Henry Scott (c.1842–1913) & Clara née Durham (c.1854–1904)

The second owner of the Scott chest was Henry Scott, the third child and second son of Peter and Isabella Scott. Born in Scotland, Henry was ten when the family migrated to Victoria in 1851.

According to his obituary, Henry worked first as a carrier in the Western District. He married locally, although the name, and fate, of this wife is unknown. 

In 1869, Henry became the keeper at the ‘old’ Minhamite Hotel on the Hawkdesdale-Penshurst road, but the following year moved to the ‘new’ Minhamite Hotel a couple of kilometres away. On Boxing Day 1870, after Henry had moved out of the old hotel, it burnt down in suspicious circumstances. The Hamilton spectator filed the following report on the fire inquest:

'On Saturday, Coroner Learmonth held an inquest, at Penshurst, touching the origin of a fire that occurred on Boxing-Day, whereby the old Minhamite Hotel was burnt down. It appeared, from the evidence, that the premises were not insured. They were untenanted at the time, but the proprietor had made arrangements to let the building, and had given instructions for certain repairs to be executed. The hotel was formerly occupied by Henry Scott, the present landlord of the new Minhamite Hotel, which was about a mile distant. Evidence was given which appeared to establish the fact that the fire was not accidental, but there was nothing to implicate any person. The jury found that the old Minhamite Hotel was wilfully set on fire on Monday, 26th December last, but by whom there was no evidence to show.'

After only a further year in the new Minhamite Hotel, Henry decided to take advantage of a Land Act passed by the Victorian government in 1869. Under its terms, would-be settlers needed only a small amount of capital to license, lease and eventually turn a selection into freehold.

The Wimmera region in the northwest of the colony was thrown open to closer settlement under the 1869 Land Act. Henry’s brother, Peter Jr, was the first member of the family to select land in the Parish of Natimuk. He made the application to license Section 77 in October 1871, while working as a labourer for Major Firebrace at Vectis Station. Henry obtained a licence for nearby Section 85 in October 1871. 

There were only two houses in Horsham and none at Natimuk when Henry arrived in the area, and the land was covered in native vegetation.

The traditional owners of the Wimmera region were the Wergaia and Jardwagali. By the time the Scotts moved to Natimuk, most surviving tribes people had been moved onto Ebenezer Mission, although there may still have been some living at the edges of settlements. The name Natimuk comes from the local Aboriginal language and means little lake.

Henry’s first allotment, like his brother Peter’s, had frontage to the Wimmera River. By 1875, he had built a two-room dwelling of 30 feet by 13 feet from palings. In addition he built a cart shed, stable, store, fowl house, stock-yard and pig-sty, established a vegetable garden and cleared and grubbed land for crops. The total value of these improvements was £345.6.0.

In 1878, Henry married for a second time. His bride was Clara Durham, eldest child of James Durham and Catherine née Cormakan. Clara was born en route from Scotland to Australia in 1854 and was named after the ship, Clara. The first of Henry and Clara’s nine children, Catherine, was born on their farm at Natimuk the following year.

Henry went on to acquire about 1,500 acres of land in the Parishes of Natimuk and Darragan, a significant holding for the area.

Natimuk selections

1. Section 85 (309.2.30), licensed by Henry Scott October 1871, leased February 1875, freehold 6 December 1881.

2. Section 84 (144.1.3), licensed by Peter Scott Sr November 1872, leased July 1877, transferred to Henry Scott November 1878, freehold 6 April 1883.

3. Section 77 (320.0.0), licensed by Peter Scott Jr September 1871, leased April 1875, freehold 20 February 1878, sold to Henry Scott February 1879.

4. Section 83 (95.3.10), licensed by Peter Scott Sr May 1876, leased October 1879, transferred to Henry Scott March 1880, freehold August 1886.

5. Section 78 (141.0.21), licensed and forfeited by Charles Miller, transferred to Alexander Wilson. returned to Grace Miller May 1876, leased March 1880, transferred to Margaret Scott October 1880, transferred to Henry Scott, March 1882, freehold 26 August 1886.

6. Section 86 (276.3.16), licensed by James Durham Jr, leased August 1879, transferred to James Durham Sr January 1880, transferred to Henry Scott February 1887, freehold 15 April 1887.

7. Section 86A, grazing license to Henry Scott November 1887.

Darragan selections

1. Section 93 (62.1.29), licensed by James Nelson Waring April 1883, leased March 1886, transferred to Henry Scott November 1890, then several other parties.

