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--- matilda_m-p [2024/01/09 09:53] – judith
+++ matilda_m-p [2024/01/18 17:03] – [Death] judith
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 It appears that Matilda and TLM-P had been writing to each other since the year after she arrived in the colony, that is, from the time she was 13 or 14 years old.((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.18.)) While the letters allowed some familiarity, TLM-Ps efforts to establish himself in the north allowed little opportunity for visits. It also meant anxiety and long silences. Rosa Praed states that one of Matilda's letters took over five months to reach TLM-P, 'and then only through his chance meeting with the person who had bought in north, when Murray-Prior was delivering a mob of bullocks to the butcher in Brisbane.' There was reason for anxiety though one of Matilda's comments suggest that her fears were based on sensationalism rather than the more prosaic reality of Aboriginal people defending their land (but not being cannibals), or the ever-present danger of accidents and illness far from help. According to Rosa, Matilda wrote in her letter that, 'I am indeed thankful to know by the sight of your handwriting at last that you have not been murdered by bushrangers or eaten by Blacks.'((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.18.)) Another time, again according to Rosa, TLM-P complained about her restraint (quite understandable if her father or step-mother read her letters, as was conventional at the time). Matilda asked 'Have I not given you the best proof of my affection and confidence in consenting to share your fortunes?'((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.19.)) For a ardent young man angling for a declaration of passion, it was a dampening reply.\\
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-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)) 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))\\
+===== Death ====
+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.))\\
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-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//.\\
+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))\\
+\\
+==== 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))\\
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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)).\\
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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 after a Darvall family home in Yorkshire.((Brisbane paper, //The Week//, 13 July 1900, p.17.))\\
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-Evidence of the literary bent of Matilda and her children survive in few copies of a hand-written family magazine that they produced at Maroon and called Maroon Magazine. The children's cousins, the Barkers, and James Brunton Stephens also contributed.((Patrica Clarke, //Rosa! Rosa!//p.23.)) Three issues are in Rosa Praed's papers in the John Oxley Library. **For more click on [[**Magazine**]]**. In the early years at Maroon, the family's literary activities were likely to have been briefly enhanced by the appointment of a new manager on 3 July 1865((TLM-P, diary entry.)) of {{http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/traill-william-henry-4744|William Traill}}. It appears, however, that he only lasted three months as he kept selling the prime steers.((J. Gooden undated note re discussion with Prof Duncan Waterson)) He later become a well-known journalist.\\
+Evidence of the literary bent of Matilda and her children survive in few copies of a hand-written family magazine that they produced at Maroon and called Maroon Magazine. The children's cousins, the Barkers, and James Brunton Stephens also contributed.((Patrica Clarke, //Rosa! Rosa!//p.23.)) Three issues are in Rosa Praed's papers in the John Oxley Library. **For more click on [[**Magazine**]]**. In the early years at Maroon, the family's literary activities were likely to have been briefly enhanced by the appointment of a new manager on 3 July 1865((TLM-P, diary entry.)) of {{http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/traill-william-henry-4744|William Traill}}. It appears, however, that he only lasted three months as he kept selling the prime steers.((J. Godden undated note re discussion with Prof Duncan Waterson)) He later become a well-known journalist.\\
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 European women living in what is now Queensland had a higher number of children than their sisters in the south, a phenomenon that was strongly supported by TLM-P and other politicians, 'spurred by fears of being engulfed, both numerically and culturally by foreign invaders'.((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.)) Matilda was exemplary in this regard: she had 12 children during her 22 years of marriage. It is likely that her fecundity contributed to her early death aged 41. Additionally, each time she gave birth there was a real possibility of dying in the process: in 1878, for example, a pregnant woman in Queensland had 'one chance in 21 of dying in childbirth'.((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. Note that Aboriginal women were generally excluded from the statistics, though John Theale has argued that traditional Aboriginal maternal mortality was low.)) In addition, Queensland's death rate was higher than that of other Australian colonies.((D. Waterson and M. French, //From the Frontier. A Pictorial History of Queensland to 1920//, St Lucia: University of Queensland Pr
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 . **Egerton**, 5 October 1866((Qld Births registration no. B6322; 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.)) - 1 September 1936.\\
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-**For more details see sidebar entries for Thomas de M. M-P and his siblings.**
+**For more details see sidebar entries for Thomas de M. M-P and his siblings.** For the children's, mainly the boys', education see [[matilda_s_sons_education|Boys' and girls' education]].