, p.14; //The Queenslander// 25 February 1911, p.15; //Sydney Morning Herald//, 27 January 1949.)) She was the daughter of well-known Brisbane physician, Dr Henry Lightoller. Dr Lightoller's grandmother was Rosa Haly (nee Harpur), Matilda M-P's sister.(([Thomas A. M-P], Murray-Prior Family, booklet, October 2014.)) Thomas B. and Lizzie M-P had four children - see next generation listed on this website. \\ |
| In 1947, //Maroon// was burnt down, so nothing of the homestead remains today. The following is an unidentified newspaper clipping reporting the fire.{{:20250422_114208.jpg?200|}}((in Murray-Prior file, Rathdowney Visitor Information Centre and Historical Museum))\\ | In 1947, //Maroon// was burnt down, so nothing of the homestead remains today. The following is an unidentified newspaper clipping reporting the fire.{{:20250422_114208.jpg?200|}}((in Murray-Prior file, Rathdowney Visitor Information Centre and Historical Museum))\\ |
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| After selling Maroon, Thomas B., Lizzie and their children moved to [[wp>Southport,_Queensland|Southport]].((Standish M-P to Roy M-P, 27 November 1991)) Around 1924, they moved again, to 'Birrilli', Kensett Avenue, [[wp>Leura,_New_South_Wales|Leura]] in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. It was thought that the climate would be healthier for their youngest son Hugh who had contracted polio. In 1937 Thomas B. was elected to the Leura Urban Committee.((//Nepean Times//, 9 December 1937, p.1.))\\ | After selling Maroon, Thomas B., Lizzie and their children moved to [[wp>Southport,_Queensland|Southport]].((Standish M-P to Roy M-P, 27 November 1991)) Adrian Howie, in his research on the history of the area, advised that Thomas B. acquired 'Birrilli' on 13 March 1925, giving his address as Leura and his occupation as grazier.((Adrian Howie, web contact message to J. Godden, April 2026, re Certificate of Title Volume 2025 Folio 132)). 'Birrilli' was in Kensett Avenue, [[wp>Leura,_New_South_Wales|Leura]] in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. Family lore has it that it was thought that the climate would be healthier for their youngest son Hugh who had contracted polio. In 1937 Thomas B. was elected to the Leura Urban Committee.((//Nepean Times//, 9 December 1937, p.1.))\\ |
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| {{:tbmp_at_birrilli.jpeg?250|}}{{:birrilli.jpeg?300|}}{{:birrilli_2.jpeg?300|}} Three views of Birrilli, home of Thomas B. and Lizzie M-P. The first indistinct photo is of Thomas B. M-P in the garden.((Provenance: Tom A. & T. M-P) {{:lillian_thomas_b_and_thomas_a.jpeg?250|}} Three generations of M-Ps: Thomas B. M-P, his daughter-in-law and her eldest son. Thomas B. is dressed in conventional business attire of the 1940s: it made few concessions to the Australian climate!\\ | {{:tbmp_at_birrilli.jpeg?250|}}{{:birrilli_leura.jpeg?300|}}{{:birrilli.jpeg?300|}}{{:birrilli_2.jpeg?300|}}((Provenance: Lizzie M-P to Thomas M-P to Tom A. & T. M-P)) Four views of Birrilli, home of Thomas B. and Lizzie M-P. The first indistinct photo is of Thomas B. M-P in the garden, the second shows the garden and the next two the house.\\ |
| | \\ {{:lillian_thomas_b_and_thomas_a.jpeg?250|}} Three generations of M-Ps: Thomas B. M-P, his daughter-in-law and her eldest son. Thomas B. is dressed in conventional business attire of the 1940s: it made few concessions to the Australian climate!\\ |
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| Thomas B. and Lizzie separated around the end of the war or shortly after, with Thomas B. reputedly leaving with the nurse hired to look after polio-affected young Hugh. Thomas B. did not enjoy his new relationship for long. His death certificate revealed that he had had high blood pressure for around 20 years and, for his final year of life, the related and painful kidney condition of [[https://www.britannica.com/science/nephrosclerosis#ref117410|malignant nephrosclerosis]]. Thomas B. died on 25 August 1946.((South Australian death certificate, 1948 no 704/4080; //Sydney Morning Herald//, 2 September 1946, p.14.)) His last address was Irish Harp Road (now Regency Road), Prospect, Adelaide, South Australia. Probate - along with the family money - was granted to Stella Gilmore Prior.((//Sydney Morning Herald//, 21 June 1948, p.5; Tom A. M-P, pers. com.)) It is believed that Stella later returned to her homeland New Zealand, possibly with her and Thomas's child, though no such child was noted on his death certificate. \\ | Thomas B. and Lizzie separated around the end of the war or shortly after, with Thomas B. reputedly leaving with the nurse hired to look after polio-affected young Hugh. Thomas B. did not enjoy his new relationship for long. His death certificate revealed that he had had high blood pressure for around 20 years and, for his final year of life, the related and painful kidney condition of [[https://www.britannica.com/science/nephrosclerosis#ref117410|malignant nephrosclerosis]]. Thomas B. died on 25 August 1946.((South Australian death certificate, 1948 no 704/4080; //Sydney Morning Herald//, 2 September 1946, p.14.)) His last address was Irish Harp Road (now Regency Road), Prospect, Adelaide, South Australia. Probate - along with the family money - was granted to Stella Gilmore Prior.((//Sydney Morning Herald//, 21 June 1948, p.5; Tom A. M-P, pers. com.)) It is believed that Stella later returned to her homeland New Zealand, possibly with her and Thomas's child, though no such child was noted on his death certificate. \\ |