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Frederick A Pearson,
my great great grandfather |
My Gren had told
us that her grandfather drowned in Geelong, Victoria at a young age, that her
grandmother had died a few years later and the children (including her mother)
were then brought up by their grandfather.
Frederick
Augustus PEARSON (1848-1884) did drown but in interesting circumstances, all
documented in Trove, in a number of different papers, Australia-wide.
In summary: On
Thursday morning [30 Oct 1884] the body of Mr F. A. Pearson, professor of
music, was found in the bay in 10 foot of water, face downwards, with the hands
clasped.
It came to light
that for some time past he had been in the habit of taking large doses of
ammonia, sal volatile, and other chemical stimulants, and had been cautioned
some months since as to the probable bad effects the use of such would have on
the brain.
Frederick was
only 36 years old and left his wife Emma Laura nee ROWDEN (1853-1889) and five
children: Florence May (my great grandmother) aged nine and a half years,
Frederick Charles Rowden aged eight years, Leslie Montague aged six years, Emma
Laura aged four and a half years and Mervyn Theodore aged 11 months. Frederick
was a professor of music, had composed several musical pieces, and had
organised a brass and string band of 20 members – what a waste of a life.
His wife died
less than five years later and her father, Frederick Augustus ROWDEN
(1826-1919) then raised the children and lived to the amazing age of 93 years.
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Frederick's widow, Emma Laura nee Rowden with
my great grandmother Florence May Pearson and her
little brother, Leslie Montague Pearson |
What Gren hadn’t
talked about, and probably didn’t know about, were the circumstances of her
great grandmother’s death. Eliza MASON (1824-1869) was the wife of Charles
Kelvey PEARSON (c1827-1909). Her death, and inquest, was also tragically documented
in Trove, also in a number of different papers.
In summary: The
inquest on the body of Mrs C. K. Pearson, who died on Wednesday afternoon (1
July 1869) from the effects of poison she had taken, disclosed some very
painful circumstances, showing that she took the poison wilfully. The evidence
was to the effect that Mrs Pearson, who is forty-five years of age, has had 14
children, 10 of whom are still alive. Being now just on the turn of life, she
has for some time been subject to periodical fits of despondency, and even
temporary madness, and it appears that while suffering from one of these fits,
she took the drugs. While her husband was at work she claimed to have taken
strychnine, which her husband had in a secret drawer in the bedroom [he says he
was unaware that she knew of its existence – although why he would have it!?]. Her
little son ran to get his father, who administered emetics, and then sent for the
doctor. But Mrs Pearson had also taken some liniment composed principally of
belladonna, chloroform, and ammonia. She died soon afterwards.
The jury
returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide by taking
poison while in a state of temporary insanity.
Eliza was only
45 and left 10 surviving children between the ages of three and 21. Her husband
remarried five years later and had four more children. Poor lady, she had had
14 pregnancies, in Avoca in country Victoria, by the age of 45 and her
‘insanity’ was blamed on menopause!
Scary
similarities between the two! Hope it’s not hereditary – and this one is on my
Dad’s side.
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