Death Certificate for Alexander Menzies

Death certificate No.1123 for Alexander J. Menzies who died of concussion of the brain on 12 May 1858 at Greenough after a fall from his horse. It was registered by L.C. Burges, Irwin River, on 24 May 1858.

Not all convicts were from the ‘lower classes,’ for some could be classified as ‘gentlemen.’ Such was Alexander Menzies, born at Kirkaldy, Fife, Scotland on 12 November 1825. As a married law student, with one child, he was convicted at Perth, Scotland on 5 February 1849, of falsehood, fraud and willful imposition; and uttering forged writing to obtain credit, and so was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

Menzies arrived in Fremantle on the Pyrenees on 28 June 1851. As was the custom at that time, he received his Ticket of Leave upon disembarkation. Menzies was granted a Conditional Pardon on 6 August 1853. Sent first to York, he then made his way to Greenough where he was accepted as a young Scottish gentleman seeking pastoral experience.

In 1857 he bought 17.25 acres at Tibradden Brook with Julius Du Boulay so they could form a 20,000 acre pastoral lease from the surrounding country. They named their pastoral property Minnenooka.

In May 1858 Menzies went kangaroo shooting with neighbouring pastoralist Kenneth Brown, but was thrown from his horse, and died after lingering in a speechless state for four days. Menzies is buried at Minnenooka.

"9 May 1858 Sunday …heard that Menzies had been thrown & kicked by his pony & much hurt & the boy had been for the doctor…
10 May 1858 Monday Rode over to Menzies after breakfast Menzies still insensible…
11 May 1858 Tuesday Doctor & self to Menzies after breakfast…
12 May 1858 Wednesday …found Langford waiting for me to say that poor Menzies was dead got my dinner & went over to Menzies…
13 May 1858 Thursday went over to Menzies after breakfast & found there Scott Kenneth Locke & Davis Foley William Burges& Thomas Brown came toward night & no coffin came up till 5PM…
14 May 1858 Friday went to du Boulays early a tremendous heavy hail storm and thunder several showers of rain Buried poor Menzies at 9AM present William Burges who read the service also Locke Mrs Brown Kenneth Scott F du Boulay Davis Smith Eastough Brand Allender Lintott & wife Sweeny Sandford David Strickland Pead & one or two others Buried him in the brook above the wheat field…"
Extracts from Major Logue’s diary

Note that his death certificate lists him as a ‘settler.’