The Birmingham "UFO vision" manuscript via Herbert Rumsey has been found and viewed

Imagine learning of a strange and fascinating document back around 1975 that purported to be a copy of a memorandum book of a possible UFO milieu involving a “vision” of a mysterious flying “ark” that landed in Parramatta Park, Sydney, back in 1868, that a local surveyor, engineer and council officer, Frederick William Birmingham, had described going inside the “machine to go through the air” with the apparent “ark” pilot – a “spirit” – being “like a neutral tint shade and the shape of a man in his usual frock dress”.  Further events followed, including an event seemingly described as actual day time witnessed observation of strange clouds with a strange aerial object in March, 1873. Other strange events like poltergeist and prophetic type incidents, were described, leading Birmingham to an obsession to learn the secret of “the aerial machine.”

 

That was the broad nature of the 1868 – 1873 Parramatta Park mystery attributed to Frederick William Birmingham in a document described as a “COPY FROM THE MEMORANDUM BOOK OF Fred. Wm. BIRMINGHAM, The Engineer to the Council of Parramatta. A MACHINE TO GO THROUGH THE AIR. A.D. 1873.”

 

So began my examination of this fascinating historical account with a focus on establishing if the document was an authentic copy of a real historical document, determining if Birmingham was a real person, and examining the nature of the account.  

 

The following link will take you to some of the research carried out into this intriguing saga:

https://theozfiles.blogspot.com/search?q=Birmingham

 

Recently, discussing the Birmingham story with Spain based researcher Chris Aubeck, we covered some old territory, some possible new relevant areas of enquiry, and that he intended to correct errors in his earlier research in a further article. He mentioned there was one link to Birmingham material, he had not been able to check and it was in the University of Sydney Rare Books and Special Collections of Fisher Library.  It was described as [Letters to the editor of the Cumberland Mercury and Sydney Echo on Parramatta water supply and on aeronautics, also manuscript notes and receipts [ / [Frederick William Birmingham], 13 items, manuscript and a date range of 1864-1884.  This seemed intriguing so I told Chris I would attempt to get access as soon as I could and advise accordingly.

 

I examined the holding on Friday 2 August 2024, and I was amazed by what was there.  The collections staff advised me that there was not any information on its provenance, or how the material came to be filed there, and it appeared I was the first person to have examined the material. The contents quickly alerted me to their likely provenance and possible timing of their placement with the university. The presence of an empty “Rumsey’s Honest Seeds” bag, annotated with handwriting with “F.W. Birmingham Papers”, in the collection, clearly meant to me that it was material that Herbert Rumsey had acquired from Birmingham in the last few years of his life.  Birmingham died in December 1892. I had examined other Rumsey holdings before based on leads from his descendants and through other research.  I even got briefly excited when I examined Rumsey holdings in the Mitchell Library in Sydney and spotted a small black covered notebook, which approximated the description I had been given of Birmingham’s note book. Unfortunately, there was nothing relevant to Birmingham.  Herbert Rumsey, a well known horticulturalist and local history researcher, had written a letter in 1911 which was published in at least 2 separate newspapers - originally published in the Sydney based farmers newspaper “The Farmer and the Settler” on 21 November 1911 and in “The Richmond River Herald” on 5 December 1911 (the latter, which Chris Aubeck published in his 2013 report “Birmingham’s Ark”, has the rather uninformative headline: “Surveyed Melbourne and Grafton. Some Ancient History.” Chris did not publish the “The Farmer and Settler” account, which I found and published on my “Oz Files” blog site. It had a much more interesting headline: “An Early Day Surveyor thought he had discovered the secret of flying”). The importance of the Rumsey letter is that it clearly refered to Birmingham’s “vision” of July 1868, by both referring to the word “vision” and the date and year described in the only document we had so far - the copy I received in 1975 from Fred Phillips (honorary president of UFOIC). There could no longer be any doubt about the general nature of the story revealed in the 1950s copy of Birmingham’s “memorandum book”, lending further hope that something of an earlier vintage, perhaps Birmingham’s original material or more contemporary copies, may yet be found, and even better still, Birmingham’s diary and “flying machine” drawing. 

 

Now, on 2 August 2024, I finally had before me, some handwritten Birmingham memorandum extracts and a drawing apparently made by Birmingham of the “Rover”, a “flying machine” concept inspired by his 1868 vision. Later that night I sent Chris Aubeck an initial description of the holdings, perhaps made somewhat incoherent by the latest of the hour: 

(parts of the email have been corrected to tidy it up - B.C.)

Hi Chris,

I would say it went far better than I expected, but the materials will probably give sustenance to a range of ideas.

I will be brief as the hour is very late here, (I might be hallucinating Birmingham “steam monkey punk” “visions”) and I have significant commitments both Saturday and Sunday, which will probably I wont be able to develop a formal post until next week.

The file is Rumsey’s material, what he calls “F.W. Birmingham papers” apparently kept in a “Rumsey’s Honest seeds” bag, establishing provenance with the substance of Rumsey’s 19111 letter.

The materials are 3 small notebook sheets/pages presumably removed from a Birmingham notebook, revealing 6 pages in Birmingham's hand writing.  Parts of it refer to the material captured in Homan’s copy, but also covered is the “Victoria’s conspiracy” revealed in November 1873 (the same as the quotes via Ramsey he claims Birmingham referred to frequently”) revealed by “the same spirit (of 1868 ….)”, but with additions “Dec 4th 1873 (vision) the yellow hair (i.e.’Saxon’) and Mifs (sic?) long black single hair with a noose (underlined) upon it! I expect a call now in 3 hours … So in came the Father - Langly J.P wanting me to tell the Governor what I knew about any new machinery yes (difficult to make out some words) …”. He writes about commencing “teetotalism’ on October 20th 1862. "and have kept it to the present” (1868? as its mention in writing re July 1868, similarly to Homan’s copied text), refers to the daylight sighting, and clocks stopping as we’' (something missing in my early morning despatch – B.C.).

Theres a fragmented tourist map of Washington DC which seems to confirm he may have stayed at the National Hotel corner of  6 Street west and 7 streets west, with a hand written annotation on the back that includes the following: “I left it (Washington DC) (30 May 1887) by rail. Got to N York and sailed for Panama & San Francisco on June 1st and land for … 4 days quarantine on 4th of July. left Frisco on the (no day written) of July for Sydney and Parramatta”.

There are a number of informative newpaper clippings some annotated by him.  For example he writes the pseudonym “A Protestant” (by the way in his notes to Bishop Barker as the floating head back in July 1868) and he hand annotates this with “written by F.W. Birmingham Parramatta” in a letter to the Protestand Standard circa March 1876 on “John Giles on “Babylon, Elijah, & c”, confirmimg his deep Protestant religious convictions ending in “Because the Holy Ghost teaches us that in Christ’s light our souls shall yet see the fulfilment of that most gracious promise - eternal life.” He is clearly no spiritualist mediated “rational religious” adherent.

The 1875 letter we are familar with appears in this material as a clipping from Saturday January 24,1874 Cumberland Mercury with 1868 referred to, but there is an additional letter from January 21, 1874.

Plus, there is his drawing of the “Rover” with extensive annotations in his writing on a piece of “STEAM MONKEY” product description sheet.

And some receipts.

To belated bed! I have a busy weekend ahead with other commitments.

Regards, Bill

As I had a very busy week with many other commitments I followed up on 10 August with the following:

Hi Chris, I’ll be doing a detailed post which should emerge in coming days.  Here are some preliminaries.

I’ve been comparing Birmingham and Rumsey writing and it appears all this is apparently in Birmingham’s hand.

The Rover drawing but this was made apparently by Birmingham dated September 29 1892 only months before he passed away:

The Steam Monkeys background is related to Pile Driver testimonial document.  For a moment I was in “steam punk” territory.

