Roaming Fancy Free, being a manuscript by Aubrey Sherwood Spencer based on the memoirs of Colonel Richard Weir

MLMSS 10482/Box 1X

fonds

probably between 1940 and 1959

9649931

0.27 metres of textual material (1 outsize box)

Aubrey Sherwood Spencer (1883-1971) was born in Muswellbrook, and was a descendant of the Spencer family of Rouchel, NSW. As a child he lived with his family on Cuttabunda station, Goodooga, where he was tutored by Colonel Richard Weir. Notes from Spencer’s estate indicate that he had access to Weir’s memoirs. Spencer had a career as a stock and station agent in the district, was involved in the founding of the North Western Contracting Co., and later worked as a journalist, including writing articles for the 'Western Stock and Station Journal'.

Colonel Richard Weir compiled his memoirs between 1852-1889. In 1892 he accepted a position as tutor on a station property known as Cuttabunda, in the Goodooga district of NSW, then held by the Spencer brothers, one of whom was Aubrey’s father, Matthew Spencer. Subsequently, Colonel Weir took over a similar position on a neighbouring station known as Willawillingbah, then held by Mr Booth Sharpley. When Weir died his memoirs were left with the Sharpley family. .

References:

Gardner Family of Rouchel Brook, February 2016 http://www.thespencerfamily.id.au/SpencerFamily/media/SpencerFamily/PDF's/gardner-family-rouchel-final2.pdf (accessed 6 May 2020).

Library correspondence file

By descent to the donor

A typescript manuscript titled 'Roaming Fancy Free' by Aubrey Sherwood Spencer, based on Colonel Richard Weir's memoirs from 1852-1892. Comprising 187 pages bound together with cardboard ends, the manuscript includes a ten page appendix of family stories and material on the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt.

Copyright status:: In copyright
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales