The Descendants of Philip and Ann Markham
On Thursday, 18 October 1827, at the age of 18, Philip Markham was tried at the Kent Quarter Sessions in Canterbury and sentenced to seven years transportation for stealing a lamb. There is an account of the trial in the Kentish Gazette Tuesday, 23 October, 1827: ‘The General Quarter Sessions for this city took place yesterday before the Recorder and a Bench of Magistrates when the following prisoners were tried: James Castello, aged 21 and Phillip Markham, 20, were indicted for stealing a lamb from a field in the parish of St. Mary, Northgate, the property of Mr Ginder, butcher. There was no counsel employed for the prosecution, and Mr Pollock attended for the prisoner Markham.’ While awaiting transportation, most convicts were placed in hulks, large unhealthy tubs moored at harbour. PM tried to escape from the hulk but was caught. He made the voyage to Australia via the Lady Harwood, which left London 26 March 1829 and arrived in Hobart Town 28 July 1829. There were a total of 208 males on board, including 164 convicts of whom only one died on board. The surgeon’s report said that PM was well-conducted. Money belonging to PM was given to the surgeon or superintendent for safe keeping: £2, 12/- 4d. The following particulars were taken down upon arrival in Tasmania: trade: baker, but could milk; height: 5’5 3/4; large head; black hair and beard; long nose and visage; perpendicular forehead; light-blue eyes; medium mouth and broad thick chin. He was pock pitted and there was a figure of a man between two women inside his right arm. There was a wart at the back of his right hand and a scar near the wrist-joint on his left arm. |
Philip Markham |
On Thursday, 26 November 1835, PM and George Nation were tried at the Hobart Supreme Court by a military jury in front of Joseph Hone (Chairman), John Gregory and G.T.B. Boyes. The men were charged on two accounts of stealing a pig, valued at 20s and some pork also worth 20s. This was the property of Dixon and Kerr, of Bushy Park, New Norfolk. There is an account of the court case in The Colonial Times, Tuesday 1 December 1835: ‘The case was one of great difficulty as to proof and rested chiefly upon the suspicious circumstances attaching to their possession of the property, without giving even the slightest account of the way it came into their possession, which could not positively be sworn to. The Chairman, in summing up, put it to the Jury, that it was such a case as called most particularly for their careful deliberation - the facts were purely of a suspicious nature, and, as such, required to be well weighed by the Jury. Verdict - Guilty of stealing against both the prisoners. Sentence - both to be severally transported for seven years. The prisoners Nation and Markham were charged under a second information, with stealing three bags, the property of Messrs. Dixon and Kerr, to this Nation pleaded guilty, and the Clerk of the Peace consented to an acquittal upon this charge, as against Markham, who was of course declared Not Guilty. Sentence suspended against Nation.’ |
PM was sent to work on a chain gang making a road to Westbury for two years on 11 December 1835. He does not reappear on government records until 1842. His activities during this time are described by Anthony Trollope in his book, Australia: ‘There is also one Markham, now carrying on business satisfactorily as a gardener, who lived for seven years in a retreat he made for himself in the bush, coming down occasionally and stealing such articles as were essential for him, growing a little wheat on a plot round his cottage, keeping a goat and rearing a few sheep. For seven years the man lived on in this way, all alone, undiscovered, sufficing in all things for himself, - except in regard to those occasional thefts from his nearest neighbour. Then the solitude became too much for him, and he crept down to a neighbour’s house, - the squatter from whom he had been accustomed to steal, - and finding the mistress of the family, he gave himself up to her in order that the law might do as it would with him. The squatter, who had been the man’s prey, was an Irish gentleman, with a tender heart, who felt thankful to the man for not having murdered his wife and children. Having position and influence he interfered on the man’s behalf and the law was lenient and the man was pardoned. The story was told to me by the lady to whom Markham surrendered himself, wild, with long locks, clothed in a sheepskin, haggard with solitude, tired out with absolute independence. Now he is a prosperous grower of apples. What an episode in life for a man to carry about always in his memory!’ |
A police report from New Norfolk (15 November 1843) gives the following account: ‘I beg to report to you that I have visited the place where Philip Markham, the absconder, declared that he had resided during the seven years of his absence. It is situated in the tier about seven miles to the rear of Fenton Forest, between the Russell Falls and the River Styx, and from many circumstances, appears to have been one of the stations occupied by him, Nation and others when formerly absent. The approach to the spot, after ascending the hill is, for about half a mile over rocky ground, densely timbered and scrubby and it is quite possible to be within ten yards of the place without discovering habitations. These consist of a bark and mud hut and a very excellent building of split slabs, divided into five compartments with three pig sties. There is about an acre of land fenced in with a small stream running through it. The ground is well cultivated about 1 acre with drilled wheat, the remainder with potatoes and fruit trees. In store there are about 11/2 tons of potatoes in good order and about two bushels of wheat in the chaff, a large iron boiler and a crow bar with a variety of tools of no value, and some fowls. With respect to the sale of the property, I shall be glad to receive instructions. If sold by auction on the spot I do not believe the whole would realise more than £2 or £3 and the sale must be accompanied with a right of residence until the maturity of the crops a condition which I think might prove very prejudicial to the neighbouring settlers. It would not however be possible to remove the potatoes to an accessible spot without incurring expense equal to their value. They ought, however, be immediately disposed. Order whole of buildings be destroyed by fire and public auction of produce.’ |
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PM surrendered himself in 1842, since on 14 October 1842, his existing sentence was extended for two years for absconding. It was recommended that he be sent to Port Arthur on probation. This decision was approved 21 November 1842. Not long after, PM was given 75 lashes at Port Arthur for attempting to escape (3 December 1842). A letter survives from a former employer, Edward Abbott, to the Colonial Secretary’s Office, dated 20 September 1843, requesting leniency in the PM case: ‘Sir, I have to request you will be pleased to bring under his excellency’s notice the case of Philip Markham, a convict at present suffering punishment at Port Arthur. Markham was a runaway in the bush for six years and during all that time he conducted himself in a most harmless way. In truth his case is very analogous to Defoe’s celebrated novel. He constructed a hut in an inaccessible part of the country at the back of Captain Fenton’s at Russell Falls. He cultivated land, growing corn and grinding it himself, rearing pigs and poultry, employed himself in a task of great labour, constructing a road to his hut, kept a kind of almanack and was little ‘out of reckoning’ and only on one occasion during all this time saw a human being, till at last his reason failed and he gave himself up. He was tried for absconding and sentenced to an extension of his sentence - two years. It is hardly becoming in me to express an opinion of the sentence of the magistrates. That power rests with the Lieutenant Governor alone. If the sentence had been extended to the full period of the time Markham being absent, it would be no more than he deserved. But I do complain of his removal to Port Arthur, where the punishment, I am informed, is for the most part, sanguinary, where this man is associated with the most reckless, and where (to use the words of one of the men lately capitally convicted) – ‘Men forget that they are men.’ What is the consequence? This unfortunate convict finds himself at Port Arthur harshly treated and in the midst of bad associates. He makes an attempt to get away, for which he is scourged. He receives 75 lashes! I can have no hesitation in expressing my opinion of such a mode of punishment. To use the most appropriate language of his excellency. The punishment in this case is ‘vindictive.’ It is not ‘remedial.’ The infliction of the last, in my judgement, makes the bad man good but it has made many good men bad. I say this with deference and from all I hear it is in unison with his excellency's ideas of penal discipline. It has been my opinion for many years formed in long colonial experience. I do trust that my appeal on behalf of Markham will be successful and that his excellency will be pleased to ameliorate his condition by removing him from Port Arthur. I make this application with confidence, knowing the man to be a quiet, inoffensive character, he being formerly my assigned servant. Indeed I should have no objection to take him now as a probation servant. I would rather have made this communication through the director of convict discipline, but heard that that official could not take cognisance of this case at present. I have the honour to be etc. Edward Abbott.’ Abbott’s request for leniency was successful. On 6 March 1844, PM was released from Port Arthur and declared free by servitude, aged 35. Within a month, PM sought permission to marry Charlotte Stone, a convict from Essex, England. Charlotte had been tried at the Central Court, London, 5 July 1841 for stealing a piece of clothing at Cheapside. She already had a gaol record: she had spent 2 weeks in a House of Correction for assaulting a constable. Like PM, she was sentenced to 7 years’ transportation. The surgeon reported her behaviour as troublesome on the voyage to Tasmania. |
Charlotte Stone arrived in Hobart Town on board the Emma Eugenea, 9 April 1842, aged 32. The ship had left Woolwich 24 November 1841 with 191 female convicts on board. She gave her occupation as a plain cook and housemaid, native place Hatton on Hounslow in Sussex. Her family included two sisters, Catherine (the wife of a surgeon living in Gibraltar) and Sarah. She had lived with a Mrs Cathfield for 6 years in England and could read and write. The following description was taken down after she arrived in Hobart Town: florid complexion, height 4'8", oval head and visage, brown hair, high forehead, dark eyebrows, hazel eyes, medium nose, mouth and chin. She had one child, her husband was dead and she described herself as Anglican. When female convicts arrived in Tasmania, they were housed at the Female Factory, now the Cascades at South Hobart. Here they were lodged until employment could be found as a servant for a free settler and here they returned to receive punishment for any offences committed in the colony. Charlotte was convicted five times from her arrival in 1842 until she received a Ticket of Leave on 24 December 1844. On 14 October 1842 she was given one month at the washtub for an inebriated condition; a reprimand sufficed insolence on 5 May 1843; for being absent from duty without leave, Charlotte was assigned to the interior since conditions there were harsher than in Hobart Town. For insolence and neglect of duty she returned to the Female Factory on 29 November 1843 for 2 months hard labour. For being out after hours on 2 September 1844 she received 10 days solitary confinement. Since Charlotte was still a convict, PM applied to the Principal of Convicts for permission to marry in April 1844. This was granted, however it is more than likely that the marriage did not take place since no mention is made of a marriage on Charlotte’s convict record. Charlotte Stone died of a stroke at New Norfolk 6 April 1845 aged 35, only four months after having obtained her freedom.
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On 18 February 1845, PM found himself committed for trial for sheep-stealing, again. The trial took place at the Hobart Supreme Court 4 March 1845. There is an account of the trial in the Hobart Town Advertiser, 7 March 1845: ‘Philip Markham, a very decent looking man, was charged with stealing on the 11th February 11 sheep of the value of £3 6/- the property of Captain Fenton of Fenton Forest. A man named Price, a servant of Mr Gunn, saw the prisoner driving some sheep from Mr Fenton’s flock on the day in question, and on searching the prisoner's place after the sheep were missed, witness found nine sheep hanging up (skinned) and one whole sheep roasting at a large fire and part of another sheep hanging up making nine in all. Guilty: transported for life.’ The Hobart Town Courier carried another article the next day (8 March 1845): ‘Philip Markham - it will be in the recollection of many of our readers that a man named Markham was apprehended about 14 months ago, a few miles at the back of Fenton Forest, where it appeared that he had resided nearly seven years, and as was stated, without speaking to any human being. From the peculiarity of the case and the apparent harmlessness of his mode of life for so long a period, he was leniently dealt with and sentenced to 12 months only at Port Arthur. He became free, and at the expiration of his sentence, returned to his old haunts, where he had taken with him a woman and two children, intending to settle again. He has however been quickly stopped in his career, having been discovered driving sheep away from Mr Fenton's flock. Eleven were found slaughtered and hung up. He was taken by Constable Geary, has been tried and again convicted, as will be seen in our report of the proceedings of the Supreme Court.’ This is the report published in the same newspaper on the same day: ‘Philip Markham: charged with stealing 11 sheep, the property of Captain Michael Fenton. William Price, shepherd to Mr Gunn (a neighbour of Mr Fenton) observed prisoner taking 20 or 30 sheep across his run in the direction of the tiers. He gave information and went with a constable and Captain Fenton's shepherd to the hut of the prisoner, situated in a lone place under the tier. They found there nine sheep skinned, also a whole sheep roasting, and a portion of a sheep, showing altogether a total of 11 sheep killed. The skins were found and identified as belonging to Captain Fenton’s sheep. Verdict: Transportation for life.’ |
Not only did PM receive a life sentence this time, but he was transported to Norfolk Island off the coast of NSW, a settlement which enjoyed a worse reputation than Port Arthur for its cruelty and brutality. After just under 3 years at Norfolk Island, PM was sent back to Port Arthur on probation 3 November 1847. No offence was recorded during this last imprisonment and after 1848 he was paroled going through a 10-year process of gaining third to first-class tickets which made him eligible for a conditional pardon and finally a free pardon on 3 March 1857. PM spent some of the 1850s in the Huon. He worked for a Mr Champ for at least 6 months in 1850. On 4 October 1852, 13 December 1853 and 1 April 1856, he applied for a conditional pardon but was not granted one till 11 November 1856. By this time he was settled, married and had a family. |
Ann Markham, née Joynt
When PM was living in the Huon in 1853 he met the convict Ann Joynt who spent from 1853-1855 in service in the same area. It was decided on 8 September 1853 that Ann should no longer work in Hobart Town so she was sent to work for a Mr J. Evans on the Huon River, 14 September 1853. Eight months later, 12 May 1854, Ann was delivered of an illegitimate child at the Female Factory. He was christened Thomas Joynt and died five months later. Ann Joynt was tried at Limerick City, Ireland, 28 February 1852 and sentenced to 10 years’ transportation for stealing a counterpane from a Major in the 92nd Regiment. She had a gaol record having spent some time in prison for stealing a bonnet and 7 days for a print. She was single, a Roman Catholic, could read, but not write. There is a brief mention of the trial in The Limerick Chronicle, Wednesday, 3 March 1852: 'Limerick Assizes. Anne Joynt, who pleaded guilty of stealing articles from an officer's quarters at the new barracks, being an old offender, was sentenced to transportation for (ten years).' She arrived in Hobart Town 24 February 1853 on board the Midlothian which had left Dublin 17 November 1852 with 170 female convicts. It was the third last shipload of convicts to Tasmania. The following description was taken down after her arrival: Trade: lace worker and needle woman, height 5'1/2", aged 24, fair complexion, black hair and eyebrows, high forehead, oval visage, grey eyes, medium head, nose and chin, large mouth. There were natural marks on her right wrist and right arm. Her native place was Limerick. She had lived two years with an alderman, Thomas Mahoney. Of her family, Ann revealed that she had three brothers, Dudley, Hugh and Christopher, and two sisters, Margaret living in Limerick and Alice living in America. Ann Joynt was born 1 January 1829. Her sister Alice was baptised 18 January 1823 and another sister Margaret c.1831. Her parents, Christopher Joynt and Elizabeth O’Connor were married at Rathkeale, in Co. Limerick, 29 July 1819. Margaret Joynt (c.1831-1899) married Michael Dollaher at St. Michael’s, Limerick, 18 October 1847. She emigrated to Tasmania in 1865, aged 34, a widow with 5 children, on board the Grassmere. She had 6 children, born in Ireland: Honora, bapt. 13 Oct. 1845 (married John Grant at Franklin, 19 Jan. 1866); Anne, bapt. 1 Oct. 1850 (died young); John, born c.1853 (married Emma Snow at Hobart, 21 June 