 

Rumsey’s “filing system” which contained the “F W Birmingham papers” establishing provenance from Birmingham to Rumsey:

 

Here I’m holding one of 6 pages, apparently in Birmingham’s handwriting - the “manuscript” part of the library’s holding - note these are extracts, a pattern followed in the other 5 pages, referring to other diaries.  Birmingham may have preapared these for Ramsey, or he already had done them. The pages that cover the “vision” (1868) and the daylight sighting seem consistent with the Homan copy but less detailed. These extracts are what seems to be what Rumsey used to creat his 1911 letter, but Rumsey still made mistakes:

 

Birmingham’s To London in Four Days letter dated 22 January 1874 appears here in his clipping of the Cumberland Mercury of 24 January 1874, which correctly prefaces it with a reference to the 1868 vision.  There is also a follow up letter by Birmingham responding to queries from a Mr. N.W. Thomas that appears during February 1874.  There is nothing on Trove for the Cumberland Mercury in 1874:

 

There is a lot more which will give sustenance to various takes on Birmingham’s story. 

Fascinating,

Regards, Bill

 

The Birmingham “manuscript” via Herbert Rumsey: 

(transcribed by Bill Chalker August 2024 subject to correction)

Memorandums; F.W.B. ____ ¹ 

On October 20^thA.D. 1862, I commenced “teetotalism” and have kept it to the present and D.V. I purpose Same to the end of my life.

On or about 25 & 26^thJuly 1868, the vision of the vision of theheads in the air (Right rev.d Bishop Barker, “Metropolitan Bishop – and diming and showing Sir J.L. Martin’s and again the Bishop’s head, neck, & ties, then on looking up again for the Head – the “ark” was visible (and not the Head) I said ‘that’s a beautiful vefsel’ the holy spirit on my right hand said “that’s a machine to go through the air”.  I replied – ‘it appears to me more like a vessel for going on the water’ but, ‘At all events, it’s the lovliest thing I ever saw.     F.W.

My Memorandums

the Spirit replied, “Have you a wish to Enter upon it”? I said “Yes” – “Then Come” -  said the Spirit, it had now rested on the grass – and both of Us were lifted through the air onto the deck.  the Spirit as I stood moved towards the bow – the deck sounded hollow - , an air Cylinder was shown me as its use, by two signs. then the hatch, the Spirit going partly down, then returned bade me “Step in” or “down” 3 steps into the Steering room, the wooden walls & Side, & End were very thick i.e. strong looking. there seemed only a table _^ (or box shape) and Space for walking round it (the Sp^t. passes on deck to the Stern: I stood at the near End of the table with my fore fingers & thumbs on the Edge of the table, downcast and repenting like ‘why did I say yes? for I Know nothing about it’ in this mood I remained

Continued: - F.W. Birmingham ⁽³

For some time when I was addrefsd by the Spirit (on my right hand and on the side of the table) saying “Here are some papers for your guidance” – I looked and thought the figures and formulas hard or difficult

So I replied ‘Oh will I want them?’ 

answered thus, “It is absolutely necessary that you “Should Know these things.” – “but”, “you “Can study them as you go on.”----

After looking well to the top paper (printed papers they appeared) I cast my eyes downward and upon looking up for another view of the papers I found I was alone in the machine! –

N.B. the figures I saw in this _^(machine) came some 12 months afterwards into mypossefsion!!. F.W. Birmingham.

On the 27^thof March 1871 in the forenoon the verandah gate’s latch rose thrice!!

‘Now you cannot ‘rise’ said I after seeing well to it _^(for the third time) but it did!!!

(See full acc^t. in other – March ^_diary. F.W.B

My Memorandums

On the 15^thApril 1872. first insight

‘In the name of goodnefs how can I overcome gravity? Said I. then I felt a slight rub on my left Ear and the same voice I heard in the “ark” or “Machine to go through the air” said “Are not the sides greater than a third?”

‘Yes’ said I – If I can get the sides to help I can get up.’ F.W.B 

Dec.4^th. 1873 (vision) the yellow hair (i.e.’Saxon’) and Mifs L’^slong black single hair with a nooseupon it!

I expecteda Call out in 3 hours ..

So in came the Father – Langly.J.P wanting me to tell the Governor what I knew about any new machinery to.

“His Gov^r. told him he was very much like Gladstone the British premier & c.  &c I sent or requested Him to inform the Governor about 

N.B. Many a(unclear crossed out writing)the Assassinating decision of the British Gov.^t,

Continued. F.W. Birmingham.

And I doubt not, he has done so.

