And So Philip's Story Begins

Philip Durham Lorimer was born in Madras India, as one of twin boys, on the 3rd of June 1843 to parents Dr Alexander Lorimer and Charlotte Strickland (Phillipa) Henderson.

His father Alexander was an MD Garrison Assistant Surgeon in Madras India son of Peter Lorimer (1774 To 1839) and Charlotte Wood (1779 To 1861). Philip had a twin brother, Robert Alexander. He sadly died shortly later at 6 months after birth on 9th December 1843.

Philip’s mother was Charlotte Strickland Lorimer (1815 To 1875). Charlotte's story proves to be of great impact on the future of Philip as you will see and is as follows.

Charlotte was the biological daughter of Sir John 5th Baronet Of Fordell Henderson (1752 to 1817). https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Henderson,_5th_Baronet.

Sir John was a famous and ultimately wealthy Scottish nobleman and Politician. 

Sir John married Anna Loudoun Robertson (1758 To 1782) daughter of General James Robertson (1717 To 1788) the serving Governor Of New York.

Sir John and Lady Anna had only one child, being Lady Ann Elizabeth Isabella Henderson (1782 To 1844). 

Lady Anna, Sir John’s wife, sadly though died during childbirth to Ann leaving Ann motherless.

Sir John never remarried but it was later determined that he had fathered 5 further children to 2 mistresses in the following years, after his wife’ death.

Firstly with Leah Wheatley, he fathered John Francis Wheatley Henderson (1798 - ), Mary Francis Wheatley Henderson (1800 - ), and Emily Elizabeth Wheatley Henderson (1802 - ).

Secondly with Hannah Strickland, he fathered Major General Robert Strickland EIC Henderson (1810 To 1862) and Philip’s mother, Charlotte Strickland Lorimer (1815 To 1875).

Three months prior to her father’s death Lady Ann Elizabeth Isabella Henderson (1782 To 1844) married on 16th October 1817 a famous relative and friend of her father’s, Admiral Sir Philip Charles Henderson Calderwood Durham RN (1763 To 1845). refer following for more information.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Charles_Durham

Just prior to Sir John’s death he confided to Admiral Henderson, and his daughter Ann that he had 5 other children to two mistresses, as he was concerned for their welfare. Following his death the search began and over the next few years £2000 was settled on the illegitimate children. 

The three children of Leah Wheatley were of then of adult age and supported to a new life. 

The two children of Hannah Strickland were very young. 

Robert 8 years and Charlotte 3 years, and were adopted by Admiral Philip Charles Durham and his wife, being Robert’s and Charlotte’s sister, Lady Ann Henderson.

Ultimately, Robert and Charlotte were raised by Admiral Durham as their adopting father, and also by their sister Lady Ann, as there adopting mother. 

Their world was one of having parents of fame, reputation, and wealth, both inherited and claimed. They were very clearly very close to each other throughout all of their lives with both families always in very close contact.

The expectations for their futures though were very great.

Robert became Major General Robert Strickland EIC Henderson (1810 To 1862). He had as his first son General Philip Durham Henderson (1840 To 1918) also a famous general who married Rosanna Cherry daughter of Major Colonel General Peter Thomas Cherry (1809 To 1898) From a proud military line, and Elizabeth Anne Elers-Napier (1810 To 1862) daughter of Lt Edward Elers of the Royal Navy and a long line of military aristocracy.

General Philip Durham Henderson (1840 To 1918) was the first adopted grandson of the Admiral Durham.

Philip Durham Lorimer was born 3 years after Philip Durham Henderson, also a first son to Alexander and Charlotte, but also the next and 2nd Grandson of the Admiral with great expectations to be fulfilled in line with tradition and succession, but obviously this was not to be.

At 7 years of age, in 1851, Philip was living with his grandmother Charlotte Lorimer, together with his older sister Charlotte 9 years, and younger brother Peter 6 years.  His parents at this time were on furlough or holiday for short term in Australia, leaving their children in the care of Philip's grandmother in her Ann St, Edinburgh home. 

