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| TLM-P's son Robert, who was 10 when his father died, described TLM-P as 'justly renowned for his courtly bearing and usage of words. He was veritably an aristocratic statesmen of old and could smile through the harshest of Parliamentary insults' The only thing that cause him to lose his temper was any insult to Queen Victoria or towards 'Monarchy as a phenomenon', on the apparent grounds that the Queen was 'his distant cousin'.((Robert M-P, The Blood royal of the Murray-Priors, 1901-05, p.14.)) This view of TLM-P has been accepted unquestioningly by other writers, perhaps most influentially in his entry in the //Australian Dictionary of Biography//. Certainly if he adopted an overly courtly bearing, it fits in with Rachel Henning's perception of him in 1863 as 'I suppose it does not require any great talent to be a Postmaster General. I hope not, for such a goose I have seldom seen. He talked incessantly and all his conversation consisted of pointless stories of which he himself was the hero.'((H. J. Gibbney, 'Murray-Prior, Thomas Lodge (1819–1892)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/murray-prior-thomas-lodge-4282/text6927, published first in hardcopy 1974, accessed online 15 October 2017; D. Adams (ed) //The Letters of Rachel Henning//, to do complete.)) Yet TLM-P's diary for 6 October 1863 suggests a more pertinent reason: he described the Henning's house as 'a comfortable humpy' and dismissed Rachel and her sister with the slighting comment that 'Mr Henning ... has unmarried sisters living with him, somewhat passed their first youth'. It should be noted too, that TLM-P may not have been at his best: he stayed with the Hennings while on a tour of inspection that would leave most people exhausted: during 54 days inspecting postal services, he rode 1,017 miles (1,636 km) as well as travelling by sea. Additionally, if TLM-P was such an ardent monarchist it did not stop him marrying Nora Barton who blithely wrote to his elder daughter that of course she thought Australia should become a republic, though she did not expect it until the next generation!((reference))\\ | TLM-P's son Robert, who was 10 when his father died, described TLM-P as 'justly renowned for his courtly bearing and usage of words. He was veritably an aristocratic statesmen of old and could smile through the harshest of Parliamentary insults' The only thing that cause him to lose his temper was any insult to Queen Victoria or towards 'Monarchy as a phenomenon', on the apparent grounds that the Queen was 'his distant cousin'.((Robert M-P, The Blood royal of the Murray-Priors, 1901-05, p.14.)) This view of TLM-P has been accepted unquestioningly by other writers, perhaps most influentially in his entry in the //Australian Dictionary of Biography//. Certainly if he adopted an overly courtly bearing, it fits in with Rachel Henning's perception of him in 1863 as 'I suppose it does not require any great talent to be a Postmaster General. I hope not, for such a goose I have seldom seen. He talked incessantly and all his conversation consisted of pointless stories of which he himself was the hero.'((H. J. Gibbney, 'Murray-Prior, Thomas Lodge (1819–1892)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/murray-prior-thomas-lodge-4282/text6927, published first in hardcopy 1974, accessed online 15 October 2017; D. Adams (ed) //The Letters of Rachel Henning//, to do complete.)) Yet TLM-P's diary for 6 October 1863 suggests a more pertinent reason: he described the Henning's house as 'a comfortable humpy' and dismissed Rachel and her sister with the slighting comment that 'Mr Henning ... has unmarried sisters living with him, somewhat passed their first youth'. It should be noted too, that TLM-P may not have been at his best: he stayed with the Hennings while on a tour of inspection that would leave most people exhausted: during 54 days inspecting postal services, he rode 1,017 miles (1,636 km) as well as travelling by sea. Additionally, if TLM-P was such an ardent monarchist it did not stop him marrying Nora Barton who blithely wrote to his elder daughter that of course she thought Australia should become a republic, though she did not expect it until the next generation!((reference))\\ |
