| Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revisionLast revisionBoth sides next revision |
| meta_emmeline_dorothy_eileen_frederic_robert_julius_ruth_m-p [2021/07/05 10:26] – judith | meta_emmeline_dorothy_eileen_frederic_robert_julius_ruth_m-p [2022/04/28 10:29] – judith |
|---|
| Fred and his younger brother Robert first went to Bowen House Preparatory School at Ipswich; it took in boys from 7 years of age.((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p.91n.)) This was closer to Maroon - a decision in stark contrast to what was believed the disaster of sending Matilda's young sons to school in Hobart. When Fred and his brothers were older they transferred to the more prestigious - and further away - Brisbane Grammar.((M-P papers, NLA MS 7801, 12/96)) In 1894 at Brisbane Grammar, Fred was awarded //Heroes and Kings. Stories from the Greek// (1890), as a prize for maths. Like most book prizes from that and subsequent decades, it appears little read.\\ | Fred and his younger brother Robert first went to Bowen House Preparatory School at Ipswich; it took in boys from 7 years of age.((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p.91n.)) This was closer to Maroon - a decision in stark contrast to what was believed the disaster of sending Matilda's young sons to school in Hobart. When Fred and his brothers were older they transferred to the more prestigious - and further away - Brisbane Grammar.((M-P papers, NLA MS 7801, 12/96)) In 1894 at Brisbane Grammar, Fred was awarded //Heroes and Kings. Stories from the Greek// (1890), as a prize for maths. Like most book prizes from that and subsequent decades, it appears little read.\\ |
| \\ | \\ |
| The last Australian reference found for Fred is in 1905, when the Supreme Court was asked to interpret his father's will.((//The Richmond River Express and Casino Kyogle Advertiser//, 3 November 1905, p.6.)) The next reference found is to his death in New Zealand in 1956, complicated by his surname being mispelt as Murray Pryor. His death certificate reveals his sad story. He died in Auckland Mental Hospital of bronchopneumonia, but was noted as having suffered for 'years' from two other diseases, both of them highly stigmatised at the time: tuberculosis and schizophrenia. As was so often the case for mental health patients, little was known about him by the time he died. The length of time he had lived in New Zealand, as well as whether he had ever married, were consequently both recorded as unknown.((New Zealand death certificate 1956/27163)) His death was deemed natural so no inquest was performed.((National Archives of New Zealand, Coroners Inquests Unnecessary - Case Files - Pryor, Frederick Maurice Murray (R23850983) 1956, R23850983, ACGS, 16231, J46, 1483/ CR1956/926))\\ | The last Australian reference found for Fred is in 1905, when the Supreme Court was asked to interpret his father's will.((//The Richmond River Express and Cas%%i%%no Kyogle Advertiser//, 3 November 1905, p.6.)) The next reference found is to his death in New Zealand in 1956, complicated by his surname being mispelt as Murray Pryor. His death certificate reveals his sad story. He died in Auckland Mental Hospital of bronchopneumonia, but was noted as having suffered for 'years' from two other diseases, both of them highly stigmatised at the time: tuberculosis and schizophrenia. As was so often the case for mental health patients, little was known about him by the time he died. The length of time he had lived in New Zealand, as well as whether he had ever married, were consequently both recorded as unknown.((New Zealand death certificate 1956/27163)) His death was deemed natural so no inquest was performed.((National Archives of New Zealand, Coroners Inquests Unnecessary - Case Files - Pryor, Frederick Maurice Murray (R23850983) 1956, R23850983, ACGS, 16231, J46, 1483/ CR1956/926))\\ |
| \\ | \\ |
