SEPARATION and DIVORCE: ELIZABETH AMOS v ALFRED T. MAYSON
THE CITY PHOTOGRAPHIC ESTABLISHMENT Alfred Bock & Thomas Nevin
Hand-written inscription on verso:
Alfred T. Mayson, December 1865
Photographer's stamp in blue ink on verso:
Alfred Bock, City Photographic Establishment, 140 Elizabeth St. Hobart Town
Photo © KLW NFC Imprint 2016 Private Collection
Surveyors played a central role in Thomas J. Nevin's family life and early career as a commercial photographer and government contractor. On 22nd May, 1868 at the Town Hall, Hobart, he signed the the birth registration of William Nevin Tatlow Hurst, as informant for the child's father, surveyor John Hurst who was absent from Hobart on business. John Hurst's father, James Hurst was also a surveyor who held the lease for the Salt Water Coal Mines, on the Tasman Peninsula. The Nevin and Hurst families were not only neighbours in New Town Hobart; they both had historic family connections to Grey Abbey, County Down, Ireland, where Thomas Nevin's father, John Nevin snr was born in 1808.
Earlier the same year, in February 1868, with the dissolution of his partnership with Robert Smith while operating as the firm "Nevin & Smith" at Alfred Bock's former studio, the City Photographic Establishment, 140 Elizabeth St. Hobart, Thomas Nevin was issued with rolling government commissions and contracts by his family solicitor, Attorney-General W. R. Giblin for the Lands and Survey Department. He accompanied surveyors on excursions, providing Surveyor-General J. Erskine Calder with photographs mounted as stereoscopic prints of landslips, water erosion, rock and cave formations, river flooding, mining operations, etc from 1868 and from 1872 to the 1886, his contracts were extended by Attorney-General W. R. Giblin to photographing prisoners at the Hobart Gaol and Port Arthur prison; at the Supreme Court next to the Hobart Gaol; and at the Mayor's Court for the Municipal Police Office, in the Hobart Town Hall. One of those surveyors, Alfred Threlkeld Mayson, visited the studio at 140 Elizabeth St. Hobart for a portrait in 1865. What follows is a short account of the breakdown of his marriage to Elizabeth Amos.
Water flow caused by the landslip at Glenorchy, June 1872
Stereograph in arched yellow mount
Thomas J. Nevin, June 1872.
Verso stamped with Nevin's Royal Arms insignia issued by Lands Dept.
TMAG Ref: Q1994.56.2. Verso below
Verso:Water flow caused by the landslip at Glenorchy 1872
Stereograph in arched yellow mount
Thomas J. Nevin 1872.
Verso bears Nevin's Royal Arms insignia stamp issued by Lands Dept.
TMAG Ref: Q1994.56.2.
Elizabeth Amos and Alfred Threlkeld Mayson
At Great Swan Port, on the east coast of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), on 14th April 1845, Elizabeth Amos was born to farmer John Amos and his wife Elizabeth Amos nee Hepburn. Her future husband, Alfred T. Mayson, was born in the same district on 13th September 1839 to Joseph Mayson, Cleric in Holy Orders, and Elizabeth Mayson nee Hickson. Alfred Mayson acquired the unusual middle name "Threlkeld" perhaps as an afterthought by his father, naming him in honour of missionary Lancelot Edward Threlkeld [see bio at ADB].