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| The courtly politician was also typical of the pioneer settlers in that he prided himself on undertaking hard physical work. Isobel Hannah is likely to be correct when she stated that this 'cultured man, appreciating the finer things of life, ... was withal a worker in the truest sense. Popular with his employees, sharing with them a strenuous day on the run, after sheep and cattle, I have known men, who served him when young, retain to the end of their own long lives the utmost affection for Mr. Murray-Prior.'((Isobel Hannah, 'The Royal Descent of the First Postmaster-General of Queensland', Queensland Geographical Journal, vol. LV, 1953-54, p.14.)) Perhaps because he was used to hard physical work, he could be anxious that his status not suffer. One well-known story, with numerous variations, has someone mistaking him for a bullock-driver. TLM-P was supposed to have indignantly replied that he was not a bullocky, but 'A gentleman "squattah" driving my own team'.((Patricia Clarke, The Murray-Priors at Bromelton 1844-1853 in Patricia Savage (compiled), //They came to Bromelton: a brief outline of the life and times of the early pioneers who came to Bromleton - from the pages of history, personal diaries, old letters and family recollections//, Patricia Savage, 2004, p.20; ESM-P, pers.)) \\ | The courtly politician was also typical of the pioneer settlers in that he prided himself on undertaking hard physical work. Isobel Hannah is likely to be correct when she stated that this 'cultured man, appreciating the finer things of life, ... was withal a worker in the truest sense. Popular with his employees, sharing with them a strenuous day on the run, after sheep and cattle, I have known men, who served him when young, retain to the end of their own long lives the utmost affection for Mr. Murray-Prior.'((Isobel Hannah, 'The Royal Descent of the First Postmaster-General of Queensland', Queensland Geographical Journal, vol. LV, 1953-54, p.14.)) Perhaps because he was used to hard physical work, he could be anxious that his status not suffer. One well-known story, with numerous variations, has someone hailing him as a fellow driver of a bullock team. TLM-P was supposed to have indignantly replied that he was not a bullocky, but 'A gentleman "squattah" driving my own team'. It was said to have become a widespread joke for bullockies in the area to be called 'gentlemen squatters driving their own teams' - one of a number of times TLM-P had to be reminded that he lived in a more egalitarian environment than the one he was brought up in - especially as the son of an army officer.((unidentified newspaper clipping, 31 December 1992 in Rosa Praed Papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, MSOM64-01, Box 23/5/1; ESM-P, pers.comm.)) \\ |
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| In contrast to the above story of his snobbishness, TLM-P's diary of his 1882 visit to England shows him as avidly curious and willing to engage in friendly talk with anyone he thought interesting. On the 26th May, he records a - for him - typical incident: '//passing a butchers shop I was having a look at their beef when ... [butcher] asked me if I would like to see the shop so we got into conversation and he shewed me all over asking "my missus" [actually his step-sister Jemima] to come too ... I told the man I was in the trade and had an invitation to his farm which I shall avail myself of some day ... I was glad to be able to compare [his beef] .. with ours as my eye was fresh for a comparison.//' Similarly when visiting Jemima at Portsmouth, he called into the local butcher's shop to get the men's opinion on Australian meat. The day before he had accidentally bought a 3rd class rather than 1st class ticket on the train from Rosa's to London, but soon '//got into chat with some decent men of the trade or manufacturing class and reaped as much information from them as I could. Found the Australian wheat liked// ...'.((TLM-P, Diary, 2-3 June 1882)). His 1882 diary shows considerable appreciation for the hard lot of English servants. He thought that the Misses Sterlings' servants were good because the mistresses were so nice, making it a happy home for all.((TLM-P, Diary, 17 June 1882)). One act of consideration was particularly appreciated: he gave his step-sister's servant 5 shillings as a present on her 18th birthday, commenting that it 'delighted the poor girl who told Jemima no one had done it before.'((TLM-P, Diary, 23 June 1882)) \\ | In contrast to the above story of his snobbishness, TLM-P's diary of his 1882 visit to England shows him as avidly curious and willing to engage in friendly talk with anyone he thought interesting. On the 26th May, he records a - for him - typical incident: '//passing a butchers shop I was having a look at their beef when ... [butcher] asked me if I would like to see the shop so we got into conversation and he shewed me all over asking "my missus" [actually his step-sister Jemima] to come too ... I told the man I was in the trade and had an invitation to his farm which I shall avail myself of some day ... I was glad to be able to compare [his beef] .. with ours as my eye was fresh for a comparison.