John Mathew

Who was John Mathew?

John Mathew was an Australian Presbyterian minister and anthropologist, author of "Eaglehawk and Crow" and "Two Representative Tribes of Queensland".

Mathew was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, the fourth child of Alexander Mathew, a factory overseer, and his wife Jean, née Mortimer. Mathew was initially educated at Kidd's school, Aberdeen, at nine years of age his father died and went to live with his maternal grandmother at Insch then at the Insch Free Church School where he was a pupil-teacher from 1862 to 1864.

Mathew migrated to Queensland, Australia, with a brother and sister in 1864 to live with their uncle John Mortimer on his station, Manumbar, on the Burnett River. Mathew worked there for six years as a Stockrider, bookkeeper, and storeman becoming familiar with the culture and language of the Kabi and Wakawaka