William Lionel Man and George Maxted

In 1871, William Lionel Man wrote a poem in memory of George Maxted (below).  Who was George Maxted and how did William know him?  About George we know the following. He was printer & engraver who was born in Ramsgate, Kent on 11 February 1817.  He went to Australia in around 1840 although where he arrived is not known.  He married Martha Spencer in Launceston, Tasmania in March 1843.  From there they moved around a bit, first to Hobart Tasmania, then Sydney NSW and from there about 3 years in Auckland NZ. On returning to Australia they moved to Newcastle NSW, which at that time had a population of around 1500 and started the first newspaper there in 1855. It was called the "Newcastle Telegraph".  After its closure he was also associated as either proprietor or publisher with other papers, "The Freepress", "The Newcastle Pilot" and "Northern Times" .  George & Martha had 8 children, 3 of whom died in infancy or early childhood.  George died in Newcastle NSW, on 4 March, 1871 aged 54.

We do not know how, or when, or where William Lionel Man met George Maxted.  However, Morrice Man, writing in his diary, notes that “ … in his early days as an actor William Lionel Man took his company through Australia and New Zealand acting Shakespeare, by rail but mostly by old-fashioned coach from town to town acting for a week or a fortnight in each place, sometimes in theatres, sometimes in Town Halls, sometimes in bars.  These were rough times in Australia – there were bushrangers who held up the coaches - the Kelly gang and a highwayman called Silvar.  These men had accomplices everywhere.  Once travelling a long way, a stern looking stranger got on the coach where Uncle Bill, Rosa and the company were travelling.  At the stopping places Uncle Bill, always ready for a drink and a chat, got quite friendly with the stranger.  At one Inn the man told him that he was Silvar and had arranged to hold up the coach, at the same time, opening his coat and displaying a long sinister “gun”.  Uncle Bill was alarmed but Silvar said,” I know you will not give me away – I will see you safely through to ----- and there you will have a bumper show.  Sure enough when the show opened at ----- they played to full enthusiastic houses and Silvar was a prominent figure in the stalls! … From Australia they went to New Zealand “

All we know about William and George is left behind in the following poem:

IN MEMORIAM

George Maxted: Died March 4th 1871

 Thou hast gone from us to that bright land
where angels dwell;
And “where the wicked cease from troubling
and the weary are at rest”
Glorious exchange from the rude cares and turmoils
of the world!
To lay thy weary head upon thy pillow,
To close thine eyes in death, and open them on Paradise,
To glance back, before the closing scene of all,
And ponder on the toils and troubles of thy pilgrimage,
To mark the milestones thou hast passed – the cares and sorrows,
The joys and disappointments, of life’s journey,
And, ere the misty films of death shut out the light,

To see they wife and children weeping round thee –

To feel their kisses on thy lips, and know thou hast
Left for them a good man’s proudest legacy –
An honest name! A glorious death to die!
And such was thine;
Thy memory honored, and they less deplored. No
fitter epitaph
Than this for thee: “The best of fathers, husbands, and of friends.”
Dear, honest heart, I love thee living, and I mourn thee dead,
And humbly drop this chaplet of affection on they grave.

 William Lionel Man Newcastle, March 7, 1871

 

 The original: