Robert C Scarlett <strong>McPhee</strong>: An Early Kimberley Prospector FOOTNOTES by Cathie Clement 1 The surname spelling used above matches that in R.C.S. Macphee’s signature but differs from the spelling used by other members of the <strong>McPhee</strong> family. It is hoped that readers may be able to offer insight into this inconsistency and perhaps add details to this brief biography, which has been compiled at the request of Vern O’Brien for the Genealogical Society of the Northern Territory Inc. The information will be used to compile a entry which will be added to the Pioneer Register established by the Genealogical Society. 2 The Nor’-West Times and Northern Advocate, 26 March 1892, p. 3, copy provided by Peter Bridge. 3 Bernie <strong>McPhee</strong> (great nephew of R.C.S. Macphee) to Professor Jack Cross (University of South Australia), 20 September 1996, in response to ‘Any Queries’ in MacFie Clan Society of Australia Newsbulletin, 1995. 4 The Nor’-West Times and Northern Advocate, 26 March 1892, p. 3. 5 ‘Any Queries’ in MacFie Clan Society of Australia Newsbulletin, 1995. This query was submitted by Professor Jack Cross who suggested that ‘<strong>McPhee</strong> the Overlander’ was probably either R.C.S. <strong>McPhee</strong> or Duncan <strong>McPhee</strong>. The latter man became a station manager in the upper Territory. 6 Overlanders (or drovers) arriving in N.T. 1879–1883, index compiled by members of the Genealogical Society of N.T. from original records held at Australian Archives Darwin. 7 ibid.; and Northern Territory Times & Gazette (NTT&G), 13 November 1880, copy provided by Vern O’Brien. 8 NTT&G, 6 November 1880 and 27 November 1880. 9 ibid., 18 December 1880, 8 January 1881, 9 July 1881, and 10 September 1881, copy provided by Vern O’Brien. 10 Overlanders (or drovers) arriving in N.T. 1879–1883; and NTT&G, 15 July 1882. 11 NTT&G, 9 July 1881, p. 1. 12 ibid., 24 February 1883. For Saunders’ notes and publicity regarding his prospecting trip, see Cathie Clement & Peter Bridge (eds), Kimberley Scenes: Sagas of Australia’s Last Frontier, pp. 63 and 65–70. 13 NTT&G, 9 June 1883, and 4 August 1883; and Peter Forrest, Springvale’s Story and Early Years at the Katherine, Murranji Press, Darwin, 1985, p. 43. 14 NTT&G, 4 August 1883 and 15 September 1883. 15 ibid., 28 March 1885 and 16 May 1885. 16 Bobbie Buchanan, In the Tracks of Old <strong>Blue</strong>y: The Life Story of Nat Buchanan, p. 111. 17 Mary Durack, Kings in Grass Castles, 1985 edition, pp. 287–8. It is noted that, although Mary Durack refers to this man as Jock <strong>McPhee</strong>, he is likely to have been R.C.S. Macphee. 18 Victorian Express (WA), 17 September 1887, copy provided by Peter Bridge; and Public Records Office of Western Australia (PROWA), Acc 527, Colonial Secretary’s Office (CSO), 3223/86. 19 Victorian Express, 19 September 1885; and The West Australian, 23 September 1885, p. 3. 20 The North Australian, 11 June 1886; and Government Gazette (WA), 15 July 1886, pp. 423–4. 21 Victorian Express, 17 September 1887; The West Australian, 12 July 1886, p. 3; and Clement & Bridge (eds), Kimberley Scenes, p. 160, citing R.T.S. Wolfe’s recollections. 22 NTT&G, 28 August 1886. 23 F.D. Burdett, The Odyssey of a Digger, Herbert Jenkins Limited, London, 1936, pp. 173–83, 211 and 235–6; PROWA, Acc 527, CSO, 3227/86; and PROWA, AN5/Derby, Police Department, Acc 738/1 and Acc 738/2, Occurrence Books, entries for 3 July 1886. 24 Clement & Bridge (eds), Kimberley Scenes, pp. 170–1 and 214; Durack, Kings in Grass Castles, pp. 318–9; NTT&G, 2 October 1886 and 27 November 1886; and PROWA, MN71/3, Acc 4587A/1, Diary of M.P. Durack, 1886, entries for 17–22 July and 15–18 August. 25 NTT&G, 25 December 1886; Clement and Bridge (eds), Kimberley Scenes, p. 217; and The Western Mail (WA), 8 June 1939, p. 11, copy provided by Peter Bridge. 26 The Western Mail, 20 August 1887, p. 26; and The Victorian Express, 23 July 1887, copies of these articles, and subsequent articles for this period, provided by Peter Bridge. 27 May Anderson, ‘Pioneers of the De Grey’ in Helen Weller (ed.), North of the 26th, [Vol. 1], The Nine Club, East Perth, 1979, p. 83; and PROWA, Acc 527, CSO, 2723/87. 28 The West Australian, 27 July 1887, p. 3; and The Western Mail, 10 December 1910, copy provided by Peter Bridge. 29 Victorian Express, 13 August 1887 and 17 September 1887, copies provided by Peter Bridge. 30 PROWA, Acc 527, CSO, 290/88. Macphee’s three-months-long diary was published in instalments in The Western Mail on 4 February 1888, p. 11, on 11 February 1888, pp. 9 and 12, and 18 February 1888, p. 20. 31 G.H. Lamond, Tales of the Overland: Queensland to Kimberley in 1885, p. 67; Victorian Express, 19 May 1888, copy provided by Peter Bridge; and PROWA, AN5/Derby, Police Department, Acc 738/3, Occurrence Book, entry for 8 September 1888. 32 Clement and Bridge (eds), Kimberley Scenes, pp. 38–42; Certificate of ‘Death in the State of Western Australia, Registration Number 536/1892 in the Roebourne District’; and The Nor’-West Times and Northern Advocate, 26 March 1892, p. 3. 33 The Western Mail, 24 January 1896, copy provided by Peter Bridge. Page 38 <strong>John</strong> <strong>McPhee</strong> <strong>Family</strong>
Tom Murphy <strong>John</strong> <strong>McPhee</strong> <strong>Family</strong> J Mitchell V. Housten A. Housten Archie <strong>McPhee</strong> N Bannar Chill Murphy V Bannar Jim <strong>McPhee</strong> The Wedding of Harry Sisson and Margaret <strong>McPhee</strong>, Horsham 1898 The last shearing at Vectis station, c.1892 Page 39
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