1876 The Death of Thomas Huntley Brown
Death at Woogaroo
30 May 1876 Queensland Times
THE report of the state of the Lunatic Asylum, Woogaroo, for the week ending May 28, is as follows:
In the house at last report, males 231, females 129; since admitted, males 2; discharged, 1 female; died, on the 26th instant, Thomas Huntley Brown, aged seventy (incorrect - 61) years, late of Ipswich, from senile decay; remaining, males 232, females 128; total patients, 360.
This newspaper article and the Captain's death certificate (part below) offer few clues as to the true nature of his demise.
30 May 1876 Queensland Times
THE report of the state of the Lunatic Asylum, Woogaroo, for the week ending May 28, is as follows:
In the house at last report, males 231, females 129; since admitted, males 2; discharged, 1 female; died, on the 26th instant, Thomas Huntley Brown, aged seventy (incorrect - 61) years, late of Ipswich, from senile decay; remaining, males 232, females 128; total patients, 360.
This newspaper article and the Captain's death certificate (part below) offer few clues as to the true nature of his demise.
1876 Part of Thomas Huntley Brown's death certificate
The death certificate records this scant information:
The death certificate records this scant information:
- Brown was 61 years of age
- he died from "senile decay"
- his condition had persisted for 1 month
- his parents were John Brown and Ann Ockeltree (SIC).
Woogaroo Patient Record
Page 1 - 1876 Woogaroo Patient Record - Thomas Huntley Brown
Page 2 - 1876 Woogaroo Patient Record - Thomas Huntley Brown
The Woogaroo patient record provides a detailed insight into the final 8 years of Brown's life:
The Woogaroo patient record provides a detailed insight into the final 8 years of Brown's life:
- he was admitted on 29 Apr 1876, about a month before his death
- he was dangerous to himself and others
- he was unable to stand unassisted
- he was extremely "dirty" - probably indicating incontinence
- Brown had been unable to work for around 8 years - since 1868
- his condition had gradually worsened over this 8 year period
- he was suffering from dementia, paralysis, vomiting, extreme exhaustion, extravasation of blood to the areolar tissue (the passage of blood from ruptured blood vessels into subcutaneous tissue, marked by a purple discoloration of the skin)
- his age was recorded as 70 - as per the newspaper report - indicating the severity of the Captain's decline. His death certificate recorded his true age of 61
- he died at 11:45 PM
Thomas Huntley Brown's Family - May 1876
Thomas Huntley Brown was survived in Australia by his wife and 5 children:
In England, he was survived by:
Thomas Huntley Brown was survived in Australia by his wife and 5 children:
- Jane Brown (38)
- Thomas Ross Brown (20)
- Isabella Brown (17)
- James Brown (14)
- Susan Brown (12)
- William Joseph Brown (2)
In England, he was survived by:
- his daughter Ann (40) - yet to be confirmed
- his son John (35) - yet to be confirmed
- his sister Jane (62)
- and perhaps his first wife, Harriet.
Questions and (possible) Answers
The Woogaroo patient record raises many interesting questions about Thomas Huntley Brown's illness, the lives of his family and the parentage of his son, William Joseph Brown:
Q1. Do Brown's symptoms suggest a root cause of his "senile decay" and dementia?
A1. The symptoms of dementia, paralysis, and loss of coordination are consistent with tertiary (final stage) syphilis. This disease was very common in the 19th Century, and it was not until the advent of penicillin (1928) that the first stages of the disease could be treated.
Q2. If Brown was unable to work after 1868, how did the family survive?
A2. Perhaps some monetary support was provided between 1868 and 1880 by Lewis Eversden. It is likely that Jane Brown worked as a mid-wife or in a medical capacity, perhaps at Ipswich Hospital. When he passed away, Brown was in debt (£20) according to this insolvency application:
13 Jan 1877 The Queenslander
IN THE INSOLVENT ESTATE OF THOMAS H. BROWN. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE.
The report of the official trustee (Mr. Miskin) was to the effect that the insolvent was adjudicated such in forma pauperis, on the 16th October, 1876; that the debts returned by the insolvent amounted to £19 7s. 1d., none of which had been proved; that the only assets were some tools, valued at £1 10s., which had not been realised upon; and that the insolvent attributed his insolvency to insufficient employment, and pressure on the part of creditors.
Certificate granted.
The adjudication date, the mention of tools and "insufficient employment" suggest that this application can only refer to the estate of Thomas Huntley Brown.
Q3. Does the information in the Woogaroo Patient Record cast any doubt on the parentage of William Joseph Brown?
A3. Brown had been suffering from syphilis for at least 4 years and probably displayed early signs of dementia when William Joseph Brown was conceived in 1872. We can only ponder on whether Brown, nine years after the birth of Jane's previous child, was William's biological father or not.
Q4. Apart from William's birth certificate, are there any written comments on the parentage of William Joseph Brown?
A4. In Lewis Eversden's 1924 obituary, Clara Eversden (it is assumed she was the author) wrote:
While at "Tartha," Mr. Eversden married a second time, but there were no children of the second marriage.
Jane and Lewis Eversden were held in very high regard by their very large extended family (the Browns and the McLarans), the Southport and Queensland Congregational Church, and the Southport and Ipswich societies and communities at large. Clara appears determined to preserve her father's and step-mother's reputations and dispel any rumours surrounding the parentage of William Brown, 51 years of age and a prominent Brisbane hotelier in 1924. It would have been scandalous news if she had publicly named William as her half-brother.
Was it necessary for Clara to include the phrase "but there were no children of the second marriage"? If written by her succinct father, the phrase would have been omitted. Was there a hidden message: "there was a child, but born outside (i.e. before) the marriage?"
