{"id":6637,"date":"2026-11-15T17:12:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-15T06:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/?p=6637"},"modified":"2026-11-15T17:12:09","modified_gmt":"2026-11-15T06:12:09","slug":"the-pearce-brothers-75-tigers-and-a-legacy-of-bush-labour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/index.php\/2026\/11\/15\/the-pearce-brothers-75-tigers-and-a-legacy-of-bush-labour\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pearce brothers: 75 tigers and a legacy of bush labour"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">The Pearce family in Tasmania\u2019s upper Derwent Valley has been the subject of mythology, but one fact is startling enough to need no embellishment. Between them six Pearce brothers claimed 75 government thylacine bounties (72 adults and 3 juveniles) in the period 1888\u20131909. No other family came close to emulating this record. They were sons of ex-convicts, Hamilton\/Ouse stockkeeper John Pearce and Sarah Jones.<a href=\"#_ftn1\" id=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> Like many bush farmers and labourers, the Pearce brothers took advantage of every opportunity to make a living, including tendering for government contract work. John, James and David Pearce erected the telegraph line between the Iron Store and Strahan 1891\u201392.<a href=\"#_ftn2\" id=\"_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a> The odd pole can still be found over Mount Arrowsmith. The Pearces also built a government boat house, horse paddock and accommodation house at Lake St Clair 1894\u201395 and conducted road works then and in the period 1898\u201399.<a href=\"#_ftn3\" id=\"_ftnref3\">[3]<\/a> Hunting was a significant part of their income, hence their 75 incidental tiger killings. Brief biographies of the six brothers follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/WC-28-1-1915-p.18-Accommodation-house.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"875\" height=\"584\" src=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/WC-28-1-1915-p.18-Accommodation-house.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/WC-28-1-1915-p.18-Accommodation-house-875x551.jpg 875w, https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/WC-28-1-1915-p.18-Accommodation-house-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 875px) 875px, 100vw\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The log cabin accommodation house built by the Pearce brothers at Cynthia Bay, Lake St Clair. The building contained three large rooms with \u2018cavernous\u2019 hearths and asphalt floors. The log walls were originally lined with scrim (hessian or jute sacking as the basis for plaster or wallpaper) and there were bunks with canvas mattresses. (Left to right) HJ King, Edith McClinton, Paddy Hartnett, Kate Farrell and Ray McClinton. Probably a Fred Smithies photo but credited to McClinton, <em>Weekly Courier<\/em>, 28 January 1915, p.18.<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>James Pearce (c1854\u20131920)<\/strong><a href=\"#_ftn4\" id=\"_ftnref4\">[4]<\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Bounties claimed: 50 adults \u2013 2 juveniles <a href=\"#_ftn5\" id=\"_ftnref5\">[5]<\/a> 1894, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1905 in the names of James Pearce, James Perce<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Labourer, contractor, hawker and storekeeper, Ouse, Derwent Valley.<a href=\"#_ftn6\" id=\"_ftnref6\">[6]<\/a> In 1887, when James Pearce and his partner Susan Brooks (1856\u20131940) bore their first child in Hobart, he gave his occupation as saw sharpener.<a href=\"#_ftn7\" id=\"_ftnref7\">[7]<\/a> Two years later at the birth of their twins he was a machinist, and in 1893 he described himself as a labourer.<a href=\"#_ftn8\" id=\"_ftnref8\">[8]<\/a> In 1898 James Pearce won a tender for roadwork in the Parishes of Hale and Kenmere, and tenders for work on the Marlborough and Ellendale Roads.<a href=\"#_ftn9\" id=\"_ftnref9\">[9]<\/a> He was still an Ouse storekeeper in 1910, but later kept a shop at Glenorchy and had a property on Summerleas Road near Ferntree.<a href=\"#_ftn10\" id=\"_ftnref10\">[10]<\/a>&nbsp; James Pearce\u2019s 52 bounties probably represent the combined work of his brothers and perhaps reflect that he had the best opportunity of all of them to submit claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/NS786-1-47_1-small-James-Pearces-store-Glenorchy-supposedly-TRG-Williams-photo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"654\" src=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/NS786-1-47_1-small-James-Pearces-store-Glenorchy-supposedly-TRG-Williams-photo-1024x654.