//' Similarly when visiting Jemima at Portsmouth, he called into the local butcher's shop to get the men's opinion on Australian meat. The day before he had accidentally bought a 3rd class rather than 1st class ticket on the train from Rosa's to London, but soon '//got into chat with some decent men of the trade or manufacturing class and reaped as much information from them as I could. Found the Australian wheat liked// ...'.((TLM-P, Diary, 2-3 June 1882)). His 1882 diary shows considerable appreciation for the hard lot of English servants. He thought that the Misses Sterlings' servants were good because the mistresses were so nice, making it a happy home for all.((TLM-P, Diary, 17 June 1882)). One act of consideration was particularly appreciated: he gave his step-sister's servant 5 shillings as a present on her 18th birthday, commenting that it 'delighted the poor girl who told Jemima no one had done it before.'((TLM-P, Diary, 23 June 1882)) \\ |
| {{:mp19.jpg?300|}} A watch which is thought to have belonged to TLM-P.((Provenance: T.A. & M.T. M-P.))\\ | {{:mp19.jpg?300|}} A watch which is thought to have belonged to TLM-P.((Provenance: T.A. & M.T. M-P.))\\ |
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| {{:mp21.jpg?200|}} TLM-P, once he had his family's entitlement to [[changed_coat_of_arms|arms]] cleared, had his silver engraved. This plate is an example.((Provenance: T.A. & M.T. M-P.))\\ | {{:mp21.jpg?200|}} TLM-P, once he had his family's entitlement to [[changed_coat_of_arms|arms]] confirmed, had his silver engraved. This plate is an example.((Provenance: T.A. & M.T. M-P.))\\ |
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| As well, a number of paintings, apart from family portraits and paintings of Maroon and district, came down the family line and were reputed to be TLM-P's. They include the following:\\ | As well, a number of paintings, apart from family portraits and paintings of Maroon and district, came down the family line and were reputed to be TLM-P's. They include the following:\\ |
| {{:tlmp_death_poem_cropped_20250415_144026.jpg?400|}}((in Rosa Praed Papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, MSOM64-01, Box 23?)). | {{:tlmp_death_poem_cropped_20250415_144026.jpg?400|}}((in Rosa Praed Papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, MSOM64-01, Box 23?)). |
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| One cause of stomach cancer, from which his eldest son and second eldest daughter also died, is vitamin deficiency.((Naemi Kermanshahi M, Safaei E, Tutunchi H, Naghshi S, Mobarak S, Asadi M, Sadeghi O. Fruit and vegetable intake in relation to gastric cancer risk: A comprehensive and updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies. Front Nutr. 2023 Feb 6;10:973171. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.973171. PMID: 36814513; PMCID: PMC9939448.)) Vitamins were unknown at the time. The only reference I've found so far in the stores accounts of the station ledgers (see [[Employees, stores]]) to fresh fruit and vegetables is that of 'salad oil'. Additionally, fruit trees take time to bear, vegetables could be difficult to prioritise amongst other needs, and European settlers did not value Indigenous 'bush tucker'. It is not hard to see a possible link between this early restricted diet and TLM-P and his elder children developing stomach cancer.\\ | One cause of stomach cancer, from which his eldest son and second eldest daughter also died, is vitamin deficiency.((Naemi Kermanshahi M, Safaei E, Tutunchi H, Naghshi S, Mobarak S, Asadi M, Sadeghi O. Fruit and vegetable intake in relation to gastric cancer risk: A comprehensive and updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies. Front Nutr. 2023 Feb 6;10:973171. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.973171. PMID: 36814513; PMCID: PMC9939448.)) Vitamins were unknown at the time. The only reference I've found so far in the stores accounts of the station ledgers (see [[Employees, stores]]) to fresh fruit and vegetables is that of 'salad oil'. Additionally, fruit trees take time to bear, vegetables could be difficult to prioritise amongst other needs, and European settlers did not value Indigenous 'bush tucker'. It is not hard to see a possible link between this early restricted diet and TLM-P and his elder children developing stomach cancer. For more on the scarcity of vegetables in the colonial diet, as well as some more ingenious adaptions, see [[https://archaeologyonthefrontier.com/2018/12/20/food-on-the-frontier/|food-on-the-frontier]].\\ |