1898) - he died 11 April 1899 at New Norfolk; Elizabeth, born c.1857 (married Robert Lillye at Hobart, 3 Feb. 1879) - she died 6 March 1884; Margaret, bapt. 19 April 1859 (married Henry John Smart at Hobart, 21 Feb. 1882) and Michael, bapt. 15 April 1862 (married Sarah Bateman) died 23 July 1943. Margaret Dollaher married Denis Donovan, aged 32, at Franklin, 21 September 1866. There was one son born at Castle Forbes Bay, 16 December 1866, William Donovan. Denis Donovan died 29 Dec. 1884 and Margaret Donovan died at St. John’s Park, New Town, 27 July 1899. Ann Joynt was immediately put into service upon arrival in Hobart Town. In 1853 she worked for Mr McNeish of Murray St., Mrs Dobson of Macquarie St., Mrs Perkins of Liverpool St., C. Basstian of Argyle St., Mrs Johnson of Liverpool St. and Mrs Williams of Macquarie St. From September 1853 to July 1855, she worked for J. Evans, W. Cuthbert, the Hospital and S. Voss, all of the Huon, the last-mentioned from Franklin. Having gained a Ticket of Leave, 26 September 1854, PM sought and was granted permission to marry Ann Joynt, 16 October 1855. The month before, on 18 September 1855, Ann had asked for a Ticket of Leave, but was told to apply again in 4 months’ time. Her marriage to PM took place at St. Mark’s Church of England at Ranelagh, then called Victoria Settlement, 5 November 1855. Philip was said to be aged 47 and Ann 25. The first Catholic church in the Huon, St. Mary’s at Franklin, was not built until November 1856. PM was granted 39 acres of land at Glaziers Bay, a property valued at £14 a year. |
Five children are listed in the Markham family Bible born to Philip and Ann Markham: Mary Elizabeth, Anastasia, Philip Thomas, Lily Theresa and Charles George. Mary was named after Philip’s mother in England and called 'Minnie'. The family Bible gives 16 September 1856 as her date of birth, but 15 September 1856 is given on her baptism entry. The second child, Anastasia, is simply called Ann on the baptism record. Named after Philip’s aunt, she was born 8 June 1858. A year later, the third child was born, 19 December 1859. He is called Philip Thomas in the Bible, but simple Philip on the baptism record. The first three children, along with their mother, were all baptised at St. Mark’s Anglican church, 8 August 1861. The date of birth on Ann Markham’s baptism record is 1 January 1830, yet in the Bible 1 January 1829 is given. The latter date seems more reliable. According to the records at St. Mark’s, the next child baptised was Elizabeth Theresa, 24 February 1862, named after Ann’s mother this time. |
When Mary Markham reached the age of 19, she married John Whelan Grace, aged 25, at St. James’ church, Cygnet, 30 August 1875. John was the son of Pierce Grace (an ex-convict) and Catherine Wheelan. The witnesses were Michael Grace and Eliza Grace, sister and brother of John. The couple settled in Glaziers Bay, near their parents. Two years later Ann Markham married John Grace’s brother, William Grace, 14 May 1877 at St. James. Ann was almost 19 and William 22. This time the witnesses came from the Markham family, Philip and Elizabeth (Lily). The next two children married the same year. On 6 May 1885, Philip Thomas Markham married Eva May Noble, the daughter of William Noble and Mary Ann Donohue. Philip was aged 25 and Eva almost 18. Charles and Lily witnessed the wedding. Four months later Lily married John Duggan on 15 September 1885, both aged 21. The witnesses were Lily’s brother, Charles, and John’s sister, Mary. Charles George Markham married Johanna ‘Annie’ Geneva Dillon, the daughter of Timothy Dillon and Catherine Joyce. Timothy Dillon owned a house and 12 acres of farmland at Glaziers Bay worth £10 a year. They were married at St. James, 26 April 1887, Charles aged 21 and Johanna 19. The witnesses were William Oakford, Mary Dillon (Johanna’s sister who later married William Christopher Andrews), Ellen Dillon (another sister who later married William Conley) and Christina Thorp. |
Philip Markham died on Christmas Day 1888, two days before his 80th birthday. PM had signed a will, 31 March 1886, in which his wife, Ann Markham, was to receive an annuity of £20 during her life and Elizabeth 'Lily' Theresa an annuity of £6 until she reached the age of 31. Charles Markham was appointed sole executor and new owner of the house and property. All household goods and effects were bequeathed to Ann who lived with Charles and Johanna until her death, 18 May 1893, aged 64. No graves for Philip or Ann Markham have been located.