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/NS786-1-47_1-small-James-Pearces-store-Glenorchy-supposedly-TRG-Williams-photo-980x551.jpg 980w, https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/NS786-1-47_1-small-James-Pearces-store-Glenorchy-supposedly-TRG-Williams-photo-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">James Pearce\u2019s cash store in Glenorchy. TRG Williams photo, NS786\/1\/47\/1 (Tasmanian Archives, hereafter TA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>David Pearce (1856\u201398)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Bounties claimed: 14 adults \u2013 1 juvenile<a href=\"#_ftn11\" id=\"_ftnref11\">[11]<\/a> 1888, 1889, 1898 in the names of David Pearce, David Pierce, D Pearce<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Shepherd or labourer, Ouse, Derwent Valley.<a href=\"#_ftn12\" id=\"_ftnref12\">[12]<\/a> Born at Saggy Flats, Hamilton.<a href=\"#_ftn13\" id=\"_ftnref13\">[13]<\/a> As a 24-year-old labourer he married seventeen-year-old shepherd\u2019s daughter Selina Harrex by Anglican rites at the Church of St John the Baptist, Kenmere, Ouse They were both illiterate.<a href=\"#_ftn14\" id=\"_ftnref14\">[14]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/061-D-Pearce-Clarence-River-3-huts-crop-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/061-D-Pearce-Clarence-River-3-huts-crop-2-1024x401.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/061-D-Pearce-Clarence-River-3-huts-crop-2-980x551.jpg 980w, https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/061-D-Pearce-Clarence-River-3-huts-crop-2-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An 1889 survey of David Pearce\u2019s block at the Clarence River (Land District of Lincoln, Survey 2\/28), showing three huts and a fenced paddock already established at that time. The surveyor said \u2018the greater part of this lot open marsh land. The improvements consist of an old two-roomed slab hut worth about \u00a37 and about 25 chains of log fence around grass paddock worth about 1\/- per rod = \u00a35\u2019. Selina Pearce owned 206 acres adjoining this land to the south.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Picture1-David-Pearce.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"289\" height=\"386\" src=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Picture1-David-Pearce.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6643\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">David Pearce photo posted on Ancestry.com.au by ccrawfordau.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Pearce-house-Clarence-River-1920-Smithies-2-NS573-4-12-1-59-ACCESS-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"708\" src=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Pearce-house-Clarence-River-1920-Smithies-2-NS573-4-12-1-59-ACCESS-1024x708.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6645\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Pearce-house-Clarence-River-1920-Smithies-2-NS573-4-12-1-59-ACCESS-980x551.jpg 980w, https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Pearce-house-Clarence-River-1920-Smithies-2-NS573-4-12-1-59-ACCESS-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fred Smithies and Ray McClinton in front of the Pearce house at the Clarence River in 1920. Others are visible in the doorway. Fred Smithies photo from NS573\/4\/12\/1\/59 (TA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/LPIC27-1-3-1925-Smithies-Photograph-Pearces-house-at-Clarence-River-show-departure-and-car-ACCESS2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"701\" src=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/LPIC27-1-3-1925-Smithies-Photograph-Pearces-house-at-Clarence-River-show-departure-and-car-ACCESS2-1024x701.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6646\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/LPIC27-1-3-1925-Smithies-Photograph-Pearces-house-at-Clarence-River-show-departure-and-car-ACCESS2-980x551.jpg 980w, https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/LPIC27-1-3-1925-Smithies-Photograph-Pearces-house-at-Clarence-River-show-departure-and-car-ACCESS2-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Smithies party preparing to leave the Pearce residence in 1925. Fred Smithies photo from LPIC27\/1\/3, p.35 (TA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/WC1908-06-04-p.23-crop-Ben-Lewis-and-Co-a-tramp-across-Tasmania.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"951\" height=\"647\" src=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/WC1908-06-04-p.23-crop-Ben-Lewis-and-Co-a-tramp-across-Tasmania.