Name: Amos, Elizabeth
Record Type: Births
Gender: Female
Father: Amos, John
Mother: Hepburn, Elizabeth
Date of birth: 14 Apr 1845
Registered: Great Swanport
Registration year: 1845
Record ID: NAME_INDEXES:990630
Archives Office Tasmania: https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD33-1-27-p405j2k
Name:Mayson, Alfred [no middle name]
Record Type:Births
Gender:Male
Father:Mayson, Joseph
Mother:Hickson, Elizabeth
Date of birth:13 Sep 1839
Registered:Waterloo Point
Registration year:1839
Record ID:NAME_INDEXES:990561
Archives Office Tasmania: https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD33-1-27-p393j2k
When Elizabeth Amos and Alfred Threlkeld Mayson married on the 25th September 1862 in the dwelling house of her father, John Amos, at Glenherriot, Glamorgan (Swansea, Tasmania), she was just 17 years old. Alfred Threlkeld Mayson, 23 yrs old, registered his occupation as Council Clerk. They were married in the rites of the United Church of England and Ireland, by Joseph Mayson, Chaplain, Alfred Mayson's father.
Name: Amos, Elizabeth
Record Type: Marriages
Gender: Female
Age: 17
Spouse: Mayson, Alfred Threlkeld
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Date of marriage: 25 Sep 1862
Registered: Glamorgan
Registration year: 1862
Record ID: NAME_INDEXES:861468
Archives Office Tasmania: https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD37-1-21p70j2k
By 1865, when Alfred Bock took this photograph of Alfred Threlkeld Mayson at the City Photographic Establishment, 140 Elizabeth St. Hobart Town, Thomas Nevin was most likely present as well in the studio, having joined Bock while still operating his own studio at New Town. He acquired Alfred Bock's photographic stock, government contracts for the Lands and Survey Department with the Hobart City Council, Bock's glass house, studio lease with Alfred Biggs, and the business name at auction on August 2nd, 1865 shortly before Bock's permanent departure to Victoria, whereupon Robert Smith joined Thomas Nevin briefly over the next two years in the partnership Nevin & Smith at 140 Elizabeth St.
Hand-written inscription on verso:
Alfred T. Mayson, December 1865
Photographer's stamp in blue ink on verso:
Alfred Bock, City Photographic Establishment, 140 Elizabeth St. Hobart Town
Photo © KLW NFC Imprint 2016 Private Collection
Verso: Hand-written inscription:
Alfred T. Mayson, December 1865
Photographer's stamp in blue ink on verso:
Alfred Bock, City Photographic Establishment, 140 Elizabeth St. Hobart Town
Photo © KLW NFC Imprint 2016 Private Collection
Elizabeth Mayson may well have been photographed by Alfred Bock in the same session. This full-length carte-de-visite of a girl in her teens was taken at Bock's studio no later than 1866, and possibly about the same time. In December 1865 when Alfred T. Mayson visited Bock's studio, Elizabeth Mayson nee Amos (b. April 1845) would have been 20 years old. Alfred T. Mayson posed for his full-length portrait holding a carte-de-visite, no less, though gazing up rather than at it. The studio decor in both photographs also appears in the photograph taken of Thomas J. Nevin ca.1866, wearing white gloves and holding a stereoscopic viewer.
Girl (unidentified) with bare shoulders and ringlets
Photographer: Alfred Bock ca. 1865
Photographer's stamp in blue ink on verso:
Alfred Bock, City Photographic Establishment, 140 Elizabeth St. Hobart Town
Copyright © KLW NFC Imprint Private Collection 2013
Left: Verso: Girl (unidentified) with bare shoulders and ringlets
Photographer: Alfred Bock ca. 1865
Photographer's stamp in blue ink on verso:
Alfred Bock, City Photographic Establishment, 140 Elizabeth St. Hobart Town
Right: Verso bearing Nevin's stamp after Bock's design 1868-1876
Copyright © KLW NFC Imprint Private Collection 2013
Elizabeth Mayson gave birth to two children while married to Alfred T. Mayson: Vernon in 1863 and Marion in 1869.