2. Section 29 (99.3.33).

3. Section 94 (35.3.15).

4. Section 94A (11.1.1).

Most of Henry’s land transactions were straightforward, and he ended up purchasing land from his father, Peter (when he struggled to pay necessary rents), and brother, Peter Jr (when he sold out and went to New South Wales), including the Vectis Hotel (see separate blog). 

Henry also acquired Section 86 from his brother-in-law James Durham Jr, but this was more problematic. In February 1879, Henry submitted a ‘Form of statutory declaration in support of application for forfeiture’ against James on the following grounds:

'That the said James Durham at the date of his application for the license of the said land was under the age of eighteen years that is to say of the age of sixteen years and three months only.

After examining a birth certificate for James (born 11 December 1859, Koroit), the Horsham Land Board found for Henry.'

On 19 September 1879, James submitted a ‘Form of appeal against the recommendation of the local Land Board’:

'On the grounds that the applicant for the forfeiture of my lease did not prove that I made the declaration when I applied for my selection wilfully and that the applicant admitted that in making the application for the forfeiture of my lease he was actuated simply by a motive to injure me.

The Department of Lands agreed to reissue the licence for Section 86 to James bearing the date 1 January 1878, which meant that it fell within the required rules as to James’s age.'

The victory for James was short-lived and on 6 January 1880 his father, James Durham Sr, wrote to the Minister for Lands:

'I beg to inform you that my son James Durham … has been missing since July last, and although I have advertised for him and made very enquiry, I have failed to ascertain his whereabouts. His lease is now due, and I herewith forward an application on his behalf … .

James Durham Sr duly assumed responsibility for Section 86, but transferred it to Henry Scott in February 1887. No information on the fate of James Durham Jr has been found.'

In 1882, Henry advertised in the Horsham times that he was ‘giving up farming and going in for dairying’, and held a sale for much of his land and stock. He supplied milk to the ‘Natimuk Dairy Company Limited’, a precarious venture that eventually went into liquidation in 1901.

Henry’s wife, Clara, died on 16 August 1904. ‘Although she had been an invalid for the past twelve months, suffering from partial paralysis and dropsy, she was able to move about a little until lately. Deceased was of a cheerful disposition, and had borne her long illness with singular patience free from the peevishness of the invalid.’

Henry himself died about 4 o’clock in the afternoon of Friday 5 December 1913. He had been suffering from sciatica for many years, but otherwise ‘possessed a very strong constitution.’ Nine months prior to this death he contracted diabetes and was bedridden for six months. After a funeral on 7 December, he was buried in the Natimuk Cemetery.

References

Hamilton spectator, 8 February 1871, p. 2 (items of news—Minhamite Hotel fire).

Horsham times, 19 August 1904, p. 2 (obituary—Clara Scott).

Horsham times, 16 December 1913, p. 3 (obituary—Henry Scott).

Horsham times, 16 December 1913, p. 4 (no settlement at Natimuk when Scott arrived).

West Wimmera mail, Natimuk and Goroke advertiser, 12 December 1913 (Death of Mr H. Scott).

Yule, Peter ([1988]) From forest, swamp & stones: a history of the Shire of Minhamite, Warrnambool Institute Press, Warrnambool, Vic.

Peter and Henry Scott land file, section 83, Parish of Natimuk, No. 3773, unit 1159, VPRS 626/P/0000, Public Record Office Victoria.

Peter and Henry Scott land file, section 84, Parish of Natimuk, No. 34580, unit 463, VPRS 625/P/0000, Public Record Office Victoria.

James Durham and Henry Scott land file, section 86, No. 6477, unit 1214, VPRS 625/P/0000, Public Record Office, Victoria.

Henry Scott land file, section 85, Parish of Natimuk, No. 20718, unit 305, VPRS 625/P/0000, Public Record Office Victoria.

The death of Alexander Scott

Alexander Scott was less than a year old when his parents (Peter and Isabella Scott), and three siblings, migrated from Scotland to Victoria. Two more siblings joined the family at their new farm at Purnim in the Western District. No details of Alexander’s life survive before 13 August 1866, which is also when he died aged fifteen.

An inquest was held two days later by Dr William Harrington, district coroner, and a jury of twelve men (including Alexander’s father, Peter). After deliberating the evidence of several witnesses, they determined the cause of death as ‘a gunshot wound accidentally received whilst out Kangaroo shooting’ in Framlingham Forest. The news was circulated in local and Melbourne dailies where it appeared under the banner headline of ‘Shocking and fatal accident’.

Examination of James Whittet, Purnim:

I am living on a farm with my brother [i.e. Thomas Whittet] – I know the deceased Alexander Scott – I live about a mile from his fathers house – About three o’clock on the evening of the 13th Inst the deceased and I went out to shoot Kangaroo – We went about three miles from home when we commenced to shoot at some trees to try who was the best shot – we fired two shots each up to this time we did not fire at a Kangaroo then we turned homewards – on our way home we saw a Kangaroo and the deceased fired at him one barrel – he then got up on a log to reload the barrel he fired off – Whilst he was loading the but of the gun slipped off the log – the cock of the other barrel struck against the log and the charge went off – he cried out to me saying Jimmy I am shot – I asked him if he was much hurt – he said it was eternity. I laid him on the ground on his back and stopped with him till I thought he was dead, he lived about two minutes – When I found he was dead I went to Cavanaghs public house about one mile off and reported the circumstances – Mr Cavanagh sent word to the deceased’s father – I waited till Mr Scott came it was then dark and no search was made for the body till morning – when we went to look for the body we had some difficulty in finding it as I was not well acquainted with the locality – after three hours search we found it when his father had the body conveyed home – the gun was loaded with double B shot[.]

Examination of John Allen, Purnim:

I am a labourer and reside at Purnim – On the morning of the 14th inst. I went with Mr Scott the father of the deceased, in search of the body – We searched about the forest for some time before we found it – I parted from the others and in a short time I found it lying on its face and hands on the ground – the gun was standing by a log closely – the body did not show any signs of violence – it appeared as if asleep – I called to the others when they came up – I stayed with the body till they brought a cart and I came home with it – one of his dogs was with him[.]

Examination of William Harrington:

I am a legally qualified practitioner residing at Warrnambool – On Wednesday the fifteenth day of August I made by direction of the Coroner for the Warrnambool district a post mortem examination of the body of Alexander Scott. The body was lying on the floor in a room of his father’s house at Purnim and was dressed in his usual clothes. On partially removing his clothes I saw the intestines protruding from a wound in the front of the abdomen. The shirt of deceased had three circular holes in it which corresponded with the part of the abdomen from which the intestines protruded and the trousers of the deceased were torn in front in a place corresponding with the wound – on returning the protruded intestines I discerned a circular wound of about an inch in diameter situated in the abdomen an inch above the Pubis, and in the middle line of the body, the [caps] of the wound were inverted and it had all the appearance of a gun shot wound. On enlarging the wound and examining the contents of the abdomen I found that the small intestines were wounded in many places, that a number of small shit similar to those I now produce were lodged in the intestines that a coil of the small intestines had been completely cut across in the direction of the wound in the abdomen. The abdomen contained a large quantity of fluid blood, the direction of the wound through the abdomen was from the torso backwards and inching slightly to the right side of the body and was caused by a charge of small shot fired close to the body. From the marks in the clothes and the direction of the wound I am of opinion that the deceased must have had the gun before and below him at the time it was discharged – I believe death was caused by shock the combined result of [haemorrhaging] and the gun shot wound described.

References

‘Shocking and fatal accident’, Age (Melbourne), 20 August 1866, p. 6.

‘Shocking and fatal accident’, Hamilton spectator and Grange district advertiser, 22 August 1866, p. 3.

‘Shocking and fatal accident’, Leader (Melbourne), 25 August 1866, p. 16.

Inquest into death of Alexander Scott, 1866/751, unit 177, VPRS 24/P0000, Public Record Office Victoria.

Peter and Isabella Scott

The original owner of the Scott Chest, Peter Scott, was born into modest circumstances in Scotland in 1817. The son of Peter Scott, a carrier, and Mary née McKenzie, Peter was baptised at the port town of Bo'ness, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth.

Twenty-one years later, in 1838, he married Isabella Gibb at Kincardine by Doune on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. Isabella, who was two years older than her husband, was the daughter of Henry Gibbs and Elizabeth née Coulter.

The first UK census in 1841 recorded the couple as living about 20 km inland from the Firth of Forth, at the farm of James Reid, Cambushinnie. Peter is listed as an agricultural labourer and Isabella as a servant. By now they had two small children: Mary and Peter.

Four more children were born in Scotland: Hendric/Henry, Elizabeth, Margaret and Alexander.

Economic conditions in Scotland at this time were harsh, and the government encouraged and supported people to migrate. In 1851, the Scotts made the momentous decision to join the departing citizens and start a new life on the other side of the world.

The family booked passages on the barque Calphurnia, which sailed from London via Plymouth (on 30 December 1851). There were 278 government immigrants on board, although not all of them had subsidised passages.  The Scotts were recorded as paying their own way, which meant that they were free to find their own employment in Australia.