| After adding 5 children to the already large family in 5½ years, Nora understandably did not want any more. When her niece Minnie Lightoller asked her for patterns to make baby clothes, Nora wrote to Rosa Praed making that very clear: 'I sincerely hope that the mission of my layettes in future may be to serve as patterns for other people's babies' and not her own. She added, 'What a blessing that good fairy would receive from me who would give me a charm to work that end'.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, 1 April 1880, M-P papers, JOQ, OM81-71.)) Effective birth control remained elusive, and 7 months after her letter, she again conceived.\\ | After adding 5 children to the already large family in 5½ years, Nora understandably did not want any more. When her niece Minnie Lightoller asked her for patterns to make baby clothes, Nora wrote to Rosa Praed making that very clear: 'I sincerely hope that the mission of my layettes in future may be to serve as patterns for other people's babies' and not her own. She added, 'What a blessing that good fairy would receive from me who would give me a charm to work that end'.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, 1 April 1880, M-P papers, JOQ, OM81-71.)) Effective birth control remained elusive, and 7 months after her letter, she again conceived.\\ |
| In April, she again referred to her pregnancy in negative terms, enhanced by fear that Dr Hobbs would be overseas during the delivery (she was relieved to find out he would be available) and a well-grounded fear that any replacement doctor who would deliver the baby could be drunk.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, Praed papers, 3 April 1881, QJO. Helen Woolcock, M.J. Thearle, Kay Saunders, "'My Beloved Chloroform’. Attitudes to Childbearing in Colonial Queensland: A Case Study', //Social History of Medicine//, 10:3, December 1997, p.448. The authors note that 'Brisbane's early doctors had a reputation for freely prescribing and imbibing alcohol'.)) In very late pregnancy, her discomfort led her to be more negative. Two weeks before her next baby was born she was writing to Rosa: 'Oh! these dreadful, dreadful babies'.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, Praed papers, 15 August [1881], QJO)) \\ | In April, she again referred to her pregnancy in negative terms, enhanced by fear that Dr Hobbs would be overseas during the delivery (she was relieved to find out he would be available) and a well-grounded fear that any replacement doctor who would deliver the baby could be drunk.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, Praed papers, 3 April 1881, QJO. Helen Woolcock, M.J. Thearle, Kay Saunders, "'My Beloved Chloroform’. Attitudes to Childbearing in Colonial Queensland: A Case Study', //Social History of Medicine//, 10:3, December 1997, p.448. The authors note that 'Brisbane's early doctors had a reputation for freely prescribing and imbibing alcohol'.)) In very late pregnancy, her discomfort led her to be more negative. Two weeks before her next baby was born she was writing to Rosa: 'Oh! these dreadful, dreadful babies'.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, Praed papers, 15 August [1881], QJO)) \\ |
| \\ | \\ |
| 6. **Robert** Sterling (29 August 1881((Qld Births registration no. B28103))-31 May 1962).((//Sydney Morning Herald//, 2 & 4 June 1962)) When young, his family called him Robin; in later life friends called him Bob. He was named Sterling after his mother's cousins: for more, click on [[Sterling]]. Robert's birth registration gives his birthplace as Stanley Street, South Brisbane, but TLM-P's diary states it was in a private establishment, run by a Mrs Scott, in Ipswich.((check TLM-P diary 2/9/89. Elsewhere TLM-P states that Robert was born in Brisbane,‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda by the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry.))\\ | 6. **Robert** Sterling (29 August 1881((Qld Births registration no. B28103))-31 May 1962).((//Sydney Morning Herald//, 2 & 4 June 1962)) When young, his family called him Robin; in later life friends called him Bob. He was named Sterling after his mother's cousins: for more, click on [[Sterling]]. Robert's birth registration gives his birthplace as Stanley Street, South Brisbane; this was an establishment, run by a Mrs Scott.((check TLM-P diary 2/9/89; 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; Nora M=_P to TLM-P, n.d [incorrectly catalogued as 1876 but internal evidence indicates in is August 1881], NLA MS7801, Box 4.))\\ |
| \\ | \\ |
