Historic newspaper advertising, in my opinion, is vastly underrated. Throughout the years, it was the place where people advertised their list of requirements for a spouse, apologised for poor behaviour or gossiping, and, in some instances, swapped secret messages. They also functioned as they were intended: legitimately promoting someone’s product or business. And that’s where this story starts.
Alexander Smith arrived in the Swan River Colony in July 1840 aboard the ‘Chieftain.’ He was in his early 20s and had worked as a tailor in Old Aberdeen, Scotland. He brought with him a reference signed by notable people, proving his standing within the town. After three months settling in, he set up business in Bernard Smith’s house in Perth, which fronted Guildford Road.
He started work as a tailor by offering a small amount of stock for sale, including the “best quality” black and olive coloured wool-dyed broadcloth from the west of England as well as two greatcoats in the latest English fashion. He also indicated his intention to grow the business by advertising that he wanted to hire a boy as an apprentice, “to whom every encouragement will be given.”
Restocking was sometimes a lesson in patience. The ship ‘Henry’ was due at the start of February 1841 but did not arrive until April 20. On board were various cases, packages, chests, and casks ordered by the settlers. Alexander received his packages and advertised in May. He had available for sale: black and blue cloth, black and dark drab kerseymere, light drab double-milled cloth, and “an assortment of fancy silk and gilt buttons.”
Arriving in the colony in about September 1841 was James Dow. He was a butcher by trade and, in similar circumstances to Alexander, set himself up at the back of Bernard Smith’s store on Murray Street in Perth. He also came from Old Aberdeen. Presumably, they knew each other.
A month later, Alexander decided that it was time to move out of Bernard’s home and into a space of his own. He relocated to James Ougden’s property on St Georges Terrace, opposite a newly established Club House. He hoped that “by continuing strictly attentive to, and punctual in all orders he may be favored with, he will continue to merit that share of the public patronage which he has already obtained.”
A new start, new premises, and new stock that was delivered via the ship ‘Mary and Jane.’ In addition to the wool-dyed cloth, he now offered plain and figured satin, Valencia, velvet waistcoats, and cotton and linen drill. By late November, he had received a consignment of the “best and most fashionable” hats.
His business, by all appearances, was flourishing. Perhaps that success and the added attention resulted in people talking about him. There were whispers in town that Alexander was going to marry. With those whispers came gossip, spread by none other than James Dow.
The tale James was telling was that Alexander had to leave Old Aberdeen because he had committed murder. As the story spread, Alexander took decisive action at the suggestion of his solicitor, Edward Landor. On 9 December 1841, he publicly refuted the claim in the columns of The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal. He accused James of libel and stated that he was lying for the “sole object of injuring my credit and character.”
To help strengthen his statement and further silence the disbelievers, he printed the testimonial of character that was given to him when he left Old Aberdeen. It was signed by “several gentlemen of known respectability.”
If Alexander hoped his advertisement would mean the end of it, he was sorely mistaken. James, countering with his own notice, strongly denied the charge of libel. He did not state that Alexander had committed a murder or was implicated in one. He was simply asked by authorities if Alexander was married, and he told them what he knew.
I did state, when called upon, and not voluntarily, that the said Alexander Smith was a married man, and had one child, and that the child had died under circumstances which created great excitement in the old town of Aberdeen.
The tables turned. It was now James who accused Alexander of having “publicly impugned my veracity, and attempted to injure my character.” He demanded that Alexander “account for his leaving his native country in a clandestine manner.”
Alexander did not provide any further account, and the public accusations via the advertisement columns in the newspaper ceased.
Both men remained in the colony throughout 1842. James stopped advertising, but presumably carried on working as a butcher. Alexander continued advertising and was often listed as someone who accepted orders on behalf of Henry Gray, a man who freighted goods between Perth, Fremantle, and Guildford. The marriage that he was said to have been on the verge of making did not take place.
On 26 January 1843, James Dow boarded the ship ‘Trusty’ and sailed for London via Mauritius. By the end of that year, Alexander Smith had married Maria Bateman.
Was there any truth to the rumours?
It is hard to answer that question with any degree of certainty. While there were several Alexander Smiths who married in Aberdeen in the late 1830s and a few who had children sometime after that, there is nothing to indicate that any of them were one and the same as the Alexander who emigrated to Western Australia. Searching through historic British newspapers also yields no results.
What I can confidently confirm is that all of Alexander’s references were legitimate. George Primrose was a druggist who worked at 18 Union Place. Robert Thompson (Thomson in the postal directory) was a Merchant Tailor of 23 Broad Street. Alexander Stables was a grocer, tea, and spirit dealer at 112 High Street in Old Aberdeen. Thomas Leush appears to have not been listed, while James Irvine was part of the Aberdeenshire Militia.
Was James Dow simply mistaken as to Alexander’s identity? Or was he telling the truth? Was there more to Alexander’s story than what he preferred the people of Perth to know about? The fact that we don’t know makes this story all the more interesting. It was a snippet in both men’s lives in 1841, a moment that played out within the advertising columns of the newspaper, without which we may never have known about it at all.
Sources:
1840 'Advertising', Inquirer (Perth, WA : 1840 - 1855), 7 October, p. 40. , viewed 29 May 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65582385
1841 'SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.', Inquirer (Perth, WA : 1840 - 1855), 21 April, p. 2. , viewed 30 May 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65582233
1841 'Advertising', Inquirer (Perth, WA : 1840 - 1855), 5 May, p. 1. , viewed 30 May 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65581621
1841 'Classified Advertising', The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (WA : 1833 - 1847), 18 September, p. 1. , viewed 30 May 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article643114
1841 'Classified Advertising', The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (WA : 1833 - 1847), 16 October, p. 1. , viewed 30 May 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article643179
1841 'Classified Advertising', The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (WA : 1833 - 1847), 27 November, p. 1. , viewed 30 May 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article643242
1841 'Classified Advertising', The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (WA : 1833 - 1847), 11 December, p. 1. , viewed 30 May 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article643270
1841 'Classified Advertising', The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (WA : 1833 - 1847), 18 December, p. 1. , viewed 31 May 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article643277
1843 'SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.', The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (WA : 1833 - 1847), 28 January, p. 2. , viewed 31 May 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article644112
Directory for the city of Aberdeen and its vicinity (1839-1840) courtesy of the National Library of Scotland; https://digital.nls.uk/86807266
The imperial gazetteer; a general dictionary of geography, physical, political, statistical and descriptive; Walter Graham Blackie; 1855; Page 11
That was interesting 😀
Bernard Smith was my Great Great Grandfather 😊 I’m assuming Alexander would have been related to him - and so to me as well! 😊😊😊