Sadly though, Philips first taste of prison was soon afterwards.
On the 13th of August 1877 Philip was sentenced to 2 days imprisonment for being drunk in Darlinghurst Gaol, Sydney.
This was most likely after his relationship breakdown and his simultaneous Lorimer Brothers Tobacconist business collapse.
It was clear from here, Philip’s world was beginning to deteriorate.
1877 August 13th Philip was sentenced to Darlinghurst Gaol for 2 days for being drunk.
(Photo of prison document here).
Philip’s brother Peter, as expected was now to meet his real love, and was to be married. This was to have a great effect on Philip and also their relationship.
On the 18th February 1878, Peter Alexander Lorimer married Mary Agatha Martin aged 28 years.
Mary was born in late 1849, daughter of the Late Nathaniel Martin of Bristol of the county of Gloucestershire.
Nathaniel, through evidence, was a convict.
Nathaniel arrived to Sydney on ‘The York’ in Sydney in 1830 at the age of 23.
Mary’s mother was Elizabeth Mary Joseph Martin (Rowe), daughter of John and Mary Rowe.
Originally of Dublin Ireland, but most likely the Rowe family having emigrated to Sydney in around 1845 when Elizabeth was approx 25 years. (Photo below)
Nathaniel originally had applied in 1839 to marry a fellow convict Catherine Murphy. This application was declined due to Nathaniel having a wife and child in England.
There is no record of marriage to Elizabeth able to be found other than notation on Elizabeth's death certificate as being married at St Mary's Catholic Cathedral Sydney in approximately 1845 at her age of 25 years.
How he was able to marry due to previous marriage is unknown.
Nathaniel died in Dapto Wollongong in 1857 aged 50 years, when Mary was just 8 years old, and her sister Annie 5 years.
Mary and Annie, and their mother Elizabeth, it would seem, then moved to Sydney, living in various addresses in the city with Elizabeth finally living at 359 Bourke Street Darlinghurst from 1890 and at the time of her death in 1892. Per the notice she lived together with daughter Miss Annie Martin who was at the time 39 years.
Peter and Mary were married at St Mary's Pro Cathedral Roman Catholic Church in Sydney on the 18th of February 1878. Mary was aged 28 and Peter 35. The below gallery photos, from the album, are most likely of both of Peter and Mary.
Philip’s younger brother Peter was now married.
Philip's comrade was no longer his alone.
His housemate and business partner, and to some extent his brother, in Philips mind was gone.
Philip was now, again, alone.
Loneliness always followed, caused great angst for Philip, and in the years to come this would show, and be ongoing.
Later that year, Philip went missing. With police missing reports filed by Peter, in striving to search for Philip. He originally went missing from Merriwa, in the Newcastle region.
Reports were filed ongoing for a number of months with full description on 8th January 1879, in a missing notice.
It described Philip as 35 years of age, slight build, full beard, fair complexion, and five artificial teeth in upper jaw.
Philip was finally found that February 1879, in Aberdeen, north of Muswellbrook, much to the relief of Peter and Mary.
You can be sure that Peter, even though frustrated with Philip, was greatly concerned within days for his brother.
Philip's many years of wandering had begun, destined to be continually homeless and desiring to be free.
He was more at home with nature and no commitments.
The choice of a transient life was a decision in line with the decision of openly challenging his faith.
On 30th June 1879 Water Police Court Circular Quay Sydney, Philip Lorimer pleaded guilty and threw himself on the merciful consideration of the bench, for stealing some pens and pocket knives.
The magistrate informed the prisoner Philip that he had rendered himself liable to six months imprisonment, but he exercised his merciful consideration by sentencing him to pay a fine of 20 shillings, or if in default 7 days imprisonment.
On 7th August 1880, Philip wrote a letter ‘To the inhabitants of the county of Argyle.’ From Philip D Lorimer.
At the time of sending the letter Philip was working a gold mine lease at Mount Werong in the Southern Highlands or Goulburn area.
An article in response ‘Orangeism at Goulburn’ in the Protestant Standard. This clearly was a turning point in Philips life.
A loss of Presbyterian faith? A move from Protestant to Catholic? Was this because of his brother having married in a Catholic Church?
Was it a reflex to the trials of life to date, whereby such a change could foster a broader positive change?
The response to his letter was as follows - Orangeism in Goulburn.—
We have seen another letter of the Scotchman, Lorimer, 'who proposes to heat down, uproot, or otherwise destroy the Orange tree in Goulburn, and we feel more convinced than before that the said Lorimer is the ex-tobacconist that used to be well known in Sydney. He refers to the Protestant Standard in a way which recalls a time when he would very gladly have accepted its help, pecuniary or otherwise. It was perhaps the time of his first love with Rome. Some woman who must be in the business. There must have been some priestly confessing, some priestly matrimony, some paper promises about children, some consequent reconciliation, of the Scotchman who "is at home everywhere" to holy Church.
We know the usual zeal of perverts. They need to give proof of conversion and zeal. Philip D Lorimer threatens to reveal all about Orangeism, because he has abandoned the Order with a falsehood in his mouth. May not one falsehood be told to help another? But when a lie is revealing, ought he not to make a clean breast of everything else? The Orangemen who goes over to Rome, and, as a Romanist, threatens to reveal Orangeism, is merely a Scotchman who is at home anywhere! When he goes to purgatory, without benefit of clergy, he will be at home there also!
On 27th October 1880, Philip at the time of his working a Gold mine lease at Mt Werong in the Southern Highlands, Philip faced court again.
This time for non payment of wages to his employee of 12£ 15s and the court ordered payment. What was happening to Philip? His values had changed.
Was he so desperate for monies, compromising his Christian values?
In the following 5 years due to numerous conflicts with the law he spent time and time again in a number of jails.
At the corresponding same times during these years there was no poetry written or published. The pen and paper not in his swag, and subsequently he considered the little purpose he had?
He would have also learnt at this time of the death of Thomas Underwood on 9th July 1883, the father of Mary Ann his first love.
Philip might well have been pretty close to Thomas in the early years in Sydney.
A photo, in the album, beside that of possibly Maryanne, is of an older gentleman who possibly to be that of Thomas Underwood per above.
1882 February Philip was in Darlinghurst Jail for Exposure and sentenced to 6 weeks. (See photo of prison gates).
1882 20th March Philip was again in Darlinghurst Jail due to being Drunk and sentenced to 2 days imprisonment.
1882 1st August Henry Kendall close friend of Philip's died very sadly in poverty and illness. This would have greatly effected Philip during his most vulnerable times.
1882 9th September Philip was in Jail in Goulburn due to being of Unsound Mind and remanded for medical attention. (Click here to view photo in gallery).
1882 Philip's brother Peter had also now left him. Peter was probably now avoiding Philip by moving his family to regional NSW, and then finally in Orange NSW, where he would live out his life most likely not seeing Philip ever again.
There was no record of future meetings and following Philip's poetry through the publishing papers Philip seemed to never visit Orange.
This town was off the beaten track and probably his visit would not have been at all welcome. Like all of Philip's family Peter now regarded Philip as an outcast.
1883 17th December Philip again was in Darlinghurst Jail for his own protection (photo below).
It is now the winter of 1884. The wanderer is on the tramp in Victoria. Philip has been to Melbourne and is on his way back and has reached the town of Seymour.
From Seymour we may follow Philip in his verse, over creek and river, range and gully, to Ballarat the Golden City where he found work for a few months and many subjects for his muse.
1885 October Philip was in Maitland Jail and his documents noted him as having a scar on his right chin. (Click here to view photo in gallery).
1885 to 1886 Philip was in generally the Penrith and Emu Plains areas determined from his poetry.
1886 to 1888 May Philip was in the Lachlan District at Wallendbeen near Cootamundra between Wagga Wagga and Sydney.
The winter of 1887 was spent in the Lachlan district on a station at Wallendbeen, near Cootamundra on the main line of railway between Wagga Wagga and Sydney.
This was at Mr Alexander Mackay’s and sons Kenneth and Donald Mackay’s Wallendbeen Station. Here he worked off and on over the following years including doing some tutoring of theirs and other families children at the Littledale Station School at Wallendbeen. One school house and one teacher.
This school was established originally in 1881 with Miss L Miller appointed teacher.
It was here in around 1887 he composed many poems that would later be published by many country newspapers. Mr William (Billy) Miller here was a very close friend and regular contact with a big family of 12 children on the property ‘Littledale’.
Philip was known to be a teacher for a time at the Littledale School. (Photo below)
William Miller was married to Miss Nellie Barnes daughter of Mr John Barnes who was shot dead in 1863 by John O’Meally the bushranger of the Ben Hall gang on Kenneth Mackay’s Wallenbeen Station.
It was ultimately in Philips last years, as Philips close friend was William Miller whom would be given and possess all of Philips manuscripts, of 150 to 200 poems, on the proviso that he would do everything to get them published.
One of the Littledale students, Master James Monro of the School passed away in July 1887 aged 10 years. Clearly this upset Philip and his poetry displayed the sorrow for this respected young pianist and artist in the district. This was the motivator for a poem in memory of young James.
As at February 1887 Philip was in a bad way. He was reported to have been seized by rapid consumption contracted by exposure and ordered to a warmer climate.
Poor Philip, like his bosom companion Henry Kendall, suffered from many vicissitudes.
From Rochester he went to Echuca and up the Murray to Wahgunyah, on a wool barge, and thence "footed it” to Rutherglen, a vine -growing district where he spent another month or two Christmas and New Year 1888-89.
At Rutherglen he had a vision of a troubled woman's face and composed ‘Ethel’.
1887 10th March Philip was charged with vagrancy at Echuca. (Photo below)
Thus drawn by inclination he departed to the lovely Illawarra country and the coast at Kiama, wandering a long way round by Bathurst, and then over the Blue Mountains, loitering at Katoomba and Wallerawang, writing many verses by the way.
Two months later he was again over the border in Victoria at Rochester, on the River Campaspe.
1888 31st May Philip was in jail in Wollongong for vagrancy and drunkenness (photo below)
1888 19th July Philip was charged with trespass in Parramatta.
He was described as having a ‘large scar on right side of chin and scar on forehead’ charged with being illegally on premises. (Click here to view photo in gallery).
'The poor poet has been in the wars down Parramatta way. At the local police court last week, Philip Lorimer was charged with having been on the premises of Archdeacon Gunther for an un-unlawful purpose. He pleaded guilty, and made a rambling statement to the effect that he had no felonious intent. He had been looking for work and finding himself in the vicinity of the Arch-deacon's about 9 p.m. on Wednesday, he decided to "doss" there.
He slept soundly, dreamed that he was keeping company with an angel, and woke up to find "the Archdeacon standing over him." He earned an honourable, but somewhat precarious, livelihood by writing verses for thirty- three newspapers. Inspector Latimer stated that accused was found asleep about eight yards from a window by which, on the same night, Archdeacon Gunther's house had been burglariously entered, but that there was nothing to connect him with the burglary, unless he had guided the burglar to the spot.
He was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, during which period the thirty-three newspapers will be hung up for "copy." This Lorimer is certainly a most eccentric fellow. He is a bush bard with any amount of ideas, and is a passable verse-weaver. The beer leads him into strange excesses now and then, and ordinarily he looks more like a shearer from the back blocks than a man who earns his bread and butter by courting the muse. Poor Lorimer.’
From Richmond and Windsor Gazette 28th July 1888
“On Wednesday night Archdeacon Gunther’s residence, on Western Road, was broken into by forcing the study window and robbed of £7/10/- of money, and a valuable silver inkstand, which was presented to the Archdeacon on leaving his first curacy Stapenhill, Derbyshire, England. Some papers also were taken, but these were left at the gate as valueless to the burglars.
The Archdeacon went out early this (Thursday) morning and arrested a man named Philip D Lorimer, a well known bush poet, who often contributes to the Bathurst times and other papers. He was found sleeping eight yards from the window which was broken into. Lorimer was sent to Gaol for one month for being unlawfully on the premises. Early on Wednesday evening a harness was stolen from the residence of Mr Sulman, Mays Hill.
Mr Sulman was last week robbed of a case of jewellery, which the police kept dark. Poultry robberies have also became very common.” We venture to say that the poor “bush poet” had no hand in any robbery; and further that the hospital would be a far more fitting place for Lorimer than the gaol. We can scarcely believe that any christian gentleman would be so heartless to have a frail and helpless creature like Philip D Lorimer sent to gaol. Until recently he was the recipient of Mr A Mackay’s hospitable shelter at Wallendbeen, and he has frequently been assisted on the road by kindly residents in this town and district and by many country journalists.
Cootamundra Herald 25th July 1888
1882 9th September Jail in Goulburn due to Unsound Mind remanded for medical attention.
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