| The move to hospital rather than home births could mean a significant rise in maternal mortality due to cross-infections, but that depended on the numbers of women cared for at once - an establishment like Mrs Scott's may well have only taken in a few women at a time. A key motivator of Nora and her contemporaries to move away from home births was access to effective pain relief.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, Praed papers, 3 April 1881, QJO)) For Robert's birth, Nora wrote to her step-daughter, 'As the doctor was away ... I did not have access to my beloved chloroform'.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, Praed papers, September 1888, QJO. For a discussion of her attitude towards pain relief in childbirth, see Helen Woolcock, M.J. Thearle, Kay Saunders, "'My Beloved Chloroform’. Attitudes to Childbearing in Colonial Queensland: A Case Study', //Social History of Medicine//, 10:3, December 1997, pp. 437–457.)) Nora was lucky as it was a face presentation and it needed a skilled midwife to deliver the baby safely.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, Praed papers, 12 September 1881, QJO.)) It was consequently | The move to hospital rather than home births could mean a significant rise in maternal mortality due to cross-infections, but that depended on the numbers of women cared for at once - an establishment like Mrs Scott's may well have only taken in a few women at a time. A key motivator of Nora and her contemporaries to move away from home births was access to effective pain relief.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, Praed papers, 3 April 1881, QJO)) For Robert's birth, Nora wrote to her step-daughter, 'As the doctor was away ... I did not have access to my beloved chloroform'.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, Praed papers, September 1888, QJO. For a discussion of her attitude towards pain relief in childbirth, see Helen Woolcock, M.J. Thearle, Kay Saunders, "'My Beloved Chloroform’. Attitudes to Childbearing in Colonial Queensland: A Case Study', //Social History of Medicine//, 10:3, December 1997, pp. 437–457.)) Nora was lucky as it was a face presentation and it needed a skilled midwife to deliver the baby safely.((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, Praed papers, 12 September 1881, QJO.)) It was consequently |
| Robert M-P was a political conservative, a prominent Mason and active in his local community of Hunters Hill, becoming its mayor in 1935. During World War II he was employed as a censor.((G.M-P, pers comm, 15 Sept 2020)). Murray Prior Reserve, George Street, Hunters Hill is named after him. He was also active in community groups. In c.1901, he was the founding Honorary Treasurer of the Gladesville Volunteer Fire Brigade.((J. Boult,//Hunter's Hill 1794-1938, sesqui-centenary celebrations// Hunters Hill Council, 1938, pp.21,32.)) A small medal dated March 1902 has inscribed on the reverse that it was presented to him 'by the G.C.& D. Society for his zealous work as Secretary' - just what was that Society is unknown though G perhaps stands for Gladesville.((Provenance medal: J. Godden)) He was also a founder, President and keen actor for the Hunters Hill Playreading and Dramatic Club.((Gabrielle Shannon, email to J. Godden, 28 August 2014; pers. comm 14 May 2020.)) While in his twenties, he wrote the genealogical history of his family, 'The Blood Royal of the Murray-Priors'. \\ | Robert M-P was a political conservative, a prominent Mason and active in his local community of Hunters Hill, becoming its mayor in 1935. During World War II he was employed as a censor.((G.M-P, pers comm, 15 Sept 2020)). Murray Prior Reserve, George Street, Hunters Hill is named after him. He was also active in community groups. In c.1901, he was the founding Honorary Treasurer of the Gladesville Volunteer Fire Brigade.((J. Boult,//Hunter's Hill 1794-1938, sesqui-centenary celebrations// Hunters Hill Council, 1938, pp.21,32.)) A small medal dated March 1902 has inscribed on the reverse that it was presented to him 'by the G.C.& D. Society for his zealous work as Secretary' - just what was that Society is unknown though G perhaps stands for Gladesville.((Provenance medal: J. Godden)) He was also a founder, President and keen actor for the Hunters Hill Playreading and Dramatic Club.((Gabrielle Shannon, email to J. Godden, 28 August 2014; pers. comm 14 May 2020.)) While in his twenties, he wrote the genealogical history of his family, 'The Blood Royal of the Murray-Priors'. \\ |
| \\ | \\ |
