| Much to the grief of her children, Matilda died of consumption (tuberculosis)((Patricia Clarke, //Rosa! Rosa!// p.24.)) when she was 41 years old at their home 'Montpelier' at [[wp>Kangaroo_Point,_Queensland|Kangaroo Point, Brisbane]] on 25 November 1868 and was buried in Brisbane Cemetery. She was not alone in suffering from tuberculosis in this pre-vaccination era: in Queensland it was the 'largest single killer of working adults throughout the colonial period', though Pacific Islanders were particularly susceptible. As well, at the time Queensland had a higher death rate from the disease than England.((Kay Saunders and Katie Spearritt, 'Is there life after birth? Childbirth, death and danger for settler women in colonial Queensland', //Journal of Australian Studies//, 29, June 1991, pp.64-79; Bernard Burke, //A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry//, Melbourne: E.A. Petherick, 1891-95, p.49; 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; Thomas Bertram M-P, //Some Australasian Families Descended from Royalty//, ms, n.d., p.7, NLA; {{http://www.cotyroneireland.com/bornburied/australia3.html|Len Swindley, Born Co. Tyrone, Ireland, Married & Died in the Colony of New South Wales, Australia 1837-1879}})) Matilda's death certificate indicates that the diagnosis was made two years before she died, shortly after the birth of her last child, Egerton.((Matilda M-P, Queensland Death Certificate, Registration B4732)) TLM-P's diary indicates that he was concerned enough about her health in 23 September 1864 to consider taking leave of absence from his employment as Postmaster-General.((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8,p.36)) Another possible indication of prolonged ill-health are the cheques to pay chemist bills in 1866-67 e.g. in June 1866 Mr W.J. Page Chemist was paid £3.16.6 and in June 1867 £5.7.3. As well there is a note in September 1867 regarding a cheque for £3.11.0 to Dr Hugh Bell that TLM-P thought had been paid previously.((MLMSS3117/Box 9, list of cheques.))\\ | Much to the grief of her children, Matilda died of consumption (tuberculosis)((Patricia Clarke, //Rosa! Rosa!// p.24.)) when she was 41 years old at their home 'Montpelier' at [[wp>Kangaroo_Point,_Queensland|Kangaroo Point, Brisbane]] on 25 November 1868 and was buried in Brisbane Cemetery. She was not alone in suffering from tuberculosis in this pre-vaccination era: in Queensland it was the 'largest single killer of working adults throughout the colonial period', though Pacific Islanders were particularly susceptible. As well, at the time Queensland had a higher death rate from the disease than England.((Kay Saunders and Katie Spearritt, 'Is there life after birth? Childbirth, death and danger for settler women in colonial Queensland', //Journal of Australian Studies//, 29, June 1991, pp.64-79; Bernard Burke, //A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry//, Melbourne: E.A. Petherick, 1891-95, p.49; 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; Thomas Bertram M-P, //Some Australasian Families Descended from Royalty//, ms, n.d., p.7, NLA; {{http://www.cotyroneireland.com/bornburied/australia3.html|Len Swindley, Born Co. Tyrone, Ireland, Married & Died in the Colony of New South Wales, Australia 1837-1879}})) Matilda's death certificate indicates that the diagnosis was made two years before she died, shortly after the birth of her last child, Egerton.((Matilda M-P, Queensland Death Certificate, Registration B4732)) TLM-P's diary indicates that he was concerned enough about her health in 23 September 1864 to consider taking leave of absence from his employment as Postmaster-General.((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8,p.36)) Another possible indication of prolonged ill-health are the cheques to pay chemist bills in 1866-67 e.g. in June 1866 Mr W.J. Page Chemist was paid £3.16.6 and in June 1867 £5.7.3. As well there is a note in September 1867 regarding a cheque for £3.11.0 to Dr Hugh Bell that TLM-P thought had been paid previously. In March 1868, Dr Handcock was paid with a cheque for £10.8.6, suggesting numerous visits.((MLMSS3117/Box 9, list of cheques.))\\ |
| Grief at her loss lingered. In 1882 her widower visited Lady Bowen, the wife of the first Governor of Queensland: she 'had tears in her eyes naming Matilda. She [Matilda] was so good, so kind she had never met a more unselfish woman'. Lady Bowen shook her head at the news TLM-P had remarried 'and still more when in reply I told her I had more children'.((TLM-P, Diary, 18 July 1882, ML)) TLM-P's list of cheques indicates that the regard was mutual as in October 1867 both Matilda and Rosa paid for a testimonial to Lady Bowen, respectively costing £3.3.0 and £1.((MLMSS3117/Box 9))\\ | Grief at her loss lingered. In 1882 her widower visited Lady Bowen, the wife of the first Governor of Queensland: she 'had tears in her eyes naming Matilda. She [Matilda] was so good, so kind she had never met a more unselfish woman'. Lady Bowen shook her head at the news TLM-P had remarried 'and still more when in reply I told her I had more children'.((TLM-P, Diary, 18 July 1882, ML)) TLM-P's list of cheques indicates that the regard was mutual as in October 1867 both Matilda and Rosa paid for a testimonial to Lady Bowen, respectively costing £3.3.0 and £1.((MLMSS3117/Box 9))\\ |