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Mary Grace/Henderson, née Markham Tragedy struck the Markham family after the birth of John and Mary Grace’s first three children. James Grace was born 24 November 1875 and baptised 26 December 1875. Rachel Anastasia Grace was born 10 May 1877 and baptised 31 May 1877. Lilly Ann Grace was born 7 August 1878 and baptised 7 September 1878. A telegram reached Hobart in time for a short account of the tragedy to be published in the Mercury, 30 December 1878, but readers had to wait till Wednesday, 1 January 1879 to find a full account of the events of Saturday 28 December 1878: ‘Following close upon this comes the shocking catastrophe by which Grace’s three children lost their lives, and the inquest upon whose remains was held today. The facts elicited are in substance those reported in your telegram. The Graces, an industrious young couple, live at Glazier’s Bay, and, on Saturday last, Grace being absent at his work in the bush, Mrs Grace left the hut about 4 o’clock in the afternoon to pick raspberries, leaving the three children shut up in the hut. The youngest, a female 6 months old, in bed; the others, a male and female, aged 1 year and 9 months, and 3 years, playing about the floor. Mrs Grace was about 300 yards away at work, and had not been absent over twenty minutes, when she was alarmed by hearing some neighbours shouting. Upon going up to her hut she found it enveloped in flames and partly on the ground. After the fire had abated sufficiently to allow a search, what remained of the children was found, the two eldest near where the door was, the infant in the smouldering remains of the bed-clothes. Mrs Grace states there was no fire when she left the hut, but it is probable there might have been some live embers under the ashes. The fire was first observed near the chimney. The building was a 2-roomed hut. A verdict of accidentally burned was returned.’ An inquest into the death of the Grace children was held at Pierce Grace’s house at Glaziers Bay. Edward Atkyns Walpole, one of HM’s coroners, took evidence under oath from Denis Brereton, Thomas Wall, James Walsh, John Stevens, Michael Mackey, Philip Markham and Patrick Dwyer. A verdict of death by misfortune was returned. Another child, born to John and Mary Grace 2 September 1879 and baptised 5 November 1879 at St. James, Cygnet, was christened Rachel Lilly Grace, later called 'Eileen'. Two years later a child was born 27 April 1881 and baptised 29 May 1881, called Pierry Thomas Grace. He was brought up by his uncle and aunt, William and Ann Grace. The following year John Whelan Grace died of tuberculosis on 28 October 1882 at Hobart, aged 33. Pierry Thomas Grace died at St. John’s Park, New Town. Mary Grace left Tasmania with her daughter Eileen and went to live in Sydney where she married George James Henderson at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, 4 July 1889. Born in London (c.1854), George was a marine engineer. Four children were born in Sydney, two of whom survived: Susan Grace Henderson (born 22 July 1889 at 147 Cumberland Street; died 11 January 1890 at 43 Corben Street); George Alfred Henderson (born 5 July 1890 in Surry Hills and died 24 July 1952 in Waverley); Elsie ‘May' Henderson (born 3 April 1893 and died 1966); and Alfred Charles Henderson (born 22 September 1894 at 3 Point Street and died 30 January 1895 at 3 Point Street). Eileen Grace later married Arthur Dutch in Sydney, 14 May 1904, and had two children: Georgina May Dutch (1904-1977) and Katherine Dutch (1913-1970). George senior died in Sydney of cerebral haemorrhage, 26 May 1920, aged 66. He was buried at the Church of England cemetery, Rookwood. Mary Henderson, called 'Minette May' on her death certificate, died of portal cirrhosis and cardiac failure at the Marrackville District Hospital in Sydney, 14 September 1931 aged 74. She was cremated at the Rookwood Crematorium in Sydney. |
Ann Grace, née Markham
Ann and William Grace married in Cygnet, 17 May 1877. The witnesses were Philip and Elizabeth Markham. They settled at Glaziers Bay and had eleven children: Philip Thomas (1878), Mary Ellen (1879), Anne (1881), William John Alexus (1883), Charles Augustus (1885), Catherine (1887), Alice Elizabeth (1889), Lillia Theresa (1892), Maude (1895), Francis Albert (1897) and Leonard Bernard (1901). Ann Grace died at Battery Point, Hobart, 6 September 1939 aged 81, her husband, William Grace, 10 June 1940 at Hobart aged 85.
