Guide to the Family papers of Captain James Cook
MS 4263
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Title
- Family papers of Captain James Cook
- Date Range
- 1776-1926
- Collection Number
- MS 4263
- Extent
- 0.6 metres (1 large clam shell box)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Scope and Contents
A collection of manuscript material relating to Captain Cook, his widow and his family. One letter, signed by James Cook, from the Resolution at Deptford, dated April 2, 1776, to the Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy asking for a supply of clothing to the ship. Nine letters to Mrs. F. McAllister, cousin of Captain Cook, including one from Elizabeth Cook, concerning Cook family affairs. Other letters of later date are those of John McAllister, Mrs. McAllister's son, who actively sought letters and relics of his famous cousin. Copy of letters from Cook to Sir Joseph Banks; Biographical note on Cook; newspaper cuttings concerning Cook, 1858-1926; extract from parish register relating to baptism of James Cook; Frances McAllister's Book of Common Prayer with inscription; Bronze medal in memory of Captain Cook: Letter from Phyllis Mander Jones to Rex Nan Kivell; Christies auction house catalogue.
Item Descriptions
Letter signed by James Cook, from the Resolution at Deptford, dated April 2, 1776, to the Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy asking for a supply of clothing to the ship, 1776 (Item 1)
Letter from Elizabeth Cook, widow of Captain Cook, to Mrs. Frances Wardle McAllister dated April 20, 1792., 1792 (Item 2)
Handwritten resume of extracts from letters to Mrs Frances Wardle McAllister from or about Mrs Elizabeth Cook (1780-1806), compiled by John McAllister, son of Frances Wardle McAllister (Item 3)
Letter to Frances Wardle McAllister from Sade and Mary Blade dated January 22nd 1786 briefly mentioning Mrs Cook, 1786 (Item 4)
Letter to Frances McAllister from Mrs Elizabeth Honeychurch dated March 29th, 1792 in which she writes about Mrs Cook and her sons (Item 6)
Letter to Mrs John McAllister from Sade and Mary Blade dated February 16, 1794 in which they write about the death of Captain Cook's two sons (Item 7)
Letter to Mrs John McAllister from Sade and Mary Blade dated September 10, 1794 in which they write about Mrs Cook (Item 8)
Letter to Mrs McAllister from Elizabeth Honeychurch dated September 12, 1794 in which she writes about Mrs Cook's illness after the death of her two sons (Item 9)
Letter to Mrs Frances McAllister from Elizabeth Honeychurch dated July 6th 1792 or 1793 in which she writes about Mrs Cook (Item 10)
Letter to Mrs John McAllister from George Hogg dated November 26, 1799 in which he writes about politics and war (Item 11)
Letter to Mr N McAllister and Son from Spencer, Browning and Rust dated April 1, 1819 in which they write about Mrs Cook (Item 12)
Letter from John McAllister to J.L Bennett, executor of Mrs Cook's estate dated October 17, 1851 (Item 13)
Letter from John Bennett to John McAllister dated April 7, 1852 in which he writes about Mrs Cook destroying many of Captain Cook's letters and papers, 1852 (Item 14)
Letter to John McAllister from William Slaughter dated November 30, 1854 in which he outlines the descendents of Captain Cook (Item 16)
Letter from John McAllister to Spencer Browning and Co. dated March 5, 1855 asking for a copy of the Cook family arms painted by Captain Cook, 1855 (Item 17)
Original plus copy of letter from Robert Logan to Mr Reed dated January 2, 1780 concerning a wager that had been made about Captain Cook's birthplace. (Item 18)
Handwritten copy of letters written from Captain Cook to Sir Joseph Banks copied from Lord Brougham's 'Lives of men of Letters of Science' (Item 19)