Name: Mayson, Vernon Alfred John
Record Type: Births
Gender: Male
Father: Mayson, Alfred Threlkel [sic]
Mother: Amos, Elizabeth
Date of birth: 26 Jun 1863
Registered: Glamorgan
Registration year: 1863
Record ID: NAME_INDEXES:1015160
Archives Office Tasmania; https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD33-1-41p669j2k
Name: Mayson, Marion May
Record Type: Births
Gender: Female
Father: Mayson, Alfred Threlkel [sic]
Mother: Amos, Elizabeth
Date of birth: 11 Dec 1869
Registered: Glamorgan
Registration year:1870
Record ID: NAME_INDEXES:927963
Archives Office Tasmania: https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD33-1-48p080j2k
Alfred Threlkeld Mayson's occupation in 1863 was listed simply as Council Clerk when he registered his son Vernon's birth registration. On the 1869 birth record for his daughter Marion, his mother-in-law Elizabeth Amos, mother of Elizabeth Mayson and grandmother to Marion, was the registration informant. Alfred T. Mayson's occupation was listed as Assistant District Magistrate. When this photograph (below) was taken of Alfred Mayson (recumbent, on viewer's left) in the company of surveyors Davidson and Watson in the late 1860s, Mayson was leaving his mark on the landscape as a surveyor around the Glamorgan and Swansea districts of the east coast of Tasmania; for example, these two mountains were named after his own family - Mt. Mayson, and that of his wife's family - Mt. Amos.
Title:Photograph - Mts Mayson and Amos from Wineglass Bay.
ADRI: NS3195-1-1780
Source: Archives Office of Tasmania
Series: Negatives, 1930 - 1976 (NS3195)
Notes: Series Notes: Photographs taken by Jack Thwaites, largely in Tasmania.
Not much is known about surveyor Watson [T. Watson, landholder, Glamorgan?] at right of the photograph below, but James William Davidson (in centre) was possibly the husband of portraitist Letitia Davidson whose brother Henry Frith might have been the photographer, the fourth person present here.
Detail: Alfred T. Mayson on viewer's left in group photograph below with surveyors Davidson and Watson.
Surveyors (left to right) Mayson, Davidson, and Watson at Waterloo Point, Swansea
Unattributed but possibly taken by Henry Frith late 1860s.
Title: Photograph - A group of surveyors ( Davidson, Mayson, Watson ) at Waterloo Point, Swansea.
ADRI: PH30-1-480
Source: Archives Office of Tasmania
Series: Miscellaneous Collection of Photographs. 1860 - 1992 (PH30)
Alfred T. Mayson, council clerk and Stipendiary Magistrate, married Elizabeth Amos in 1862. She was 17 years old, born in 1845. They had two children who survived to adulthood -Vernon, born 26th June 1863, and Marion, born 11th December 1869. During their marriage, Alfred Threkeld Mayson held numerous official positions in the Circular Head district of north-west Tasmania. For example, Walch's Tasmanian Almanac edition of 1871 listed these:
MAGISTRACY. - ... Mayson, Alfred Threlkeld, Stipendiary Magistrate, Stanley, Oct. 13, 1866 [page 40]
POLICE. - Stipendiary Magistrate and Coroner, A. Threlkeld Mayson
JUSTICE of the PEACE for the TERRITORY.- ... and Alfred Threlkeld Mayson [page 190]
COURT of REQUESTS. - At Stanley, on the third Wednesday in every month. Commissioner A. T. Mayson.
CUSTOMS. - Landing-waiter in charge, A. T. Mayson
MARINE BOARD. - A. T. Mayson (master warden)
BOARD of WORKS. - Emu Bay West... and A. T. Mayson
GOVERNMENT SURVEYORS.- Nicholas Simmons (district surveyor), and A. T. Mayson
LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD. - Stanley and Forest - ... and A. T. Mayson
RIFLE CLUB. - President, H. J. Emmett. Secretary, A. T. Mayson. [page 191]
Source: Google books Walch's Tasmanian Almanac 1871
Title: Photograph - Alfred Mayson, surveyor.[n.s., n.d.] 1890s?
ADRI: PH30-1-478
Source: Archives Office of Tasmania: https://stors.tas.gov.au/PH30-1-478
Inscription (top left corner):
Traced from Plan lent to this Office by A. T. MaysonMap - Glamorgan Roads 15 - County of Glamorgan, plan showing position of Coal measures secured by the Morning Star Co also route of proposed railway to Shipping pl at Coles Bay, Sth Pacific Ocean, Bicheno, various landholders, surveyor Mayson
Authorised Surveyor 9.9.98 ...
ADRI: AF398-1-549
Source: Archives Office of Tasmania
Series: County Roads Maps, 1822 - 1955 (AF398)
But by 1877 Elizabeth Mayson was petitioning for separation. She filed an application for protection of her earnings and property in 1879, citing Alfred Mayson's alcoholism, gambling and loss of his job as Stipendiary Magistrate as reasons. She separated permanently from Alfred T. Mayson in 1877 taking both children with her to the residence of her father, John Amos. Alfred T. Mayson used Dobson & Mitchell lawyers in response to the petition. They claimed Elizabeth Mayson could not be found by June 1882, so Mayson's claim to set aside his wife's application was discharged. Elizabeth Mayson married Charles Borradale (1845- 1917) sometime after gaining a divorce from Alfred T, Mayson (date ?), and resided in Victoria. She died at the Borradale family home, 33 Morah St Parkville, Melbourne in 1907, aged 62 years. Widower Charles Borradale then remarried to Margaret McGregor who survived him and continued to live at the house in Morah St. Parkville. Charles Borradale died on 22nd April 1917, aged 71 years. He was wealthy enough to erect a large tombstone for his wife Elizabeth Mayson Borradale nee Amos and himself in the Melbourne General Cemetery, Victoria. His estate was considerable, although his last occupation was simply "cabdriver".
Elizabeth Mayson Borradale nee Amos was buried with her second husband Charles Borradale in this grave (photograph below), at what is now known as the Melbourne General Cemetery. Her son Vernon married a relative of his mother's family, Margaret Winifred Amos, at Glamorgan, Tasmania, on 1st October 1888 (NAME_INDEXES :902698, Archives Office Tasmania).
Inscription:
"In Loving Memory of Elizabeth, wife of Charles Borradale, who died at Parkville on 10th August 1907 aged 62 years. Also the Above Charles Borradale beloved husband of Margaret who died at Parkville 22nd April 1917, aged 71 years."Source: Grave of Elizabeth (nee Amos, formerly Mayson) and Charles Borradale
Melbourne General Cemetery, Parkville, Victoria
Charles Borradale, obituary
Source: The Weekly Times, May26th, 1917
TRANSCRIPT
Charles Borradale, late of 33 Morrah Street, Parkville, retired cabdriver, left estate valued at £3143.0/1 of realty £492, and personalty £2651/0/1, to his relatives.
THE MELBOURNE PHOTOGRAPH by Wm SHORT
This photograph of "Mrs Mayson" is still housed in an album originally owned by the Shaw family of Redbanks, Swansea, Tasmania, the friends and associates of her paternal Amos family. It was taken in Melbourne sometime ca. 1882 -1885 after her application for divorce from Alfred Mayson when she had quit Tasmania. She was probably about 50 yrs old here when William Short (1833-1917) photographed her in his Melbourne studio. Closer examination of the facial features of the young girl with ringlets and bare shoulders who posed for Alfred Bock ca. 1865 (see cdv above) and the sitter here identified by her closest childhood friends, shows significant similarities. Elizabeth Mayson was 62 yrs old when she died in 1907.
Mrs Elizabeth Mayson, ca. 1882-1890
Photographer: William Short (1833-1917), at 57 Collins St. East, Melbourne, Victoria
From the Shaw Family Photo Album p. 20
Source: East Coast Heritage Museum, Tasmania at Flickr
Addenda 1: 1876-1879
Elizabeth Mayson applied for a protection order three years after her initial separation from Alfred T. Mayson in 1876. Below is a rough and ready attempt at transcripts of the documents exchanged between the legal representatives of Elizabeth Mayson nee Amos and her husband Alfred Threlkeld Mayson.
APPLICATION; 18TH AUGUST 1879
Elizabeth Mayson nee Amos, petitioner
Mayson, Alfred - Respondent
Mayson, Elizabeth - Petitioner
Record Type: Divorces
Year: 1879
Divorce number: 76
Record ID:
NAME_INDEXES:448222
Archives Office of Tasmania: https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC89-1-3-76
Image 1: TRANSCRIPT
In the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Matrimonial Causes Jurisdiction
No. 76
Exparte Elizabeth Mayson the lawful wife of Alfred Threlkeld Mayson
Application for protection order
? 18.8.79
G.B.
Charge [?]
Young & Walker
Proctors for the said E Mayson
Image 2: TRANSCRIPT
In the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Matrimonial Causes Jurisdiction
To
The Honorable the Supreme Court of Tasmania
The Application of Elizabeth Mayson of Hobart Town in Tasmania the lawful wife of Alfred Threlkeld Mayson
Showeth:-
That on the twenty fifth day of September one thousand eight hundred and sixty two she was lawfully married to Alfred Threlkeld Mayson at Glen Heriot in the Municipality of Glamorgan in Tasmania aforesaid
That she lived and cohabited with the said Alfred Thelkeld Mayson for more than thirteen years at Swansea in Tasmania aforesaid and also at Circular Head in Tasmania aforesaid and hath had two children issue of the said marriage namely Vernon Alfred John and Marion May of whom the elder Vernon Alfred John aged sixteen years is now living with John Amos the father of the applicant at Glen Heriot aforesaid and is wholly maintained upon her earnings.
That in the Month of May one thousand eight hundred and seventy six the said Alfred
Image 3: TRANSCRIPT
Threlkeld Mayson was dismissed from the situation held by him as Stipendiary Magistrate at Circular Head aforesaid. In consequence of habitual drunkenness the household at Circular Head was broken up and the household furniture sold. The applicant went to the House of her father the said John Amos and there resided for some time. The said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson after staying at different places in Tasmania proceeded to the Colony of Victoria about the Month of May or June one thousand eight hundred and seventy seven.
That the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson ever since the said month of May one thousand eight hundred and seventy [seven struck through] six has remained separate and apart from the applicant and has not contributed in any way to her support or to the support of the said children. The only letter the applicant has received from the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson was on his departure from Tasmania about May one thousand eight hundred and seventy seven and was of a threatening nature.
That since the month of January one thousand eight hundred and seventy eight the applicant has maintained herself by her own industry working as a sepmstress for weekly wages and has thereby and otherwise acquired certain property consisting of clothes and personal effect.
Wherefore the said Elizabeth Mayson prays an order for the protection of her earnings and property acquired since the said Month of May one thousand eight hundred and seventy seven from the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson and from all Creditors and persons claiming under him.
[signature of] Elizabeth Mayson
Image 4: TRANSCRIPT
18, Aug 79
Re Elizth Mayson & Mr Walker in support of an application for protection [ ?]
Affr of Mr Mayson
[? Question of ?]
They separated husband went to Victoria & has not supported applicant .
[?] husband can move to set aside the [?] You can [...?]
Image 5: TRANSCRIPT
In the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Matrimonial Causes Jurisdiction
Exparte Elizabeth Mayson the lawful wife of Alfred Threkeld Mayson.
Affadavit in support of application for Protection Order.
[?] 18.8.79
G.B.
Young & Walker
Proctors for the said Elizabeth Mayson
Image 6: TRANSCRIPT
In the Supreme Court
of Tasmania
Matrimonial Causes Jurisdiction
Exparte Elizabeth Mayson the lawful Wife of Alfred Threlkeld Mayson
I Elizabeth Mayson of Hobart Town in Tasmania make oath and say: -
1 That on the twenty fifth day of September one thousand eight hundred and sixty two I was lawfully married to Alfred Threlkeld Mayson at Glen Heriot in the Municipality of Glamorgan in Tasmania.