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6648\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/WC1908-06-04-p.23-crop-Ben-Lewis-and-Co-a-tramp-across-Tasmania-951x551.jpg 951w, https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/WC1908-06-04-p.23-crop-Ben-Lewis-and-Co-a-tramp-across-Tasmania-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 951px) 951px, 100vw\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ben Lewis and friends scoffing Selina Pearce\u2019s loaves on the Derwent River bridge in 1908. Ben Lewis photo from the <em>Tasmanian Mail<\/em>, 4 June 1908, p.23.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">David and Selina Pearce established the well-known Pearce farm along the Linda Track at the Clarence River. David lived only 42 years, but in the years up to her death in 1931 Selina and her children boarded and fed travellers. For example, \u2018three wild eyed haggard bearded sun-downers\u2019 (photographer Stephen Spurling III and his hiking mates) sat down to \u2018a Lord Mayor\u2019s banquet\u2019 at \u2018Mrs Pearces\u2019s\u2019 on their homeward trek from Lake St Clair to Launceston.<a href=\"#_ftn15\" id=\"_ftnref15\">[15]<\/a> Another 1908 party availed themselves of the following Pearce supplies: two loaves of bread, a leg of mutton and four tins of jam.<a href=\"#_ftn16\" id=\"_ftnref16\">[16]<\/a> In 1911 Harry Benjafield found Mrs Pearce \u2018as jolly as ever\u2019.&nbsp; His party slept there \u2018amid the flowers, and hushed by the hum of flies and the murmuring river\u2019.<a href=\"#_ftn17\" id=\"_ftnref17\">[17]<\/a> The last house before Lake St Clair was an essential pit-stop up until the advent of the Lyell Highway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Mercury-1-9-1932-p.12-John-Pearce.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"282\" height=\"651\" src=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Mercury-1-9-1932-p.12-John-Pearce.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6649\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">John Pearce with puppies, Lanes Tier,<br>near Osterley. JJ Cowburn photo from the <em>Mercury<\/em>,<br>1 September 1932, p.12. The <em>Mercury<\/em> caption<br>wrongly identifies it as James Pearce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>John Pearce (1860\u20131939)<\/strong><a href=\"#_ftn18\" id=\"_ftnref18\">[18]<\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Bounties claimed: 1 adult<a href=\"#_ftn19\" id=\"_ftnref19\">[19]<\/a> 1896 in the name of J Pearce<a href=\"#_ftn20\" id=\"_ftnref20\">[20]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Labourer, Ouse, Derwent Valley.<a href=\"#_ftn21\" id=\"_ftnref21\">[21]<\/a> As a 23-year-old sawyer John Pearce married 22-year-old domestic servant Kate Simpson by Presbyterian rites at Chalmers\u2019 Manse in Hobart in 1883. They were both illiterate.<a href=\"#_ftn22\" id=\"_ftnref22\">[22]<\/a> He seems to have preferred tigers dead in the snare than as free operators, recalling a time when his life was \u2018hanging by a thread\u2019 during the 1891\u201392 telegraph line contract. The \u2018close call\u2019 happened on a \u2018particularly rough\u2019 section of the Linda Track near the Collingwood River:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">I had just finished clearing out a section, and was walking back along the track to the camp when I encountered a savage-looking Tasmanian tiger. I had left my axe at the spot where I was working, and was therefore helpless. I stood staring at the snarling beast, which was about 10 yards away from me, and every minute I expected it to rush at me. I hardly think I was afraid, because I had caught many of these vicious animals in snares while hunting kangaroo, but at the same time I had never before come face to face with one in the bush. For several minutes the tiger kept his eye on me, and finally slid away quietly into the bush. Naturally I was very much relieved, and I can tell you I lost no time in getting to the camp. I passed the spot on a number of occasions after that, but never without taking an axe or a slash hook with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Pearce said that Richard Lord, a member of the telegraph line party, was feeding a tiger which visited his camp at night, treating it as a pet. He also claimed that in one season he and his brothers caught seventeen tigers, in \u2018special neck snares\u2019 set alongside their kangaroo snares.<a href=\"#_ftn23\" id=\"_ftnref23\">[23]<\/a> Exactly how the tigers recognised the \u2018special neck snares\u2019 provided for their use is unclear. Presumably the height of the noose and the use of wire were the only differences between the tiger snares and the kangaroo snares set alongside each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>William Pearce (1868\u20131929)<\/strong><a href=\"#_ftn24\" id=\"_ftnref24\">[24]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Bounties claimed: 3 adults<a href=\"#_ftn25\" id=\"_ftnref25\">[25]<\/a> 1888, 1892 in the name of William Pearce<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Farmer, Ouse, upper Derwent River Valley.