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| His death certificate listing his 14 surviving children, ranging in age from 44 to 7 years old. {{:tlmp_death_cert.jpg?400|}} \\ | His death certificate listing his 14 surviving children, ranging in age from 44 to 7 years old. {{:tlmp_death_cert.jpg?400|}} \\ |
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| In his will, TLM-P attempted to provide for all his family and, to modern eyes, to continue to control his family. Given he had stomach cancer, he knew he was dying, and signed his will on 5 May, seven months before he died, with three codicils dated in the weeks and days before he finally succumbed on 31 December 1892. The complexity of providing for all eventualities, and leaving money in trust for numerous dependants, meant that the trustees had to go to court to get a ruling on the will's legal meaning. This first occurred in October 1905, and then in 1940, after the death of his daughter Dorothy. The latter, to determine what would happen to her share of the trust, amounted to 10 foolscap typed pages on the legal meaning of the word 'surviving'!((Legal opinion re Trusts of the Will of Thomas Lodge Murray Prior Decd, 11 October 1905 and 11 June 1940, J. Godden's copy.)) More seriously, the Trust ran into difficulties after the death of Thomas de M. M-P with the family taking the two trustees (Charles Barton and George Eddington) to court in 1905. While the step-siblings and Nora were united, the court case represented an enormous conflict for Nora as Charles Barton was her brother. As well, costs were borne by the estate.((The Supreme Court of Queensland, No. 166 of 1905, 3 November 1905, J. Godden's copy.)) on 31 December 1900, his estate was valued at £66,621/10/1. In the 1930s, another great depression hit the value of the trust, but nevertheless a list of his investments as at 12 June 1931 reveals his estate was worth in total £33,683 (roughly $3,020,242 in 2017 values). This sum included an advance to Egerton of £2,275; mortgages to Julius (£2350), Meta Hobbs (£500) and Lizzie Jardine (£100) as well as the purchase of a "Mary St Property" (presumably Mary Street in Brisbane) for £11,000.((Union Trustee Company, Brisbane, Estate of Thomas Lodge Murray Prior Deceased. List of Investments at Face Value, 12 June 1931. J. Godden's copy.))\\ The estate was finally wound up with the remaining £15,500 disbursed in 1945.((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p.70.)) | In his will, TLM-P attempted to provide for all his family and, to modern eyes, to continue to control his family. Given he had stomach cancer, he knew he was dying, and signed his will on 5 May, seven months before he died, with three codicils dated in the weeks and days before he finally succumbed on 31 December 1892. The complexity of providing for all eventualities, and leaving money in trust for numerous dependants, meant that the trustees had to go to court to get a ruling on the will's legal meaning. This first occurred in October 1905, and then in 1940, after the death of his daughter Dorothy. The latter, to determine what would happen to her share of the trust, amounted to 10 foolscap typed pages on the legal meaning of the word 'surviving'!((Legal opinion re Trusts of the Will of Thomas Lodge Murray Prior Decd, 11 October 1905 and 11 June 1940, J. Godden's copy.)) Additionally, the Trust ran into difficulties after the death of Thomas de M. M-P with the family taking the two trustees (Charles Barton and George Eddington) to court in 1905. While the step-siblings and Nora were united, the court case represented an enormous conflict for Nora as Charles Barton was her brother. As well, costs were borne by the estate.((The Supreme Court of Queensland, No. 166 of 1905, 3 November 1905, J. Godden's copy.)) on 31 December 1900, his estate was valued at £66,621/10/1. In the 1930s, another great depression hit the value of the trust, but nevertheless a list of his investments as at 12 June 1931 reveals his estate was worth in total £33,683 (roughly $3,020,242 in 2017 values). This sum included an advance to Egerton of £2,275; mortgages to Julius (£2350), Meta Hobbs (£500) and Lizzie Jardine (£100) as well as the purchase of a "Mary St Property" (presumably Mary Street in Brisbane) for £11,000.((Union Trustee Company, Brisbane, Estate of Thomas Lodge Murray Prior Deceased. List of Investments at Face Value, 12 June 1931. J. Godden's copy.))\\ The estate was finally wound up with the remaining £15,500 disbursed in 1945.((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p.70.)) |
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