2 That I lived and cohabited with the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson for more than thirteen years at Swansea in Tasmania and also at Circular Head in Tasmania and have had two children issue of the said marriage namely Vernon Alfred John and Marion May of who the elder Vernon Alfred John aged sixteen years is now living with my father John Amos of Glen Heriot aforesaid and is wholly maintained by him and the younger Marion May aged nine years is now living with me and wholly dependent on my earnings.
3 That in the month of May one thousand eight hundred and seventy six the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson was dismissed from the situation held by him as Stipendiary
Image 7: TRANSCRIPT
Magistrate at Circular Head aforesaid in consequence of habitual drunkenness the household at Circular Head was broken up and the household furniture and effects were sold - I went to the house of my Father the said John Amos and there resided for some time. The said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson after staying at different places in Tasmania proceeded to the Colony of Victoria about the Month of May or June one thousand eight hundred and seventy seven.
4 That the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson ever since the Month of May one thousand eight hundred and seventy six hath remained separate and apart from me and has not contributed in any way to my support or to the support of the said children. The only letter I have ever received from him was on his departure from Tasmania about May one thousand eight hundred and seventy seven and was of a threatening nature.
5 That since the month of January one thousand eight hundred and seventy eight I have maintained myself by my own industry working as a sempstress at weekly wages and have thereby and otherwise acquired certain property consisting of clothes and personal effects.
6 That I have no knowledge of the residence of my said husband but I have been informed that he has lately returned to Tasmania.
[signed] Elizabeth Mayson
Sworn at Hobart Town aforesaid this Eighteenth day of August one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine
Before me
[Buckland- ? - unreadable]
A Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Addenda 2: 1882
SUMMONS 1st June 1882
Alfred T. Mayson respondent
Name: Mayson, Alfred - Petitioner
Mayson, Elizabeth - Respondent
Record Type:Divorces
Year:1882
Divorce number:85
Record ID:NAME_INDEXES:448223
Archives Office Tasmania: https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC89-1-3-85
Image 1: TRANSCRIPT
In the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Matrimonial Causes Jurisdiction No. 85
In the matter of the Application of Alfred Threlkeld Mayson to set aside an Order protecting the earnings and property of Elizabeth Mayson his Wife.
(Copy)
Summons
to hear Application to set aside Order
1 June 1882
Dobson & Mitchell
Attroneys for the Applicant
Image 2: TRANSCRIPT
In the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Matrimonial Causes Jurisdiction
In the matter of the Application of Alfred Threkeld Mayson to set aside an Order protecting the earnings and property of Elizabeth Elizabeth Mayson the Wife of the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson
Let the above Elizabeth Mayson or her Attorney or Agent attend me or His Honor the Chief Justice at Chambers in the Court House Macquarie Street Hobart in Tasmania on Monday the Twelfth day of June One Thousand eight hundred and eighty two at Eleven o'clock in the fore noon on the hearing of an Application on the part of the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson That the Order protecting the earnings and property of the said Elizabeth Mayson dated the Eighteenth day of August One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine made at Chambers on the Application of the said Elizabeth Mayson may be discharged.
Dated this first day of June 1882
W L Dobson [?]
Image 3: TRANSCRIPT
RE Mayson.
It seems to me that Rule 118 requiring personal service is modified by Rule 16, and that the rules preceding it; and that the proceedings before me yesterday without [>>>?] were c.... non judice
I do not think any of the cases cited are applicable especially the rules make express provision for the state of circumstances which it is attempted to establish
[signed initials ????]
3 June 82
Image 4: TRANSCRIPT
2nd June 1882
In mtr of A. T. Mayson
to set aside protection Order
in favor of Mrs Mayson
Application under 29 Vic No. 19 Sec. 1.
Mr H Dobson
Rule 118 Rules of the Matrimonial Causes
Mrs Mayson has not been heard of for years. Affa davit by Henry Dobson thatMrs Mayson cannot be found.
Dec. 81 [?] to Dobson & Mitchell from Mr Mayson
HH [?] There is nothing to show me that there is any ppty in dispute - what is use of this ?
Mr H. Dobson I am now asking for leave to make substituted service
27 L F... Magistrate Cases p 274
29 L F Magistrates Cases p 108\2 LR QB p 410
27 LF Probate & Matrimonial page 33
29 L F Magistrates Cases p
His Honors [?] opinion
Image 5: TRANSCRIPT
In the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Matrimonial Causes Jurisdiction
In the matter of the Application of Alfred Thelkeld Mayson
Affadavit
Henry Dobson
Filed 3 June 1882
[signed ...?]
3/6/82
Dobson & Mitchell
Image 6: TRANSCRIPT
In the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Matrimonial Causes Jurisdiction
In the matter of the application of Alfred Threlkeld Mayson to set aside an order protecting the earnings and property of Elizabeth Mayson the Wife of the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson
I Henry Dobson of Hobart in Tasmania Solicitor make oath and say as follows ;-
1. I and my Copartner Mr John Mitchell are the Solicitors for the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson in this matter
2. I have been informed by the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson and verily believe that about the months of September or October in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine the said Elizabeth Mayson left Tasmania suddenly without leaving any information with her then Employers Messieurs J. B. Mather and Son or with the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson or anyone on his behalf as to where she was going and that she has not since communicated with the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson either directly or indirectly.
3. During the last two years the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson has in conjunction with myself made every endeavour to obtain the address and
Image 7: TRANSCRIPT
ascertain the whereabouts of the said Elizabeth Mayson in order that he might be in a position to serve her with copy summons when he should make the above mentioned Application but without success.
4. In the month of October last I was informed that the said Elizabeth Mayson was living in the Wagga Wagga District in New South Wales and I thereupon wrote to the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson who was then living in Sydney and advised him to make enquiries for her in the said Wagga Wagga District and I subsequently received from him the letter now produced and shewn to me and marked "A"
5. I have made enquiries from several of the friends of the said Elizabeth Mayson as to her present whereabouts but none of them could tell me but I was lately informed that the said Elizabeth Mayson had been heard of in New Zealand but have not been able to obtain any further information as regards her present place of abode and neither I or the said Alfred Threlkeld Mayson can ascertain the address of the said Elizabeth Mayson. Sworn at Hobart aforesaid this second day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty two
[signed] Henry DobsonThese documents would have aided her divorce from Alfred T. Mayson when Elizabeth Mayson sought to marry Charles Borradale in Victoria. The documents show vengefulness on the part of Alfred T. Mayson to use lawyers for the purpose of grabbing Elizabeth Mayson’s earnings and property. When details about the nature of those earnings and the extent of the property – earnings made from sewing for clothiers J. B. Mather & Son, and property which including little more than clothes – were supplied to the bench, Mayson’s application was ridiculed and discharged. To save face with his client Alfred Mayson, and to garner a fat fee from him no doubt, solicitor Henry Dobson presented a fanciful tale about the disappearance of Elizabeth Mayson, first to Wagga Wagga, then to New Zealand. Apart from Dobson’s apparent incompetence in citing irrelevant magistrates’ cases, the bench may have discharged Mayson’s application because of a perceived monstrous greed on the part of both Dobson and his client Alfred Mayson. As the judge proclaimed on 2nd June 1882: There is nothing to show me that there is any ppty in dispute - what is use of this ? (Image 4)
Before me
H. [?] Buckland
A commissioner of the Supreme Court of Tasmania
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