|
It has been established that Matthew Price was born in Naples in 1818. His parents were Matthew Guerin Price a Private Banker and Caroline, Countess Raphael of the Lascelle Family, although we now know her maiden name was MAENZA so where the Lascelle part came about we are still unsure. Matthew was married to Elizabeth Donaldson Traveller in the East Indies in 1840. Elizabeth was born in Madras East Indies in 1820, and her father was Cornelius Traveller, a Clergyman.
Elizabeth Price arrived in the Port Phillip Colony on the Sailing Ship "Kent" in April 1853, with their children, Alice Louisa 8 years old, Charles Danvers 5 years old, Edward Guerin 12 years old, Grace 2 years old, and Susan Burge 1 year old.
Two more children were born after their arrival in The Port Phillip Colony, Matthew Price Jr. in 1854 and Henry Gaunt Price in 1857.
Captain Matthew Price arrived in Australia, with his troops of the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot. They would have embarked in the UK and they arrived in NSW in 1852 on HMS Troopship Vulcan. Captain Matthew Price came to the Port Phillip Colony (Victoria) soon afterwards. He resigned his commission and soon afterwards his appointment as Acting Police Inspector commenced on 4 January 1853. As Captain Matthew Price was already working here in the Colony he was able to meet up with his family when they arrived on the Sailing Ship "Kent" in Australia. The shipping record for the Kent showed that it sailed from the UK to Australia.
I now have information from the Victorian Police, and this entry from their printed booklet: "List of Chief Constables, District Constables, Police Cadets and Police Officers in Victoria 1836 to 1907" compiled by Thomas O'Callaghan Chief Commissioner of Police Victoria. Which states:-
No 172 PRICE Matthew 04/01/1853 Appointed Acting Police Inspector
No 172 PRICE Matthew 01/01/1854 Appointed Senior Inspector
No 172 PRICE Matthew 20/01/1854 Appointed Police Magistrate
Matthew was later appointed a Commissioner of the Mounted Police Force in Victoria. Matthew was also a Member of the prestigious Melbourne Club. Since writing this small biography of Matthew Price, I have purchased a copy of a book written by Carole Woods, titled - "Beechworth. A Titan's Field" printed in 1985, There is a lot of additional information in this book which will perhaps give a further insight into the life of Matthew while he was with the Police in Victoria, and also interesting information on the Beechworth area of the State.
There are several references to Matthew Price and his career. It is also stated that he was a Captain in the Madras East India Company Army before his arrival in Victoria Australia.
|
|
