Caroline Carleton

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Carol Carleton

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Caroline Carleton.jpeg

| birth_name = Caroline Baynes

| birth_date = 6 October 1811

| birth_place = Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1874|7|10|1811|10|6|df=y}}

| death_place = Matta House, Kadina, South Australia

| nationality = Australian

| spouse = {{marriage|Charles Carleton|1836|1861|end=died}}

| children = 7

| profession = Poet, writer

}}

File:S.A. Typographical Society Eight Hour Celebration Caroline Carlton The Australia Song.jpg]

Caroline Carleton (6 October 1811 – 10 July 1874) was an English-born South Australian poet who is best known for her prize-winning poem "Song of Australia", which, put to a tune by Carl Linger, was used as a patriotic song in South Australian schools and elsewhere, and was one of four options in a 1977 national plebiscite to select a National Song.

Caroline Baynes was born at Bonnar's Hall (also written Bonner's Hall), Middlesex near London, the youngest child of bookseller William Baynes (29 May 1760 – 7 January 1832) and his second wife Mary Ann (née Bailey) (1771–1862). Although her birthdate is generally given as 1820, this may have been a useful fiction, as baptism records give the 1811 date.http://baynes.co.nf/parish.php#ID23 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324101745/http://baynes.co.nf/parish.php#ID23 |date=24 March 2018 }} Extracts from the Baptism Register, Wesley's Chapel, City Road, London,taken from a film copy of the register at the PRO Ref.RG4/4388

She was highly intelligent and received a good education. She could converse in French and Italian, was well-versed in Latin, and played pianoforte and harp.{{Cite web|url=http://www.austlit.edu.au/run?ex=ShowAgent&agentId=A)Fd|title = Caroline Carleton | AustLit: Discover Australian Stories}} In 1836, at West Hackney (perhaps on York Road near modern Dalston?), she married Charles James Carleton, a medical student working at Guy's Hospital and who could claim a family connection with the Earls of Dorchester.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55723812 |title=An Australian Pilgrimage. |newspaper=The Mail |location=Adelaide |date=14 March 1936 |access-date=21 February 2012 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} Together with their two young children (James Poole Carleton born 23 April 1839 and one other) they left for Australia in 1839, on the Prince Regent. It was a rough passage and both children died and were buried at sea. The passengers disembarked at Glenelg on 26 September 1839.

Charles' activities

After a few false starts making cordials,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71619146 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=Southern Australian |location=Adelaide |date=16 April 1840 |access-date=20 February 2012 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} castor oil,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71628328 |title=Agricultural and Horticultural Society's Grand Exhibition |newspaper=Southern Australian |location=Adelaide |date=16 February 1844 |access-date=20 February 2012 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} and other commodities, Charles (who never completed his degree) became around 1844 medical dispenser to the Colonial Surgeon, Mr. James George Nash F.R.C.S.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27448626 |title="Proud Man Dressed in a Little Brief Authority". |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=4 December 1844 |access-date=20 February 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} They may have resided at the Adelaide Hospital, where Caroline had two more children. In 1842 he was assayer with Alexander Tolmer's expedition to Mount Alexander which subsequently escorted a quarter of a ton of gold to Adelaide.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38464471 |title=Arrival of Mr. Tolmer at Wellington |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=19 March 1852 |access-date=24 February 2012 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} In 1845 he and a Dr. Davy built a trial lead-smelting furnace.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62136163 |title=South Australia |newspaper=The Observer |location=Hobart, Tas |date=24 October 1845 |access-date=24 February 2012 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} In 1847 they moved to Kapunda, where Charles was employed as assayer and perhaps{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71608564 |title=Thursday, June 17. |newspaper=The South Australian |location=Adelaide |date=18 June 1847 |access-date=24 February 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} as medical officer.

In 1849, they returned to Adelaide, where he opened a chemist's shop at 37 Hindley Street,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50245943 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=28 March 1849 |access-date=24 February 2012 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} then in August 1851 to c. 51 Rundle Street{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38452206 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=30 August 1851 |access-date=25 February 2012 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} He visited the gold diggings at Forest Creek, Victoria, perhaps working as an assayer and gold buyer, and returned to his Rundle Street shop with new advertising directed at miners.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38461361 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=6 August 1852 |access-date=24 February 2012 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} The shop was taken over early in 1853 by James Parkinson.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38464225 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=3 March 1853 |access-date=24 February 2012 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} and throughout 1853 to May 1854 he was selling bottled English porter and stout at Blyth's Building, Hindley Street.

He was returning officer for Grey Ward in the 1855 Census.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49308333 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=5 April 1855 |access-date=24 February 2012 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

He took a position as superintendent of the West Terrace Cemetery in November 1855,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49295606 |title=Appointments |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=9 November 1855 |access-date=20 February 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} He died on 20 July 1861 and was buried at the same cemetery. For the last two years as his health deteriorated, most of the work was done by Caroline.Webling, Rae A Song of Australia Kadina S.A. 1977

The Song of Australia

Image:Song of Australia.jpg

It was while at the cemetery in 1859 that she wrote The Song of Australia in response to the Gawler Institute's contest for a patriotic poem that could be set to music, and submitted it under the pseudonym "Nil Desperandum". Her poem won the prize of ten guineas (£10 10s.); several thousand dollars by today's values.