Such a holiday would have founded the thoughts of future family migrations to Australia?

Philip was a quiet and gentle boy who was always reputedly a great story teller. He was very popular at school, able to tell many a great yarn. He was educated at the Edinburgh Academy from 1854 to 1859 attending classes 1 to 5 out of a 7 year course. Philip was claimed to have attended the University of Edinburgh for 2 years but it is understood there are no records. 

Philip lived at 11 Brunswick Street in Edinburgh up until the age of 17 and was for most of his life brought up by his grandmother Charlotte. A well to do family in the social scene with 3 servants. 

On the 30th of January 1861 his grandmother died. Did this mean his father was coming home? 

It is clear that Philip had a father and mother and extended family who were very much of a military, regimental focus. They  had strong and strict ideals for the first son. 

They were always focused on Philip’s coming of age 18 and wanting him to do what's right and join the army. Whether this be from discipline or just maturity, this was though very much against Philip's desires or morals.

Philip was dreamer, a young man of verse, and a lover of nature and romance. 

Philip was very much intimidated and fearful of his father. He was a man of stere and proud disposition totally unable to understand Philip’s sensitive nature and using Philips words –

“Things became so intolerable at home that I was determined, a boy as I was, to come out here” and Philip decided to leave home, seemingly without notice, and headed for Australia. 

This would have been a big decision for a young man not yet 18. Not yet with the blessing of reaching and celebrating ‘the reaching of the age of majority.’ A time of obligation to do what a lot of young men do under paternal pressure at this time, to join the army. This was not for Philip and the decision was made to leave his home and family to the claimed land of prosperity, Australia.

On the 28th April 1861 Philip boarded, probably unbeknown to his family, the cargo ship the Marquis of Argyle, in London. (Click here to view photo) 

With 20 crew, and only 6 possibly short notice and desperate passengers, they embarked from the Port of London heading for Sydney, New South Wales. 

The journey was long and would have been typically eventful. 

During the treacherous route from the south of Africa across to Australia a large storm took the life of one of the passengers. William McGregor, a Cattleman, being washed overboard and lost at sea. This was one of many character building experiences to come for Philip. He would still though have been greatly anticipating the life change this journey would bring. He was going to be met by his sister Charlotte in Sydney. That prospect would have provided some solace, but even still, a great unknown adventure he had embarked on.

Sydney at this time was a bustling colonial town, already rapidly growing, developing, and prospering, offering endless opportunities to all the prospectors of chance, and wealth that almost daily arrived. 

Philip was one of the many who would have from the start been scouting for income and a future. 

Philip, as many early arrivals do, soon was to find his base and then visit one of the local Photographic artists and to get a photograph to remember his time by and to also send home to his family. (Click here to view photo)

This carte de visite of Philip was taken, in late 1861, in George Street, Brickfield Hill, Sydney. This was probably the first Carte for his photo album, he could have possibly also bought at the same time. Alternately the photo was sent with his letter to his brother Peter. The album that would soon have the photos of his, or his brothers, then, and to be, loved ones. You can be also sure that a copy of this photo was sent to his family at home in Edinburgh to assure them of his happiness and safety.

Charlotte was Philip’s sister. She was already living in Sydney having married Peter Nicol Russell. 

Peter was a Tasmanian original, arriving at age 16 to Tasmania in 1836, and moving to Sydney in 1838. 

Charlotte married Peter in Edinburgh in 1859 and they then travelled back to Sydney where Peter was a successful Sydney Ironmonger, to his prosperous foundry business.

Such a base, and the potential or assurity of security for Philip, would have been very pleasing on his arrival in Sydney on the 26th of July 1861. Philip would certainly have been welcomed, and then initially housed, by his sister and brother in law at their Elizabeth Street home in Paddington.