Mary Bogue

[piperpaul]

In memory of Mary Bogue, wife of David Howie.
So states the inscription upon the only headstone in a Presbyterian Graveyard in Tasmania, Australia.
Mary and David were married according to the rights and ceremonies of the Church of Scotland on 7th November 1850 in Launceston, Tasmania. Mary signed her name as 'Mary Bogue'
Mary was presumed drowned in a boating accident on August 20th 1851. No inquest for Mary was held meaning no body was recovered.
I have a copy of a letter written by a young girl who was 'in service' to the "deceased Mrs Howie".
No other details of Mary have surfaced.
David was a native of Ceres and came to Tasmania in 1837 to serve 7 years for offences committed in Scotland.
What does the inscription say about Mary and/or David?
Any suggestions please that may lead to identifying Mary Bogue?

[Currie]

Hello Piperpaul, and Welcome to TalkingScot.

It appears that Mary was a Tasmanian Aboriginal woman, probably meaning that her ancestors lived there as least as long as since Tasmania became an island, probably last Ice Age.

“Just a few steps further, at the bend in the road you’ll see the memorial and headstone for Mary Bogue and her infant son David, drowned just off the Nut in 1851 when their small boat was capsized in a freak squall. Mary was a Tasmanian aboriginal, married to David Bogue (Senior). More recent research has shown such squalls are common just where Mary drowned. A tragic combination of landscape and weather.”
http://www.bayviewguesthouse.com/main/guide_print.html

Picture of the grave.
"Sacred to the memory of Mary Bogue wife of David Howie and their son David died 1851. So read the inscription on this tombstone, now erased by time: Mary Bogue was the Tasmanian Aboriginal wife of David Howie, Captain of the cutter bearing his name. She and her infant son drowned when the boat capsized rounding The Nut 20.8.1851"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/natmeister/363314682/

State Library of Tasmania reference.
http://catalogue.statelibrary.tas.gov.a ... H30-1-4596

All the best,
Alan

[piperpaul]

Thanks for that info. and the early reply.
There are primary source references that contradict the idea that Mary Bogue was 'also known as' Black Mogg/Moggy and that she was of aboriginal descent.
That's a copy of my photograph on the Archives of Tas. website that I took about 34 years ago at the beginning of my research!
I believe that Mary was Scottish, as was David, but the crucial piece of evidence is yet to surface.
I am now hoping that somebody may be able to explain the factors that determine the decision to use or not to use a married woman's maiden surname on a memorial inscription, as is the Scottish custom.

Regards,
Piperpaul

[kenspeckle]

I would see what could be found on other Bogue surnames in Launceston She could have arrived elsewhere in Australia and moved to Tassie

Its quite normal to have the wife noted as her maiden name on tombstones (one of the reasons us Genies love them a wealth of information can be had from them )
It could be that Mary's birth is under a different spelling BOAG/ BOGG
Bogue is a Scottish and Irish name there was a well known Adam Bogue in shipping out of Melbourne
David Howie was a bit of a local hero after 1845 and possibly fairly wealthy he most likely would have mingled in seafaring circles and possibly met his wife in those circles
NAS Scotland would possibly have something on his trial there are a few David Howie's
http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/

here is a snippet I found on web using google
http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/c ... con375.htm
which led to those ...
http://kingisland.net.au/%7Emaritime/cataraqui.htm
http://www.kingisland.org.au/Default.asp?ID=2
1846 - David Howie appointed Special Constable for King's Island where he had a lease of 10 acres.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/tag?all ... id%20Howie
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/26149262

http://genforum.genealogy.com/howie/messages/346.html

regards Lesley in Tassie

[piperpaul]

Thanks for that info kenspeckle.
Things are moving along quite quickly.
David Howie had strong connections in society in both Victoria and Launceston (Van Diemens Land).
As he matured and left his youthful traits behind he appeared to take great pains to do "the right thing".
I wonder if in placing the memorial stone he was advertising his position in society?
Perhaps Mary's relatives did not want to see her name forgotten and placed the stone?
Adam Bogue was also a prominent member in wider circles in Australia than Howie but I am sure there paths crossed in Launceston.
Regards,
piperpaul

[Currie]

Back again,

And I thought State Libraries were infallible. The native woman, Black Mog, and an unnamed ticket-of-leave convict were drowned alongside the Master’s wife and son.

For the record here’s a news report from The Courier (Hobart), Saturday 30 August 1851. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... tleid%3A21

“On Wednesday, the 20th instant, the cutter David Howie, of ten tons, loaded with potatoes, owned and commanded by David Howie, was unfortunately capsized close off the flag-staff, Circular Head Bay, and immediately went down. The day was very squally from the S.W. The master's wife and child, with a native woman of this island, well known by the name of Black Mog, and a ticket-of-leave man, were unfortunately drowned. David Howie and two other men are saved. Two boats from the Daphne and Cygnet went off instantly to render assistance, and picked up the three men hanging to the boat which floated off. A subscription has been raised to get the vessel up; she foundered in about four fathoms water.—Launceston Examiner, August 27.”

I don’t really know anything much about the reliability of Scottish monumental inscription customs. If it’s anything like naming patterns then it probably can’t be relied on. But here are a couple of references:

The Gretna Green Memoirs, 1842, p14. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=fl9 ... &q&f=false

“Another remarkable fact may be here mentioned connected with this subject, which is, that in Scotland, married women still preserve their maiden names, as for instance, the wife of a Mr. Craufurd, although called sometimes Mrs. Craufurd by those unacquainted with her maiden name, would, by those that were, be called Mary Scott, or whatever her name might have been before marriage, and in the event of death, this name would be engraven on her tombstone.”

Our Old Home, 1863, p49. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=TxQ ... &q&f=false

“It was easy, indeed, to ascertain the rank of those who slept below; for in Scotland it is the custom to put the occupation of the buried personage (as "Skinner," "Shoemaker," "Flesher ") on his tombstone. As another peculiarity, wives are buried under their maiden names, instead of those of their husbands; thus giving a disagreeable impression that the married pair have bidden each other an eternal farewell on the edge of the grave.”

But ultimately it’s usually the survivor, or others, who decide what is to go on a tombstone and whose customs prevail, not the deceased.

All the best,
Alan

[piperpaul]

Thanks for those references Alan.
Another question that arises about this headstone concerns the placement of headstones with no internment, from a Scottish perspective.
Only two bodies were recovered from the capsized vessel: that of Black Mogg who was buried in the name of Moggy, and the child who was named as David Howie Bogue.
The ground upon which this headstone stands was only the suggested location of a Presbyterian church when the accident occurred in 1851.
At the time Presbyterians living in the district were being 'looked after' by the Rev. James Garrett who came from the West Tamar and who had married David Howie and Mary Bogue in 1850.
Behind the story of this headstone lies some very interesting points concerning the permanent establishment of the Presbyterian faith in the Circular Head District.
Regards,
Piperpaul

[apanderson]

Just adding a link to another thread:

posting.php?mode=reply&f=54&t=16195

Anne