1861 Parts of John Brown's death certificate
John Brown b. 1861 d 1861
1861 A sad death, a lesson learnt
John was born on 17 Feb 1861 at Fernie Lawn - today known as Fairney View, near Wivenhoe in the Brisbane River Valley. He was named after his grandfather and great grandfather and (perhaps) after his older half-brother, John Brown, born in London 20 years earlier.
13 days later the child died following 48 hours of convulsions. The death certificate records a doctor was either not consulted or available. The Captain buried infant John himself, probably in a homemade coffin and in an unmarked grave.
John was born on 17 Feb 1861 at Fernie Lawn - today known as Fairney View, near Wivenhoe in the Brisbane River Valley. He was named after his grandfather and great grandfather and (perhaps) after his older half-brother, John Brown, born in London 20 years earlier.
13 days later the child died following 48 hours of convulsions. The death certificate records a doctor was either not consulted or available. The Captain buried infant John himself, probably in a homemade coffin and in an unmarked grave.
Comments
Imagine the parents' distress and feeling of helplessness, particularly Jane, 23 years of age, remote from her relations in Ipswich and living with her two young children (six and three) in an area which still had an ever present "aboriginal problem":
7 Feb 1862 Ipswich Times
RAPE. Billy Horton, an aboriginal, was placed at the bar, and charged with that he did at Fernie Lawn, feloniously ravish one Jane Rae. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Jane Rae, who was sworn, and stated that she was residing at Fernie Lawn, on Mr. North's station...etc. Billy and his partner in crime, Kipper** Billy, were both sentenced to death.
The loss of John so soon after birth may well have been the catalyst for Jane's midwifery career culminating in her appointment as Matron at The Lady Bowen Lying-in Hospital. Perhaps John's death steeled her for the trying years ahead in Laidley and the Captain's eight year death spiral.
The choice of the name "John" may support a theory that Jane was unaware the Captain already had a son by that name. But it may also be a sign of respect for that never-to-be-seen-again son b. 1841.
This must have been a sad chapter of the family's life, but within 2 months Jane was pregnant again. The nights would have been long and dark at Fernie Lawn in 1861.
** It is very likely that Kipper Billy was from Kipper Creek, north west of Esk, a centre of sawmilling between 1900 and 1930, including a mill run by my great grandfather, Frederick James Thorne Martin, and his sons.
Imagine the parents' distress and feeling of helplessness, particularly Jane, 23 years of age, remote from her relations in Ipswich and living with her two young children (six and three) in an area which still had an ever present "aboriginal problem":
7 Feb 1862 Ipswich Times
RAPE. Billy Horton, an aboriginal, was placed at the bar, and charged with that he did at Fernie Lawn, feloniously ravish one Jane Rae. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Jane Rae, who was sworn, and stated that she was residing at Fernie Lawn, on Mr. North's station...etc. Billy and his partner in crime, Kipper** Billy, were both sentenced to death.
The loss of John so soon after birth may well have been the catalyst for Jane's midwifery career culminating in her appointment as Matron at The Lady Bowen Lying-in Hospital. Perhaps John's death steeled her for the trying years ahead in Laidley and the Captain's eight year death spiral.
The choice of the name "John" may support a theory that Jane was unaware the Captain already had a son by that name. But it may also be a sign of respect for that never-to-be-seen-again son b. 1841.
This must have been a sad chapter of the family's life, but within 2 months Jane was pregnant again. The nights would have been long and dark at Fernie Lawn in 1861.
** It is very likely that Kipper Billy was from Kipper Creek, north west of Esk, a centre of sawmilling between 1900 and 1930, including a mill run by my great grandfather, Frederick James Thorne Martin, and his sons.