The migrant Le Couteurs - Philip Le Couteur

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The migrant Le Couteurs:
Philip Le Couteur


enter


This is the fourth in a series of five articles about the Le Couteur family, and specifically brothers George and Philip Le Couteur, who emigrated separately to Australia in the 19th century. The content comes from a booklet, The Migrant Le Couteurs - from Jersey to Australia written by Lindsay Horner, husband of a Le Couteur descendant, and published by the author before a family gathering at Warnambool, Victoria, in March 1991

Philip Le Couteur

This is the fourth in a series of five articles about the Le Couteur family, and specifically brothers George and Philip Le Couteur, who emigrated separately to Australia in the 19th century. The content comes from a booklet, The Migrant Le Couteurs - from Jersey to Australia written by Lindsay Horner, husband of a Le Couteur descendant, and published by the author before a family gathering at Warrnambool, Victoria, in March 1991.

Philip Le Couteur

Philip Le Couteur, brother of George, was older by two years, having been born in Jersey on 30 September 1826.

Philip was married to Emilie Asplet by the Rev Philip Filleul at St Peter's Parish Church, Jersey on 24 October 1847. However, nearly two years after his brother came to Australia in 1853, he journeyed alone as an unassisted migrant on the ''Evening Star'', a three-mast barque of 847 tons built by Ed Allen of St Aubin, Jersey, and owned by J Le Bas. The Evening Star sailed from Jersey under Captain Philip de St Croix on 25 August 1854 for Adelaide and arrived on 24 November, and then arrived at Melbourne on 1 January 1855. Philip is shown on the passenger list for the departure from Adelaide as a plasterer aged 28.

Just prior to leaving Jersey, Philip was given a bible which was in French. The written inscription, also in French, translates as follows:

"Presented to Philip Le Couteur by his affectionate cousin Edward Renaut, on the occasion of his departure for Australia on board the Evening Star, 22 August in the year 1854, St Nicholas Cross, St Peter, Isle of Jersey"

Also in the bible was Philip's handwritten summary (in French) of his journey out. It translates approximately as follows:

"Philip Le Couteur, St Nicholas Cross, St Peter, Jersey. Born in the Parish of St Peter on 30 September in the year 1826. He departed Jersey on board the Evening Star on 25 August 1854. Arrived on 6 October at Pernambuco (Brazil); Cape of Good Hope on 31 October. Arrived on 23 November at Adelaide. Departed on 21 December and arrived at Hobson Bay, 29 December. Disembarked at Melbourne on the first day of the year 1855"

Diary

Philip had commenced a diary in 1847 while still living in Jersey. This was written in the island mixture of French and English and was translated into English by Dorothy Le Couteur of Dandenong. In an entry dated January 1851 he wrote:

" I am determined to set myself up in America if business isn't better this year in Jersey and to leave in the month of January 1851."

In an entry annotated 'Beechworth, 11 April 1895, Easter Good Friday', he wrote:

"It is 48 years since I started writing this little book 12,000 miles away from here. I was then young, strong and hopeful. I am now old and weak but thankful"

On the same page as the 1851 entry he noted:

"January 1903: I have set myself up in Australia and not in America. Man proposes, God disposes."

Philip lived initially at 77 Oxford Street, Collingwood, and his diary details the building work which he undertook. He seems to have been an inveterate correspondent as he makes constant reference to letters sent and received, particularly to/from his wife Emilie, whom he was apparently missing very much, and his brother George.

The Goldfields, and Warrnambool visit

Philip must have heard many stories of fortunes made on the goldfields - he tells of one man who claimed he had come back with 26 lb (nearly 12 kg) of gold. In October 1855 he was feeling very lonely and homesick and, when work slackened off a little, he decided to try his hand on the goldfields. His initial venture was a short visit to the Steiglitz Diggings, which were about nine hours walk from Geelong (to which he went by ship - and was very sea-sick).

On 11 November he decided to give up his trade altogether and put his trust in God on the goldfields. On the first day he walked 38 miles (61 km) to Gisborne; on the second 28 miles (45 km) to Malmsbury; on the third he walked through Castlemaine to Mackerford; on the fourth he reached Carisbrook, and finally reached the Bet Bet Diggings on the fifth day, having covered 125 miles (200 km). There he met friends from Jersey and initially found a small amount of gold. However, his luck soon petered out and, on 15 December, he decided to go back to Melbourne, where he arrived on the 19th.

On 22 December he embarked on the steamer Champion bound for Warrnambool to visit his brother George - and, as usual, was seasick on the way. He seems to have had a memorable holiday, seeing George again after several years and meeting Frances for the first time. He and George chased kangaroos, went fishing and inspected farming properties. He was everywhere "received with great hospitality" and was "quite enchanted with the beauty of the country".

Move to Beechworth

On his return to Melbourne on 19 January 1856 Philip settled again into work in the building industry. In April he had a bad attack of rheumatism, and also probably had a brief excursion into phrenology. On 7 August, work - in the form of putting the floor in the Bank of NSW - took him to Beechworth, and before his departure he seems to have been severely depressed, with forebodings about the future.

Not long after he came to Beechworth, Philip appears to have become involved with the Congregational Church. The movement to form a church started before his arrival, with the first service being held in the Freemasons Hall in 1855. This was followed by a founding meeting on 7 July 1856, but Philip's name is not on the list of those attending. However, it is recorded that "The first Church Committee meeting presided over by the Rev T Jackson on 24 February 1858, was held in Mr Ingram's reading room. Of the 13 members who attended there appears the name of Mr Le Couteur, grandfather of the present family of that name".

Philip's diary continues with an undated entry of several pages in which he castigates himself for being a sinner, and asks God's forgiveness. Entries in March 1859 indicate that he planted various vegetables and flowers, and in August that he planted vines, and "the first vinegar plant in Beechworth".

He does not mention the arrival of his wife Emilie, who sailed from Southampton as an assisted migrant on the Hornet, a vessel of 1,155 tons, and arrived in Melbourne on 7 September 1857. Records indicate that Emilie was aged 39, a dressmaker, Church of England, able to read and write and, on arrival, she went 'with friends' to the address of a Mrs Roberts in Collingwood. She is listed in the records under 'Single persons, widows and widowers', but this categorisation could have been a matter of expediency. The possibility exists that the arrival of his wife, and perhaps the fact that she did not bear him any children, may have been a factor in his depression and self-condemnation.

In entry for 30 September 1860 (Philip's 34th birthday) he praises God and asks for pardon of his faults - he hints that his sins include impatience, feeling irritated and flying into a rage. Then follows a note dated April 1861 that he had "made the first wine ever made in the district". A couple of reflective entries are dated 30 September 1864 and 1 January 1865.

Nephew

It is understood that Philip asked his brother George if one of the latter's children could come to live in Beechworth, to fill the gap caused from his own lack of offspring. This was apparently arranged, and the next diary entry is in April 1866 by brother George's son George Thomas Le Couteur, aged 10 years 3 months. He indicates that he:

"Left Warrnambool my native home on 12 April 1866 embarked on board the Pervil Cutter accompanied by my father. Arrived at Melbourne on the 19 inst. Took leave of Father on Monday 23rd and came up to Beechworth by mail coach. Arrived safely at my uncle's on Tuesday at noon on the 24th inst. Began at the Independent Sunday School on Sunday 29th inst. And also at the Grammar School on Monday 30 April 1866".

In the 1868 edition of Balliene's Victorian Directory, Philip is recorded as being a plasterer, living in Sydney Road, Beechworth

Diary entries for April and August 1869 are mainly concerned with the weather, while the entry for August 1870 discusses the Franco-Prussian War. A contemporary entry in Philip's bible is indicative of the household philosophy:

"Beechworth, 10 October 1870: I the undersigned do hereby solemnly resolve and pledge myself to abstain from taking any intoxicating drink for the term of 12 months. Signed in presence of Philip Le Couteur" (indecipherable signature - looks like Simon Georgs; may possibly have been nephew George Thomas who was staying at Beechworth and was then 14½ years old)

Then there is another gap in Philip's diary, with no further entries until Christmas Day 1871. For the first time he mentions the presence of his wife Emilie, but laments that they are alone, "exiled, forgotten, abandoned by all".

"Not even a letter have we received. It is painful but it may be for the best."

Then follows a very touching poem written by Emilie shortly after Philip had left Jersey. In another entry for 30 May 1871 he more directly indicates what is possibly the basic cause of his depression - that he has no one to whom he can leave his worldly goods : no one "depending directly upon me for help. Since I have no one of my own". This is followed by an insert made on 29 November 1878 (when he had remarried and had a son) : "Now I have".

Further entries in 1871, 1872 and 1873 indicate that he was still very depressed - and mostly out of work (as a plasterer he had worked on most of the 'historic' buildings in Beechworth - and was apparently one of the earliest suppliers of milk in Beechworth, having a Jersey house-cow from which he sold the surplus.

Death of Emilie, remarriage, and later life

The diary then jumps to 1 January 1877, with no mention of the facts that Emilie died on 5 January 1875 aged 54, or that Philip remarried in the same year to Anne Maria Kelly. On 21 December 1877 Philip records, with some lyricism, that their first (and only) child Frederick Philip Le Couteur was born.

The next entry is for Christmas 1883, in which he describes the pleasant setting and the sumptuous fare, and concludes with the contented remark "and to crown all, Peace and plenty".

George visits Beechworth

Nephew George Thomas apparently visited Beechworth early in 1888 and made the following entry in Philip's diary on 7 February:

"It is now 21 years 9 months since I came first to Beechworth. I am at present up again on a holiday visit. I have my eldest child, Elsie Coverley, with me, having left at South Melbourne our home, my wife and young son. We have been nearly a fortnight here enjoying the pleasures of Beechworth, renewing old acquaintances and friendships, visiting old familiar spots, many of them filled with many happy memories and hallowed feelings of the irrevocable past. Though not in robust health I am thankful for preserved life and a great measure of prosperity from the Great Giver of all. And I would also here record a tribute to all past and present members of this household, from whom I have received so many benefits. May they each receive in this life their reward and in the world to come life everlasting". G T Le C.
"We are taking two boxes of various fruits - apples, pears, plums, walnuts. Some of them from trees I assisted my uncle to plant 20 years ago."

Philip's brother George made the following entry dated 4 February 1889 (spelling etc as shown in the translation - at this stage, 36 years after George's arrival in Australia, it was probably written in English):

"After an absence of 20 years. By the blessing of God i have been permitted to see my Dear Brother i wife and son and as life is short and Death is sure it is quite probable we shall never see each one another again. i just pen these few lines not knowing by whom they will be read after i am gone therefore it is my duty to write only what I believe what is true for the welfare of the rising generation. "Be" always true as day trust in God not in yourself and he will direct your path never opress the poor or needy if you cannot be great be good be faithful in whatever you do let your motto be upward and heavenward after 60 years expeareance i can say from my hart that God has been good to me.
George le couteur aged of 60 years 6 months 13 days 1889"

George made another entry on the same day (but separated by 32 pages in the diary and with a 10-year discrepancy in the time to the last visit) :

"After an absence of 30 years from Beechworth I find vast improvements. The town has grown in good store and substantial buildings. The shops look clean and tidy. The streets are well made and clean, but business seems rather quiet. The air is pure and bracing - no doubt it is a healthy place to live in - fruit and ornamental trees seem to grow well but those granite blocks propping out of the ground are too hard for me as we have nothing of the sort in the Western District of Victoria. True we have no gold diggings, as in this locality, but we have land that will not be worked out for a hundred years to come. As I believe that tons of gold will be dug out of these old diggings, as in my opinion they have only been scratched over. George Le Couteur 1889"

George made a further (undated) entry directed to his nephew Fred :

"To Fred from Uncle George.
"Play the Man always. Strive to be useful, never be idle, never associate with anyone lower than yourself. Take care of yourself. Live as well, and as long as you can. Keep up a brave heart and never be afraid to look a Man in the face - never act deceitfully for gain. Fear God and not man. With best wishes from Uncle George".

One of two pressed poppy petals found in Philip's bible has the inscription "Philip Le Couteur July 14th 1889", but no indication is given of the significance of this date.

A Christmas 1890 entry by Philip indicates that Fred and he were doing the cooking while mother was away at a funeral - and that the season was good, and life was good. Brief entries for 1891, 1892 and 1893 record Frederick's age and height. On New Year's Day 1896 Philip reflects on the 41st anniversary of his arrival in Australia - the then and now contrasts, and seems to conclude that life was still good.

On the Electoral Roll of Voters in the Federal Referendum in 1899, Philip is recorded as being an orchardist, living in Sydney Road, Beechworth. On the same roll, Frederick P Le Couteur is recorded as being a farmer living in Beechworth.

A second pressed poppy petal found in Philip's bible is annotated "Sep 30th 1899 my birthday 73rd Birthday P Le Couteur"

Philip died in Beechworth in 1903, aged '77 years, 1 month, 21 days'. This would make his death date 20 November 1903. However, probate indexes indicate that he died on 13 November.

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