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Philip Markham
During the 1880s, Philip and his brother Charles Markham took part in annual rowing championships with the Oakford brothers. Philip Markham died of typhoid fever 20 March 1886, aged 26, only one year after his marriage. One daughter, Philippa (H)ellen, was born at Glaziers Bay, ten days later, 30 March 1886. She was baptised at Cygnet 2 May 1886. Philippa and her mother, Eva, later moved to Victoria. In 1891, Eva Markham remarried in Hobart. Her husband was Robert King Kendall, born c. 1854. He died in 1940 Baimsdale, Victoria. Philippa Markham married Edward Michael Lear, a fireman, at St. Michael’s, Traralgon, Victoria, 19 September 1912. There were two children: Irene Mary Lear (born 7 August 1920) and Edward Markham Lear (born 17 May 1923). Philippa Lear died of cervical cancer at the Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, 3 October 1924, aged 37. She was buried at the Springvale Cemetery with her grandmother, Mary Noble, who had died 10 October 1919. Edward Lear remarried. His second wife was Hannah Griffin. He lived at 20 Philip St., Coburg and died 21 September 1948. The following obituary appeared after the death of Philip Markham: “Death of Mr P. Markham. Aquatic men will be grieved and surprised to learn of the death of Mr. Philip Markham, bow oarsman of the Huon champion crew, who died at his father’s residence, Glazier’s Bay, Huon, on Sunday. Not only was deceased undoubtedly one of the best oarsmen the colony has ever produced, but his quiet unassuming manner had won him many friends, not only in the south but also in the north, where he has competed on several occasions. Deceased made his appearance as a rower four years ago, when he, together with his brother and the Brothers Oakford, pulled off the champion four-oared race at the Hobart Regatta, defeating the whilom invincible Heather Bros. Not satisfied with their defeat the latter crew challenged their victors for the championship of Tasmania, but the Huon men again won easily, and have, with two intervals – when they were defeated by Pilling’s crew – retained that proud position since. Deceased’s crew competed at the recent Tamar Regatta in the All-comers Race, but were deprived of their chance of winning by their boat swamping, and this was the last race rowed by Phil. Markham, as he was familiarly called, for shortly after his return south he took ill and typhoid fever setting in, he succumbed on Sunday last at the age of 26 years, and in his prime, deeply regretted by all who knew him, for a less ostentatious winner, more honourable rower, or perhaps better man never stepped across athwart in Tasmania. In consequence of Markham’s death the race for the championship of Tasmania and £50, which was to have been rowed at Bellerive on Saturday between Oakford’s and Pilling’s crews has been postponed. J. Russell will now row bow in Oakford’s crew.”
Philip Markham |
Lily Duggan, née Markham
Lily and John Duggan raised their family of eight: Philip Markham (1886), John 'Jack' Francis (1888), Jeremiah ‘Joe’ (1890), Myra Bridget (1893), Eileen Elizabeth (1895), Charles Hilary (1898), Ellen Mary (1901) and Horace James (1903). The eldest son, Philip Markham Duggan enlisted as a private soldier in the AIF during the First World War and died in France. Lily Duggan died 2 November 1940 aged 76 and John Duggan died 10 September 1944 aged 80. |
Charles Markham After the death of his father in 1888, Charles Markham built a new house called ‘Holly Lodge’ at Glaziers Bay where his eight children were born: Kathleen Annie (1888), Clarice Mary (1889), Philip Augustin (1891), Myrene (1892), Elsie Mildred (1894), Charles Francis (1895), Elsie Olive (1897) and Robert Edmond (1899). All survived except Elsie Mildred who died aged two and a half months. Johanna Markham haemorrhaged giving birth to her last child. She died 30 October 1899, aged 32.
Mercury, 25 November 1899 Charles Markham, Warden of Cygnet, died without leaving a will, 27 July 1919, aged 53. The following obituary appeared in the press: The hand of death has removed yet another of the best of the Huon’s public men in the person of Councillor Charles G. Markham, at the age of 53. Although he had been in indifferent health for some time, the seriousness of his condition was not realised, and his death on Sunday morning from cerebral haemorrhage was quite unexpected, giving a painful shock to the community. Councillor Markham since his early manhood, was prominently in public life and, being a man of high intellectual attainments, strong personality, and with the best interests of the Huon district at heart, no one was more respected, trusted, and esteemed by all sections of the community. Prior to the advent of local government the deceased was for years a member of local road trusts, Port Cygnet Fruit Board, and other public bodies. When the municipalities were created he was elected to the council by Cradoc ratepayers, and held his seat from that date to his death. Last year he was elected to the Warden’s chair, but declined to be again nominated, owing to his failing health. Throughout his career he took a keen interest in sport, rowing especially, at which in his youth he was an adept, upholding the honour of the Huon in many a contest in the halcyon days of the oar. The funeral took place on Tuesday at the Catholic Cemetery. There was a very large concourse of people from all parts of the district to pay a last tribute of respect, prominent among whom were Warden Harvey and Port Cygnet councillors, representatives from Esperance and Huon municipalities, Port Cygnet Fruit Board, Huon Regatta Association, and Cygnet Rifle Club. Rev. Father O’Flynn officiated at the graveside. The funeral tool place at Cygnet yesterday afternoon of Councillor C.G. Markham, a well-known resident of the Huon, who died on Sunday. He was a man of strong personality and pronounced convictions, of which last he was very tenacious when he felt himself to be in the right, as has often been noticed in ‘The Mercury’ reports of the debates of the Port Cygnet Municipal Council and the Huon Municipal Association, of both of which bodies deceased was a member. In fact, he had been connected with the local council ever since the inception of local government and for the year prior to the current municipal year he occupied the position of Warden of Port Cygnet. He was highly respected in the district, being a man of generous impulse, of strict integrity and of genial disposition. In his younger days, 30 years ago or more, he was a famous oarsman in those brave days so often recalled by old-time rowing men, when there flourished such stalwarts as the subject of this obituary and his brother, the two Oakfords and the four Pillings. Those were days of long distance races in four-oared boats – bullocking work, which only men of the strongest physique could attempt. The two Markhams and the two Oakfords in the one boat and the four Pillings in another were the heroes of many a tough struggle in those far-off days in the Huon, Derwent and the Tamar Rivers. The late Councillor Markham, indeed, was what may be called an all-round sportsman, and displayed a particularly keen interest in axemanship, being a frequent official at the various chopping matches in the district. He was one of the largest orchardists in the Port Cygnet district, and in his business, as in other matters, was a man of progressive ideas. As a poultry-breeder his was a name well-known and he repeatedly figured as a winner at various exhibitions. He had been a justice of the peace for many years. The deceased had not been in robust health for some time, and not so long ago had a serious illness, the effects of which it is highly probable that he never quite shook off. Indeed, it is declared that had he been more saving of himself, and less mindful of public duties, death would not have overtaken him at the untimely age of 53. He died of cerebral haemorrhage. The funeral cortege which moved from deceased’s residence at Glaziers’ Bay to the Roman Catholic cemetery at Port Cygnet, was large, and contained representatives from all parts of the district. The Warden of Port Cygnet (the Councillor Robert Harvey) and members of the municipality acted as pall-bearers, and included in attendance at the graveside were the Church of England vicar and Nonconformist ministers. The service was conducted by the Rev. P.J. O’Flynn, parish priest. There were a large number of wreaths, including wreaths from the council, the rifle club and employees of the Port Cygnet Trading Company. Owing to the death of Councillor Markham, the special meeting of the Port Cygnet Municipal Council, which was to have been held on Monday night, was postponed. |