<a href=\"#_ftn26\" id=\"_ftnref26\">[26]<\/a> He married Alma Triffett at St Peter\u2019s Church, Hamilton, in 1903.<a href=\"#_ftn27\" id=\"_ftnref27\">[27]<\/a> William Pearce was acquitted of receiving stolen sheep when his two brothers were gaoled in 1894.<a href=\"#_ftn28\" id=\"_ftnref28\">[28]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Charles-Pearce-in-gaol-1895-crop.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"447\" height=\"585\" src=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Charles-Pearce-in-gaol-1895-crop.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6651\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Charles Pearce, from GD128\/1\/2, photo no.528 (TA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Charles Pearce (c1873\u20131935)<\/strong><a href=\"#_ftn29\" id=\"_ftnref29\">[29]<\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Bounties claimed: 2 adults<a href=\"#_ftn30\" id=\"_ftnref30\">[30]<\/a> 1888, 1893 in the name of Charles Pearce<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Labourer, Native Tier, Victoria Valley, and at Black Bobs near Ouse. He might have caught more tigers had he and his brother Robert not been convicted of sheep stealing in October 1894, serving ten months in gaol and prompting mugshots and the recording of personal details for both of them. At the time of his conviction, Charles Pearce was 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighed 11 stone 2 lbs and was, like his brothers, illiterate. It was his first offence.<a href=\"#_ftn31\" id=\"_ftnref31\">[31]<\/a> In March 1901 he married Sarah Louisa Parker by Anglican rites.<a href=\"#_ftn32\" id=\"_ftnref32\">[32]<\/a> Later he was a farmer at Ouse.<a href=\"#_ftn33\" id=\"_ftnref33\">[33]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Page_30-Robert-Pearce-sheep-stealing-GD128-1-2-crop.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"448\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Page_30-Robert-Pearce-sheep-stealing-GD128-1-2-crop.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6652\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Robert Pearce, from GD128\/1\/2, photo no.527 (TA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Edward Robert Pearce (c1877\u20131944)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Bounties claimed: 2<a href=\"#_ftn34\" id=\"_ftnref34\">[34]<\/a> 1894, 1895 in the names of Robert Pearce, R Pearce<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Labourer, Native Tier, Victoria Valley. Known as Robert Pearce, he was born at Saggy Flats, Hamilton. As above, in 1894 Charles and Robert Pearce serving ten months in gaol for sheep stealing, Robert being only about seventeen years old at time of conviction.<a href=\"#_ftn35\" id=\"_ftnref35\">[35]<\/a> It was the first offence for either of them. At that time he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighed 9 stone 13 lbs and, like his brothers, was an illiterate labourer.<a href=\"#_ftn36\" id=\"_ftnref36\">[36]<\/a> He married May Elizabeth Parker at Ouse in 1902, and had eleven children, including one who died in infancy in 1904.<a href=\"#_ftn37\" id=\"_ftnref37\">[37]<\/a> Sadly, May was later killed in a lorry accident while he was driving.<a href=\"#_ftn38\" id=\"_ftnref38\">[38]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Robert Pearce was a lifelong hunter. In 1900 he reported \u00a311-worth of kangaroo, wallaby, grey and black brush possum skins stolen from a hut at Buffers Marsh, although the police apparently didn\u2019t believe him, noting \u2018Report doubtful\u2019.<a href=\"#_ftn39\" id=\"_ftnref39\">[39]<\/a> In 1919 a hunting out-of-season prosecution failed against him. A trooper saw the defendant leaving a hut at the Guelph River, King William Plains, where he found two kangaroo skins, but since Pearce denied ownership of same the case was not proven.<a href=\"#_ftn40\" id=\"_ftnref40\">[40]<\/a> In 1940, when he was living at Derwent Bridge, he was fined for lighting a fire near the King William Range, allegedly destroying \u2018scenery\u2019 when he was probably burning off his hunting grounds.<a href=\"#_ftn41\" id=\"_ftnref41\">[41]<\/a> In 1943 he was acquitted on a hunting out of season charge after skins were found in a hut on the Navarre Plains near Lake St Clair. The only hole in the prosecution case was that the defendant was said to be in hospital at the time of the alleged offence!