| Robert married on 22 April 1908, Estella (Stella) Augusta Herring 1883-1968.((//The Sydney Morning Herald//, 25 April 1908, p.10 and death notice, 18 September 1968.)) She was born at Gladesville on 4 March 1883((Birth Certificate in possession of J. Godden.)); her brother Sydney had married Robert's step-niece, a daughter of Florence and Thomas de M.M-P. Stella Herring was reputedly brought up by nannies in an austere fashion, normally seeing her parents only to say goodnight, and at a set and limited period on the weekends.((E.S.M-P, pers.comm to J. Godden.)) Her father was Gerald Herring, a Mayor of Ryde: Herring Road, North Ryde is named after him. On her marriage certificate, Stella gave his occupation as 'gentleman'; Robert described TLM-P as a grazier. After their marriage, Robert and Stella lived at 1 Yerton Avenue, Hunters Hill (the noted artist Nora Heysen lived at no. 1 Yerton Ave). With the death of Robert's sister Ruth M-P, they moved to her home at 17 Madeline Street, Hunters Hill. Click here for [[certificates]]. \\ | Robert married on 22 April 1908, Estella (Stella) Augusta Herring 1883-17 September 1968.((//The Sydney Morning Herald//, 25 April 1908, p.10 and death notice, 18 September 1968.)) She was born at Gladesville on 4 March 1883((Birth Certificate in possession of J. Godden.)); her brother Sydney had married Robert's step-niece, a daughter of Florence and Thomas de M.M-P. Stella Herring was reputedly brought up by nannies in an austere fashion, normally seeing her parents only to say goodnight, and at a set and limited period on the weekends.((E.S.M-P, pers.comm to J. Godden.)) Her father was Gerald Herring, a Mayor of Ryde: Herring Road, North Ryde is named after him. On her marriage certificate, Stella gave his occupation as 'gentleman'; Robert described TLM-P as a grazier. After their marriage, Robert and Stella lived at 1 Yerton Avenue, Hunters Hill (the noted artist Nora Heysen lived at no. 2 Yerton Ave). With the death of Robert's sister Ruth M-P, they moved to her home at 17 Madeline Street, Hunters Hill. Click here for [[certificates]]. \\ |
| \\ | \\ |
| Robert and Stella had five children - more information is available for family members.\\ | Robert and Stella had five children - more information is available for family members.\\ |
| {{:ruth_m-p.jpg?250|}} This 1929 sketch of Ruth, like the one of her sister Dorothy, is by her cousin Isabel Huntley.((Provenance: Phyllis Cullen-Ward to J. Godden.))\\ | {{:ruth_m-p.jpg?250|}} This 1929 sketch of Ruth, like the one of her sister Dorothy, is by her cousin Isabel Huntley.((Provenance: Phyllis Cullen-Ward to J. Godden.))\\ |
| \\ | \\ |
| In her old age, Ruth was remembered with love by children. A relative Gabrielle (Gay) Shannon recalled her as 'so sweet to children and always had time for me to show me the ducks and her cockatoo'.((Gabrielle Shannon, email to J. Godden, 28 August 2014.)) My memory of meeting her as a 9 year old was also someone who was very kind.((J. Godden.)) \\ | In her old age, Ruth was remembered with love by children. A relative Gabrielle (Gay) Shannon recalled her as 'so sweet to children and always had time for me to show me the ducks and her cockatoo'.((Gabrielle Shannon, email to J. Godden, 28 August 2014.)) My memory of meeting her as a 9 year old was also someone who was very kind.((J. Godden.)) Her death notice included the statement 'loving aunt of her nephews and nieces'((SMH August 1961))\\ |
| \\ | \\ |
| After Ruth died, 'Drak', the house she and her sister Dorothy had lived in at Hunters' Hill was bought by their Robert. Robert and his wife Stella lived there until they died. After Robert died, his son David joined his mother living at Drak. For a number of years, Helen Murray-Prior also lived there until her grandmother died.\\ | After Ruth died, 'Drak', the house she and her sister Dorothy had lived in at Hunters' Hill was bought by their brother Robert. Robert and his wife Stella lived there until they died. After Robert died, his son David joined his mother living at Drak. For a number of years, Helen Murray-Prior also lived there until her grandmother died.\\ |
| |
| **Key Genealogical Sources**: Bernard Burke, //A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry//, Melbourne: E.A. Petherick, 1891-95, p.50; Owen Lloyd, Jeremy Long and Barbara Dawson, //Descendants of Robert Johnston Barton & Emily Mary Darvall//, 1993; Robert M-P, //The Blood Royal of the Murray-Priors//, pp.18-19; Thomas Bertram M-P, //Some Australasian Families Descended from Royalty//, ms, n.d., pp. 15-18. \\ | **Key Genealogical Sources**: Bernard Burke, //A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry//, Melbourne: E.A. Petherick, 1891-95, p.50; Owen Lloyd, Jeremy Long and Barbara Dawson, //Descendants of Robert Johnston Barton & Emily Mary Darvall//, 1993; Robert M-P, //The Blood Royal of the Murray-Priors//, pp.18-19; Thomas Bertram M-P, //Some Australasian Families Descended from Royalty//, ms, n.d., pp. 15-18. \\ |