The second stage of the Gawler Institute's contest was for a tune for the winning poem as published on 21 October 1859. Again, the prize was ten guineas.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1198370 |title=Classified Advertising. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=21 October 1859 |access-date=20 February 2012 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} The winner, announced on 4 November 1859 was Carl Linger, whose pseudonym was "One of the Quantity".{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49825647 |title= Gawler Prize Music |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=5 November 1859 |access-date=21 February 2012 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Their song was performed at the South Australian Institute soirée at White's Rooms, King William Street, on 14 December 1859 by the Adelaide Liedertafel, conducted by Herr Linger.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1200190 |title=Classified Advertising. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=14 December 1859 |access-date=25 February 2012 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Later life

With the death of her husband in 1861, she applied for the job as curator of the cemetery but was refused. As was the resort of many well-educated women left without an income, she founded a school for girls at Waterhouse's Building, 231 North Terrace, in 1861,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article877936 |title=Classified Advertising. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=25 September 1861 |access-date=20 February 2012 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} but insufficient income to run her establishment forced her insolvency in 1867.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73057331 |title=Insolvency Court |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=23 October 1867 |access-date=20 February 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} She reopened her school in Tavistock Street in 1868, then Hanson Street in 1869, then in 1870 or 1871 moved to the bustling city of Wallaroo where her daughter Amy had a school (a photograph, c. 1874, may be viewed [https://archive.today/20121205152353/http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/71250/B71009.htm here]). She may have made several trips between Adelaide and the "copper triangle" of Moonta, Kadina and Wallaroo. It was during one of these trips, while staying at "Matta House" near Kadina that she died. It is likely that she was given the use of this house by the manager of Moonta Mines, the mining magnate and patron of the arts and sciences William Austin Horn (1841–1922) who published Bush Echoes on his return to England.

Caroline was buried in the Wallaroo cemetery on 12 July 1874. During the South Australian Centenary, on 13 March 1936, some three thousand citizens and eight hundred schoolchildren made a pilgrimage to her graveside. The stone also memorialises Charles James her husband and Charles James her son.{{cite sign |url=http://www.coppercoast.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/grave/Carleton_Caroline.jpg |title=In Memoriam C.J. Carleton |type=photograph of headstone |publisher=District Council of the Copper Coast |access-date=6 November 2015}}

Carleton Crescent, Wallaroo and Carleton Street, in the Canberra suburb of Kambah, are named in her honour.{{cite news|date=13 April 1976|title=AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY NATIONAL MEMORIALS ORDINANCE 1928–1972|page=21|newspaper=Australian Government Gazette|issue=P4|location=Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236924141|access-date=16 December 2020|via=National Library of Australia}}

Family

Charles James Carleton (c. 1814 – 20 July 1861) married Caroline Baynes (6 October 1811 – 10 July 1874) in 1836; they had two children before emigrating; both died en voyage. Children born in Australia include:

Caroline Carleton (7 October 1840 – 13 November 1920) married Rev. Henry Martyn Pollitt (1843 – 5 December 1908) on 2 October 1866. He was the eldest son of Rev. James Pollitt.
Mariana (3 April 1843 – 1 February 1935) married John Jerard Rhead (c. 1835 – 24 March 1904) on 3 April 1877, moved to Northam, Western Australia
Amy Sophia Person Carleton (16 April 1849 – 18 April 1931) left Wallaroo for Northam in 1886, established Greywell School
Charles James Carleton (13 September 1851 – 7 July 1875) was a prize-winning student of the Adelaide Educational Institution in 1863 (but possibly only that year, as his mother's financial situation was precarious), opened a cordial manufacturing business with Alfred John Todd on Cherry Street, Southport near Darwin, Northern Territory in 1874 (partnership dissolved in May 1874{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3142774 |title=Classified Advertising. |newspaper=Northern Territory Times and Gazette |location=Darwin, NT |date=22 May 1874 |access-date=10 April 2012 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}). He died at Howley Creek;{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40089492 |title=Provincial Telegrams |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=14 July 1875 |access-date=11 April 2012 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} This reference has his death on the evening of Friday 9 July.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226071278 |title=Port Darwin |newspaper=Hamilton Spectator |issue=1605 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=13 October 1875 |access-date=14 March 2019 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} a more informative account he was in the process of taking over the Quartz Reef Hotel at Howley Crossing in the gold-mining town of Howley, not far from Hayes Creek. His name is recorded on the headstone of his mother, who died almost exactly a year earlier.
Alice Carleton (5 September 1853 – 18 September 1885) married chemist George Alfred Parker (c. 1851 – 28 June 1907) on 11 November 1879

Myths and misconceptions

A number of misconceptions have been perpetrated (and perpetuated) about Caroline:

She was born on some (unspecified) date in 1820. False. Thanks to the Internet and the work of Baynes family researchers, it is now known that she was born on 6 October 1811.
That she had a middle name. False. "Caroline J. Carleton" is a misnomer, probably arising from her "married" name of Mrs. C. J. (for Charles James) Carleton.
Caroline commissioned Carl Linger to write the tune. False. There is no evidence they met before the contest; the contests and judging were separate.
Caroline used the pseudonym "Nil Desperandum" to hide the fact she was a woman. False. It was a condition of both stages of the contest that a pseudonym be used, for "blind" judging.
Caroline and Carl Linger shared the prize. False. The two contests were run sequentially, had different judges and separate prizes.

Poetry

Song of Australia was published in The South Australian Register on 21 October 1859. Other poems by Caroline Carleton were contained in South Australian Lyrics published and printed in Adelaide by J.H. Lewis, 1860. This slim (18pp.) volume includes:

:*Fragmentary Lines Written in a Cemetery

:*Loss of the Dunbar

:*Lines – On observing the light of two lamps in the Town form a Triangle with a conspicuous Star in the Evening Sky

:*Summer's Evening Reverie

:*The Echo of the Waves

:*The Flowers of Australia

:*Lines – on the Indian Relief Fund

:*The Cawnpore Massacre

:*South Australian Song

::Written on the occasion of the presentation of a Silver Bowl to the Mayor and Corporation of Adelaide by the Founders of the Colony.

:*On Recovering from Illness

:*To the River Torrens – written in 1840