<a href=\"#_ftn42\" id=\"_ftnref42\">[42]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" id=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> CON52\/1\/6; RGD37\/12, 1853\/6 (TA), <a href=\"https:\/\/linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=john&amp;qu=pearce&amp;rw=24\">https:\/\/linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=john&amp;qu=pearce&amp;rw=24<\/a>, accessed 28 December 2017. John Pearce and Sarah Jones married at the Presbyterian Church, Bothwell, in 1853. He was a 35-year-old butcher, she an illiterate 28-year-old maid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref2\" id=\"_ftn2\">[2]<\/a> \u2018Strahan\u2019, <em>Tasmanian<\/em>, 5 March 1892, p.31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref3\" id=\"_ftn3\">[3]<\/a> \u2018Tenders for public works\u2019, <em>Launceston Examiner<\/em>, 19 March 1894, p.5; \u2018Public works tender\u2019, <em>Tasmanian News<\/em>, 5 October 1895, p.2; \u2018Hamilton Road Trust\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 17 October 1898, p.4; and 10 October 1899, p.4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref4\" id=\"_ftn4\">[4]<\/a> \u2018Deaths\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 6 April 1920, p.1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref5\" id=\"_ftn5\">[5]<\/a> Bounties no.247, 6 September 1894 (2 adults); no.293, 24 October 1898 (\u2018September\u2019); no.263, 21 August 1900 (5 adults, \u20181 June\/20 July\u2019); no.359 (5 adults, \u20181 August\/25 September\u2019); no.210, 23 May 1901 (2 adults, \u2018January\/March\u2019); no.380, 22 August 1901 (8 adults and 1 juvenile, \u2018May\/July\u2019); no.545, 25 November 1901 (\u201914 March 1901\u2019); no.656, 20 January 1902 (3adults and 1 juvenile, \u2018December?\/1901?\u2019); no.1127, 10 October 1902 (7 adults, \u20183 October\u2019); no.840, 13 January 1904 (6 adults); no.131, 21 September 1904 (3 adults); no.226, 22 November 1905 (7adults), LSD247\/1\/2 (TA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref6\" id=\"_ftn6\">[6]<\/a> <em>Wise\u2019s Tasmanian Post Office directory<\/em>, 1896\u201397, p.308; 1898, p.373; 1899, p.384; 1901, p.407; Commonwealth electoral roll, Division of Franklin, Subdivision of Ouse, 1903 (CD version); \u2018Found\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 26 January 1907, p.8;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref7\" id=\"_ftn7\">[7]<\/a> Birth record for Eva Pearce, 2 June 1887 (TA), <a href=\"https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Brooks%2C+Susan%22&amp;isd=true\">https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Brooks%2C+Susan%22&amp;isd=true#<\/a>, accessed 6 May 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref8\" id=\"_ftn8\">[8]<\/a> Birth records for David and Archibald Pearce, 26 July 1889 (TA), <a href=\"https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Brooks%2C+Susan%22&amp;isd=true\">https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Brooks%2C+Susan%22&amp;isd=true<\/a>, accessed 6 May 2023; birth record for Annie Bertha Pearce, 14 October 1893 (TA), <a href=\"https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Brooks,%20Susan%22\">https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Brooks,%20Susan%22<\/a>, accessed 6 May 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref9\" id=\"_ftn9\">[9]<\/a> \u2018Public works\u2019, <em>Launceston Examiner<\/em>, 31 October 1898, p.6; \u2018Hamilton Road Trust\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 17 October 1898, p.4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" id=\"_ftn10\">[10]<\/a> \u2018Public notices\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 9 February 1910, p.3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref11\" id=\"_ftn11\">[11]<\/a> Bounties no.479, 13 June 1888; no.234, 6 December 1888 (5 adults); no.235, 6 December 1888 (2 adults and 1 juvenile); no.444, 3 October 1889 (2 adults), LSD247\/1\/1; no.1, 22 January 1898 (4 adults, \u201910 January\u2019), LSD247\/1\/2 (TA). <em>Tiger Skin Book: Municipality of Hamilton: Register of Transmission to Treasury of Vouchers in Connection with Claims for Bounty Payments on Thylacine Skins 10 Oct 1888\u20136 Mar 1894<\/em>, MCC15\/1\/35 (TA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref12\" id=\"_ftn12\">[12]<\/a> Death record, died 28 March 1898 of influenza and broncho pneumonia, death record no.395\/1898, registered at Hamilton, RGD35\/1\/67 (TA), <a href=\"https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=david&amp;qu=pearce\">https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=david&amp;qu=pearce<\/a>, accessed 8 October 2023. His daughter Edith Maria Pearce described him as a shepherd when she married David Temple junior in 1898.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref13\" id=\"_ftn13\">[13]<\/a> Born 24 January 1856, birth record no.415\/1856, registered at Hamilton, RGD33\/1\/34 (TA); <a href=\"https:\/\/linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=david&amp;qu=pearce&amp;qf=NI_INDEX%09Record+type%09Births%09Births\">https:\/\/linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=david&amp;qu=pearce&amp;qf=NI_INDEX%09Record+type%09Births%09Births<\/a>, accessed 14 November 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref14\" id=\"_ftn14\">[14]<\/a> Married 21 August 1876, marriage record no.133\/1876, registered at Hamilton, RGD37\/1\/35 (TA), <a href=\"https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=david&amp;qu=pearce\">https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=david&amp;qu=pearce#<\/a>, accessed 29 March 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref15\" id=\"_ftn15\">[15]<\/a> S Spurling, \u2018Across the plateau\u2019, p.6, manuscript held by the author.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref16\" id=\"_ftn16\">[16]<\/a> \u2018Tramping across Tasmania\u2019, <em>Weekly Courier<\/em>, 4 June 1908, p.35.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref17\" id=\"_ftn17\">[17]<\/a> H Benjafield MB, \u2018Cost of our trip through the lakes\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 4 January 1911, p.2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref18\" id=\"_ftn18\">[18]<\/a> Born 25 July 1860, birth record no.1270\/1860, registered at Hamilton, RGD33\/1\/38 (TA), <a href=\"https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Jones%2C+Sarah%22&amp;qf=NI_INDEX%09Record+type%09Births%09Births\">https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Jones%2C+Sarah%22&amp;qf=NI_INDEX%09Record+type%09Births%09Births<\/a>, accessed 29 March 2019; died 7 January 1939 (\u2018Deaths\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 9 January 1939, p.1). For John Pearce, see his conduct record, CON31\/1\/36, image28 (TA), <a href=\"https:\/\/stors.tas.gov.au\/CON31-1-36$init=CON31-1-36p28\">https:\/\/stors.tas.gov.au\/CON31-1-36$init=CON31-1-36p28<\/a>, accessed 30 March 2019. He married Sarah Jones at Bothwell on 18 April 1853, marriage record no.6\/1853, RGD37\/1\/12 (TA), <a href=\"https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=john&amp;qu=pearce&amp;qf=NI_INDEX%09Record+type%09Marriages%09Marriages\">https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=john&amp;qu=pearce&amp;qf=NI_INDEX%09Record+type%09Marriages%09Marriages<\/a>, accessed 30 March 2019. She was an illiterate servant maid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref19\" id=\"_ftn19\">[19]<\/a> Bounty no.58, 28 April 1896, LSD247\/1\/2 (TA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref20\" id=\"_ftn20\">[20]<\/a> Ascribing this J Pearce bounty to John Pearce rather than James Pearce is simply a guess which enables me to examine the sixth brother who was involved in hunting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref21\" id=\"_ftn21\">[21]<\/a> Occupation and place given in birth certificates for children of John Pearce and Catherine Simpson. See, for example, Charlotte Amy Pearce, born 1891, <a href=\"https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Simpson%2C%22&amp;qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Catherine%22&amp;rw=24&amp;isd=true\">https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Simpson%2C%22&amp;qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Catherine%22&amp;rw=24&amp;isd=true<\/a>, accessed 8 October 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref22\" id=\"_ftn22\">[22]<\/a> Married 9 May 1883, marriage record no.435\/1883, registered at Hobart, RGD37\/1\/42 (TA), <a href=\"https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=john&amp;qu=pearce&amp;qf=NI_INDEX%09Record+type%09Marriages%09Marriages\">https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=john&amp;qu=pearce&amp;qf=NI_INDEX%09Record+type%09Marriages%09Marriages<\/a>, accessed 8 October 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref23\" id=\"_ftn23\">[23]<\/a> \u2018Direct communication with the west coast initiated\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 1 September 1932, p.12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref24\" id=\"_ftn24\">[24]<\/a> Born 8 November 1868, birth record no.708\/1868, registered at Hamilton, RGD33\/1\/46 (TA), <a href=\"https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Jones%2C+Sarah%22&amp;qf=NI_INDEX%09Record+type%09Births%09Births&amp;rw=12&amp;isd=true\">https:\/\/librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au\/client\/en_AU\/names\/search\/results?