After a journey of three months, Calphurnia arrived in the colony of Victoria with six deaths and three births having taken place on the passage. The Argus, a Melbourne newspaper remarked:

'The cleanly and comfortable appearance of the emigrants, together with the order of the vessel, reflects great credit on Dr Fletcher [Surgeon Superintendent], and is evidently a vast improvement on the old state of emigrant ships in general.'

According to Peter Scott's obituary, he proceeded 'at once' to Purnim, a settlement on the Merri Creek about 250 km southwest of Melbourne. Here he 'took up land which he farmed successfully for many years.'

The traditional owners of this area were the Dhauwurd wurrung (Gunditjmara) and Girai wurrung, although their numbers had plummeted by the time the Scotts arrived. Guerilla war with pastoralists and disease were the main reasons, and in 1865 most of the surviving population chose to move, or were forcibly relocated, to Framlingham Aboriginal Reserve.

Two more children were born to Peter and Isabella in the Purnim area: Rubina Hoyle at a locality called 'Saltmarsh' in 1854, and Ellen Wilson at Purnim in 1860. Ellen only lived 22 months. The couple also lost a fifteen-year-old son in 1866, Alexander, when he accidently shot himself kangaroo hunting (see future blog).

In 1872, Peter and Isabella followed their sons Henry and Peter Jr to the Wimmera district in the northwest of the colony. Peter Sr selected Section 83  (95 acres) and Section 84 (144 acres) in the Parish of Natimuk, situated between the nascent settlement of Natimuk and the Wimmera River (see map blog).

The couple worked strenuously to make improvements on Section 84 valued at £160.12.0. These included clearing the native vegetation, fencing paddocks and cultivating wheat. In addition they built a two-room house 12 feet by 24 feet made of lag and plaster, dug a tank and lined it with logs to store water, planted a garden and built a piggery.

Despite the improvements, Peter fell into debt and decided to sell his lease in 1878 'for the purpose of obtaining money to pay off my liabilities'. As his son Henry took it on, however, the land stayed in the Scott family. Henry obtained the freehold of section 84 in 1883.

Peter also made improvements on Section 83 to a value of £105.2.6, although these did not include a dwelling because he lived on Section 84. After failing to keep up with rent, the government threatened to revoke his license in 1878. Peter explained that he had been unable to work for several weeks due to an accident 'while attending on a reaping machine', and that severe drought ruined his crops. The government relented, but Peter transferred the lease to Henry in March 1880.

Isabella Scott died at 'Waterside Farm', Natimuk, on 29 June 1888 aged 73. Her death certificate describes her as a housekeeper. Cause of death is given as heart disease from which she had suffered three or more years. She was buried on 1 July 1888 at the Natimuk Cemetery.

Peter died at his son Henry's farm on 10 September 1896 aged 80. The cause of death was bronchial catarrh and heart failure from which he had been suffering for three months. Peter was buried in the Natimuk Cemetery on 12 September 1896.

References

Argus Melbourne, 31 March 1852, p. 4 (shipping records)

Clarke, Ian (1995) Scars in the landscape: a register of massacre sites in western Victoria: 1803–1859, Aboriginal Studies Press, Canberra.

Death certificate, Isabella Scott, 1888, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria.

Death certificate, Peter Scott, 1896, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria.
Peter and Henry Scott land file, section 83, Parish of Natimuk, No. 3773, unit 1159, VPRS 626/P/0000, Public Record Office Victoria.

Peter and Henry Scott land file, section 84, Parish of Natimuk, No. 34580, unit 463, VPRS 625/P/0000, Public Record Office Victoria.

Register of assisted British immigrants, 1839–1871 (ancestry.com.au).

Scotland Census 1841 (findmypast.com.au).

Parish of Natimuk

Detail of Parish Map of Natimuk, 1881.

Item 107 – Veterinary fleam, c.1800s

This fleam was located with other miscellaneous tools and items in a brown school case inside the Scott Chest.

Fleams are hand-held instruments for blood letting. Occasionally applied to humans, but mostly on animals such as horses and cows. They were thought to prevent or cure disease.

Item 107 – veterinary fleam c.1800s (photo by Tom May)

In treatment, one of the triangular shaped blades of the fleam was placed over a vein, usually the jugular or saphenous. To facilitate the force required with large animals, a blow was given to the back of the blade with a blood stick so that the fleam penetrated but did not sever the vein.

Item 107 – veterinary fleam with two triangular shaped blades (photo by Tom May)

Use of fleams peaked in the 1800s, but fell out of favour by the end of the century because people realised blood letting weakened animals and facilitated infection.

The Scotts had farms in the Wimmera form the mid 1860s and may have used the fleam on livestock.

The Scott fleam appears to be hand made because there are no manufacturers marks, and it resembles fleams dating from the 1850s and '60s in appearance.

Physical description
Item 107: Unmarked metal fleam consisting of two steel triangular shaped blades that fold into a brass case. Case 7cm x 2.5cm. Blades 6cm long. The tool is finely made, but is well worn and the blades are spotted with rust.

Reference
Kevin Goodman (2014) 'A short history of the fleam', http://bowsbladesand battles.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/fleam.pdf viewed 2017.

Item 44 – Alice Catherine Scott's recipe book c.1920s

Item 44 from the Scott Chest is an account notebook containing handwritten recipes for food, cleaning products, remedies, and knitting instructions.

Item 44 – recipe book c.1920s (photo by Tom May)

The owner and author was probably Alice Catherine Scott, the wife of Alexander David Scott. The couple lived at 29 Harriet Street, Horsham. A few pages of the notebook are covered in childish handwriting (probably that of the Scotts' only child, Alexander Anthony), which include the date 1923. Alex has also written 'A M D G' which stands for Ad majorem Dei gloriam (for the greater glory of god)—the Latin motto of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

Alexander Anthony Scott's handwriting 1923 (Photo by Tom May)

Starting at the front of the notebook, a few pages are taken up with recipes for cleaning products etc. The food items start at the back of the notebook and fill most of it. Cakes and biscuits dominate and reflect the culture of 1920s Australia in general, and that of the Wimmera in particular. It is possible that Alice copied some of her recipes from the Weekly times, a newspaper published in Melbourne for rural readers. Other likely sources were family and friends.

Notable among the recipes is one for 'Anzac Crispies' (an alternate name for Anzac Biscuits). These biscuits are first mentioned in the Weekly times of 1 March 1919 when a columnist asks:
          Will someone kindly supply me with the recipe of Anzac Crispies, which is evidently a
          new kind of biscuit?

The origin of these biscuits is obscure and they are claimed by both Australia and New Zealand. Intended as a tribute to Australian and New Zealand soldiers, they were often used to raise funds for veterans.

ALICE’S ANZAC CRISPIES
Ingredients	Instructions
4 cups John Bull oats 2 scant cups of flour 1 cup butter 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons soda 2 tablespoons Golden Syrup 4 tablespoons boiling water	Put oats flour & sugar in dish then add butter melted lastly syrup water & soda beaten together till it froths. Drop in teaspoons on cold tray bake in moderate oven for 10 minutes

The influence of German settlement in the Wimmera is evidenced in a recipe for German Cake. This kind of cake was a popular exhibit at Wimmera Agricultural Shows from the 1890s. Ingredients vary, but the Wimmera German cake always uses yeast as a raising agent.

ALICE’S German Cake
Ingredients	Instructions
7 cups flour 1 cup sugar ½ cup butter 1 cup milk 3 eggs well beaten 2 cups yeast	Rub butter into flour beat sugar & egg then warm milk & melt butter

Alice also honoured her Irish heritage by including a recipe for Urney Pudding, a dessert taking its name from the district of Urney in County Tyrone. In 1902, a columnist in the Weekly times said of this dish that it is 'a pudding that may bairns never get tired of.'

ALICE’S URNEY PUDDING
Ingredients	Instructions
2 eggs 2 ozs butter 3 of flour 1 of sugar ½ teaspoon soda 2 teaspoons of raspberry jam	beat butter & sugar to a cream add eggs 1 at a time then flour & soda lastly jam beat all well together steam in buttered mold for 1 ½ hours

Alice devoted one page of her notebook to instructions, presumably intended for her husband while she was absent from home. References to Twidle & Co. and the butcher, J. H. McDonald, date the entry to 1922 (the only year advertisements for these businesses appeared in the Horsham times). Before households had their own refrigerators it was necessary to visit the shops almost daily to obtain fresh perishables such as meat and dairy products.

Alice's instructions for Alexander David Scott c.1922 (photo by Tom May)

Physical description

Item 44: account notebook 10cm x 16.5cm, 20 pp., no covers. Handwritten entries in black ink, child's scribble in purple and grey lead pencil. Condition fair, some foxing and grease marks.

References

Horsham times, 21 July 1922, p. 5 (advertisement for McDonald, butcher, Wilson Street West).

Horsham times, 1 December 1922, p. 2 (advertisement for Twidle & Co's Firebrace St, Horsham —nearly opposite the post office).

Weekly times, 4 April 1903, p. 31.

Weekly times, 1 March 1919, p. 39.