Langly has come to me during the last dozen years or so _^(as a “bush telegraph” messenger) – Then invitation to Port Hacking in Parkes’s premiership in A.D. 1874 Came from the Red Dragonalias the Secret Afsassins – the Gladstone Ministry! (See Subsequent Entries. F.W. Birmingham.

__________________________________________________________________________

On or about the month of November Anno Domino. 1873. The same Spirit ^{^}(of 1868 who explained the Ark to) revealed to me thus (vision ok(?))

“The British Government – have 

“decided – after Considering the 

“Circumstances of Your case – that

“AS you have discovered their 

“Secret You ought to Suffer 

“death.”!!! 

This revelation I believe firmly to be true and many small Signs Since all trend as circumstantial evidences but this voice I Knew, and true it is. F.W.B.

Memos Cont^d. F.W. Birmingham (⁵

On or about Sunday Ev^g(evening?) (ab^t7 pm) Mach (March) 9^th  A.D. 1873 – the three small clouds the Centre one showing me the rotating rods etc. plainer than Ever Pharaoh’s dream twice – but this, of mine, was by daylightand in (?)immediate reply to my thoughts etc – See diary for acct. of this wonder.

_______________________

Sunday about January (10^th?)1873. In answer to my enquiring when the machine w.^d (would?)be done or discovered by me? Instanter (sic?)three loud knocks on the iron roof and three lesser ones – Ergo – 3 years and three months _^or 33 years and by April this year (seems like a tick?) A.D. 1876 or 3 + 3 = 6 years (told …?) F.W. or 3X3 – 9 years?

__________________________________________________________________________

Dec.^r7^th(Sunday) 1873.  The Clock and watch both stopped at 10.30. (4 ~) am (am)

Strange to say they went on again and after half an hour stoppage return right!! 

  

 

Here at last last was a drawing of Birmingham’s “Rover” apparently by Birmingham:

 

Note the date of “Rover” drawing – Sept. 19^th’92 – Birmingham died on December 16^th, 1892 & was buried on December 19^th1892 – 3 months later – another Trinity?

 

Here in the collection was an earlier newspaper account (than 1875) of Birmingham’s letter of 22 January 1874 to the editor of the Cumberland Mercury: “TO LONDON IN FOUR DAYS! AERONAUTICS – (SHOWN IN A VISION A.D. 1868)” published on 24 January 1974:

The clipping in the collection was annotated on the back by “F.W.B.” with “Aeronautics” underlined:

 

A further letter by Birmingham dated 19 February 1874 following up a reader’s enquiry was published complete with cryptic allusions to his daylight sighting of March 9^th, 1873, and indicating he had not yet made a model of “the machine to go through the air”, “Freely I got and freely I give it”, Birmingham writes.:

 

In Rumsey’s Birmingham paper’s collection there appears a Sydney Morning Herald article dated 19 August, 1891 on Maxim’s “experimental flying machine” (“really a steam kite”) with an apparent annotation by Birmingham as “no good: … (word obscured by ink smudge) wrong.” Birmingham only had a few months to live.

 

There is a letter in “The Protestant Star” 1 April 1876, where Birmingham identifies himself as the anonymous letter writer – “A Protestant” - he hand annotates this with “written by F.W. Birmingham Parramatta” in a letter to the Protestand Standard circa March 1876 on “John Giles on “Babylon, Elijah, & c”, confirming his deep Protestant religious convictions ending in “Because the Holy Ghost teaches us that in Christ’s light our souls shall yet see the fulfilment of that most gracious promise - eternal life.” He is clearly no spiritualist mediated “rational religious” adherent - views that were present in his memorandum book entries.

 

 

Birmingham annotates an opinion piece that appeared in the Sydney Echo newspaper (30 September 1882), about “England and America”, which perhaps coloured his “conspiracy theories”: “N.B. But not “the upper tenth” – “= i.e. the “Mysterious Babylon” – The “House full of names of Blasphemy.”

 

Despite the limited and fragmented nature of Herbert Rumsey’s archive of “Birmingham’s papers” and that Rumsey presented a somewhat flawed view of their contents in his 1911 letter, the material in the University of Sydney rare materials collection offers researchers much food for thought for interpretations of Birmingham’s strange account of “a machine to go through the air” in Victorian times.