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Jones%2C+Sarah%22&amp;qf=NI_INDEX%09Record+type%09Births%09Births&amp;rw=12&amp;isd=true#<\/a>, accessed 29 March 2019; died 4 January 1929 (\u2018Deaths\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 5 January 1929, p.10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref25\" id=\"_ftn25\">[25]<\/a> Bounty no.534, 26 November 1889 (2 adults); no.264, 29 August 1892, LSD247\/1\/1 (TA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref26\" id=\"_ftn26\">[26]<\/a> <em>Wise\u2019s Tasmanian Post Office directory<\/em>, 1896\u201397, p.309.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref27\" id=\"_ftn27\">[27]<\/a> Married 13 January 1903, file 209\/1903 (TA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref28\" id=\"_ftn28\">[28]<\/a> \u2018Sheep stealing at Hamilton\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 6 October 1894, p.1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref29\" id=\"_ftn29\">[29]<\/a> Died 23 August 1935, buried at the Ouse General Cemetery (TAMIOT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref30\" id=\"_ftn30\">[30]<\/a> Bounty no.453, 22 May 1888, LSD247\/1\/1; no.84, 5 May 1893, LSD247\/1\/2 (TA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref31\" id=\"_ftn31\">[31]<\/a> GD128\/1\/2, p.31 (TA), <a href=\"http:\/\/stors.tas.gov.au\/GD128-1-2\">http:\/\/stors.tas.gov.au\/GD128-1-2<\/a>, accessed 28 December 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref32\" id=\"_ftn32\">[32]<\/a> Birth record for Sarah Louisa Pearce, born 16 February 1901 at Cleveland, Ouse, file no.3865\/1901; married 12 March 1901 at the Ouse Church, marriage file no.191\/1901 (TA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref33\" id=\"_ftn33\">[33]<\/a> <em>Wise\u2019s Tasmanian Post Office directory<\/em>, 1907, p.449.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref34\" id=\"_ftn34\">[34]<\/a> Bounties no.253,10 September 1894; no.242, 10 December 1895, LSD247\/1\/2 (TA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref35\" id=\"_ftn35\">[35]<\/a> \u2018Sheep stealing at Hamilton\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 6 October 1894, p.1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref36\" id=\"_ftn36\">[36]<\/a> GD128\/1\/2, p.30 (TA), <a href=\"http:\/\/stors.tas.gov.au\/GD128-1-2\">http:\/\/stors.tas.gov.au\/GD128-1-2<\/a>, accessed 28 December 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref37\" id=\"_ftn37\">[37]<\/a> \u2018Inquests on bodies\u2019, <em>Police Gazette Tasmania<\/em>, 29 April 1904, vol.43, no.2336, p.68.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref38\" id=\"_ftn38\">[38]<\/a> \u2018Derwent Valley Ouse road tragedy\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 6 May 1940, p.9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref39\" id=\"_ftn39\">[39]<\/a> \u2018Hamilton district\u2019, <em>Police Gazette Tasmania<\/em>, 17 August 1900, vol.39, no.2143, p.148.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref40\" id=\"_ftn40\">[40]<\/a> \u2018A kangaroo tale\u2019, <em>World<\/em>, 23 July 1919, p.8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref41\" id=\"_ftn41\">[41]<\/a> \u2018Lit fire in open\u2019, <em>Examiner<\/em>, 5 June 1946, p.6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref42\" id=\"_ftn42\">[42]<\/a> \u2018Hamilton: case dismissed\u2019, <em>Mercury<\/em>, 14 September 1943, p.5.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Pearce family in Tasmania\u2019s upper Derwent Valley has been the subject of mythology, but one fact is startling enough to need no embellishment. Between them six Pearce brothers claimed 75 government thylacine bounties (72 adults and 3 juveniles) in the period 1888\u20131909. No other family came close to emulating this record. They were sons [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[313,230],"tags":[861,857,206,856,860,862,619,865],"class_list":["post-6637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-aside","hentry","category-story-of-the-thylacine","category-tasmanian-high-country-history","tag-clarence-river","tag-james-pearce","tag-lake-st-clair","tag-pearce-family","tag-selina-pearce","tag-tasmanian-government-thylacine-bounty","tag-thylacine-tasmanian-tiger","tag-william-pearce","post_format-post-format-aside"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6637"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6637\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6653,"href":"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6637\/revisions\/6653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichaygarth.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}