Q5. Are there any clues that Lewis Eversden was the father of William Joseph Brown?
A5. Prior to his marriage, William was known as "William Eversden." As Lewis Eversden was the only father he ever knew and his mother and Eversden married when he was only 7, this is not unexpected. He reverted to his legal name of Brown when he married and attached the name "Eversden" to the names of his 2 children by his first wife, Jane Caless. This may have been an attempt to generate a hyphenated surname of "Eversden-Brown". In this he failed. Son Thomas on joining the army was even unable to spell "Eversden", recording it as "Everston".)
William's Christian names are an intriguing combination: Jane's father's name was William and she had brothers named William and Joseph. Joseph was the name of Lewis Eversden's grandfather and one of his uncles. Neither name is from the Brown family.
Comparison of photos of William and Lewis - see below - reveal a remarkable facial resemblance and provide more to ponder upon.
Q6. Were there any well known houses of ill-repute in Ipswich in the 1860's?
A6. The famous "Cottage of Comfort" was in a prime location near the wharfs on the banks of the Bremer River. It entertained a steady flow of teamsters from the Darling Downs and continued to operate long after the advent of the railway in 1864.
Q7. Where was The Captain buried?
A7. The day after he died, the Captain was interred in an unmarked grave at the Woogaroo cemetery. Saddled with mounting debts, it is unlikely Jane could afford a permanent grave marker. His remains have probably been relocated to the Goodna Cemetery.
The Woogaroo patient record raises many interesting questions about Thomas Huntley Brown's illness, the lives of his family and the parentage of his son, William Joseph Brown:
Q1. Do Brown's symptoms suggest a root cause of his "senile decay" and dementia?
A1. The symptoms of dementia, paralysis, and loss of coordination are consistent with tertiary (final stage) syphilis. This disease was very common in the 19th Century, and it was not until the advent of penicillin (1928) that the first stages of the disease could be treated.
Q2. If Brown was unable to work after 1868, how did the family survive?
A2. Perhaps some monetary support was provided between 1868 and 1880 by Lewis Eversden. It is likely that Jane Brown worked as a mid-wife or in a medical capacity, perhaps at Ipswich Hospital. When he passed away, Brown was in debt (£20) according to this insolvency application:
13 Jan 1877 The Queenslander
IN THE INSOLVENT ESTATE OF THOMAS H. BROWN. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE.
The report of the official trustee (Mr. Miskin) was to the effect that the insolvent was adjudicated such in forma pauperis, on the 16th October, 1876; that the debts returned by the insolvent amounted to £19 7s. 1d., none of which had been proved; that the only assets were some tools, valued at £1 10s., which had not been realised upon; and that the insolvent attributed his insolvency to insufficient employment, and pressure on the part of creditors.
Certificate granted.
The adjudication date, the mention of tools and "insufficient employment" suggest that this application can only refer to the estate of Thomas Huntley Brown.
Q3. Does the information in the Woogaroo Patient Record cast any doubt on the parentage of William Joseph Brown?
A3. Brown had been suffering from syphilis for at least 4 years and probably displayed early signs of dementia when William Joseph Brown was conceived in 1872. We can only ponder on whether Brown, nine years after the birth of Jane's previous child, was William's biological father or not.
Q4. Apart from William's birth certificate, are there any written comments on the parentage of William Joseph Brown?
A4. In Lewis Eversden's 1924 obituary, Clara Eversden (it is assumed she was the author) wrote:
While at "Tartha," Mr. Eversden married a second time, but there were no children of the second marriage.
Jane and Lewis Eversden were held in very high regard by their very large extended family (the Browns and the McLarans), the Southport and Queensland Congregational Church, and the Southport and Ipswich societies and communities at large. Clara appears determined to preserve her father's and step-mother's reputations and dispel any rumours surrounding the parentage of William Brown, 51 years of age and a prominent Brisbane hotelier in 1924. It would have been scandalous news if she had publicly named William as her half-brother.
Was it necessary for Clara to include the phrase "but there were no children of the second marriage"? If written by her succinct father, the phrase would have been omitted. Was there a hidden message: "there was a child, but born outside (i.e. before) the marriage?"
Q5. Are there any clues that Lewis Eversden was the father of William Joseph Brown?
A5. Prior to his marriage, William was known as "William Eversden." As Lewis Eversden was the only father he ever knew and his mother and Eversden married when he was only 7, this is not unexpected. He reverted to his legal name of Brown when he married and attached the name "Eversden" to the names of his 2 children by his first wife, Jane Caless. This may have been an attempt to generate a hyphenated surname of "Eversden-Brown". In this he failed. Son Thomas on joining the army was even unable to spell "Eversden", recording it as "Everston".)
William's Christian names are an intriguing combination: Jane's father's name was William and she had brothers named William and Joseph. Joseph was the name of Lewis Eversden's grandfather and one of his uncles. Neither name is from the Brown family.
Comparison of photos of William and Lewis - see below - reveal a remarkable facial resemblance and provide more to ponder upon.
Q6. Were there any well known houses of ill-repute in Ipswich in the 1860's?
A6. The famous "Cottage of Comfort" was in a prime location near the wharfs on the banks of the Bremer River. It entertained a steady flow of teamsters from the Darling Downs and continued to operate long after the advent of the railway in 1864.
Q7. Where was The Captain buried?
A7. The day after he died, the Captain was interred in an unmarked grave at the Woogaroo cemetery. Saddled with mounting debts, it is unlikely Jane could afford a permanent grave marker. His remains have probably been relocated to the Goodna Cemetery.
c. 1890 Lewis James Eversden (55 approx)
c. 1930 William Joseph Brown (57 approx)
c. 1930 William Joseph Brown (57 approx)