Английская Википедия:Eliza Brown (settler)
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Use Australian English Eliza Brown (1811 – 24 April 1896) was an early settler in colonial Western Australia whose letters to her father record the hardships of her family. She accompanied an exploration to Champion Bay in 1851, her account of the journey being published.
Early years
Eliza was the daughter of William Bussey of Cuddesdon, South Oxfordshire, a "gentleman of considerable means".[1]Шаблон:RpШаблон:EfnШаблон:Efn
When Eliza was 13, her mother was committed to an asylum for the insane after she had attempted to take the life of a friend. "She attempted this by leaving the room and returning with an axe".[2]
In 1836, she married Thomas Brown, who was a road surveyor. A son Kenneth was born on 19 August 1837 and Vernon was born in 1839.[3]
Emigration
Thomas Brown disclosed the reason why the couple considered emigrating in a letter to William Bussey in 1850:[4] Шаблон:Quotation The Browns obtained advice from friends Samuel Waterman Viveash and William Tanner, who had already settled in Western Australia.[5]Шаблон:Rp
In November 1840, the Browns left England to emigrate to Western Australia. They travelled in a steerage cabin on the Sterling with 14 other emigrants. They brought with them seven servants[6]Eliza started writing letters to her father during the voyage.
Shortly after leaving, as Eliza wrote to her father: Шаблон:Quotation
They arrived in Western Australia in March 1841.
Grass Dale
The Browns purchased from Revett Henry Bland a farm called Grass Dale, near York.
A son Aubrey was born in 1841 at York.[3] Eliza wrote to her father about this: Шаблон:Quotation Quoting historian Geoffrey Bolton: Шаблон:Quotation
In September 1842, life may have become a little more comfortable as Thomas leased a farm house and other farm buildings from a neighbour Mr John Wall Hardey.[7]
In 1843, Maitland was born.[8]Шаблон:Efn
There was a depression in Western Australia and they struggled financially. “Costs remained high, but the price of stock fell.” They were indebted to Eliza's father who had loaned them money or guaranteed loans.[5]Шаблон:Rp Thomas had to resort to cutting sandalwood to earn a living.[5]Шаблон:Rp
On 15 December 1844, their son, Vernon, drowned in the River Avon.[9] Another son was born in 1845, and named Vernon.[3] and Matilda was born on 25 November 1847.[10]
Eliza writes about this to her father as follows: Шаблон:Quotation
Not long after they moved into their new home at Grass Dale in 1845, the home was struck by lightning:[11] Шаблон:Quotation
On one occasion in 1848, her son Kenneth was accidentally speared.[12] In another incident: Шаблон:Quotation
Education was a problem for Eliza, she wrote:[5]Шаблон:Rp Шаблон:Quotation
Champion Bay
In 1850, her husband joined a party exploring the Champion Bay district. He selected 40,000 acres (160 km2) on the Greenough River, and the following year established a homestead there, which he called Glengarry. Eliza was left to manage the farm at York.[1]Шаблон:Rp
A daughter Janet was born in 1850.[3]
In May and June 1851, Eliza herself rode with her husband and others to Champion Bay, and was persuaded by the Governor to write her account of the journey, which was published in the Inquirer.[13] She explained to her father why she joined the journey to Champion Bay:[1]Шаблон:Rp Шаблон:Quotation
Fremantle
The Browns did not move to Champion Bay because in May 1851, the Governor appointed Thomas as a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council and they moved to Perth.[1]Шаблон:Rp Шаблон:Efn In October 1851, Brown was appointed acting Police Magistrate in Fremantle, during the absence of Thomas Yule. Brown accepted the position and he and Eliza and family moved to Fremantle. Grass Dale was let.[5]Шаблон:Rp He was appointed Resident Magistrate for Fremantle the following year, and from 1856 was also Perth's Collector of Customs.[5]Шаблон:Rp
Later years
Eliza returned to England in 1859 to see her father before he died, taking Aubrey with her.[5]Шаблон:RpШаблон:Efn In October 1862, Thomas Brown was transferred to the position of Resident Magistrate at Geraldton. He held the position until his death the following June. Шаблон:Quotation
In 1876, she gave evidence in the case involving her son Kenneth who had been charged with murder after shooting his second wife. The defence tried to show he was insane and Eliza gave evidence of the insanity of her mother.[14]
She died on 24 April 1896.
Edith Cowan was her granddaughter.
Letters
Eliza's legacy is her letters to her father. These “form a valuable addition to early accounts of the Swan River Colony, describing it in its second decade of existence.” [1]Шаблон:Rp The letters begin aboard ship in 1840 and cease in 1852.[1]Шаблон:Rp
The letters were edited for the book "A Faithful Picture" by the Browns' great-grandson and writer, Peter Cowan.[1]
Notes
References
- ↑ 1,0 1,1 1,2 1,3 1,4 1,5 1,6 A Faithful Picture, the letters of Eliza and Thomas Brown at York in the Swan River Colony 1841-1852, edited by Peter Cowan, introduction by Alexandra Hasluck, Fremantle Arts Centre Press.
- ↑ Western Australian Times, 23 May 1876, p.2.
- ↑ 3,0 3,1 3,2 3,3 Erickson, Rica [comp] The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australia pre 1829-1888, p. 357.
- ↑ Letter from Thomas Brown, Grass Dale, to William Bussey, 21 December 1850.
- ↑ 5,0 5,1 5,2 5,3 5,4 5,5 5,6 A Unique Position, a biography of Edith Dircksey Cowan 1861-1932, Peter Cowan, University of Western Australia Press, 1978.
- ↑ Letter from Eliza Brown, Grass Dale, to William Bussey, 3 July 1845.
- ↑ Letter from Eliza Brown, Grass Dale, to William Bussey, 26 September 1842.
- ↑ Inquirer, 2 August 1843, p.2.
- ↑ Inquirer, 8 January 1845, p.2.
- ↑ Inquirer, 8 December 1847, p.2.
- ↑ Letter from Eliza Brown, Grass Dale, to William Bussey, undated but received on 2 May 1848.
- ↑ Letter from Eliza Brown to William Bussey, received 2 May 1848.
- ↑ Eliza Brown; “Narrative of a Journey from York to Champion bay, in the Colony of Western Australia, during the Months of May and June 1851, Inquirer, 3–10 December 1851.
- ↑ Western Australian Times, 23 May 1876, p.2.
