Guide to the Papers of the Wakefield Family (as filmed by the AJCP)
M2794-M2795
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2018
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Wakefield Family
- Title
- Papers of the Wakefield Family (as filmed by the AJCP)
- Date Range
- 7 March 1804 - 1963
- Collection Number
- M2794-M2795
- Extent
- 22 items
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Australian Joint Copying Project
- Sponsor
- The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) online portal was created with the assistance of the Australian Public Service Modernisation Fund, 2017-2020. The National Library of Australia gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the other foundation AJCP partners, the State Library of New South Wales and The National Archives of the UK, and all other organisations which supported the work of the AJCP, the world's most extensive collaborative copying project, operating from 1948 to 1997.
Introduction
Scope and Contents
Scrapbook c.1837-74 of Charles Marcus Wakefield. Subjects include deaths of Edward Gibbon and Arthur Wakefield, activities of Wakefield in New Zealand, and Transit of Venus expedition in 1874.
Letters 1841-55 of E.G. Wakefield referring to relations between New Zealand Co and Maoris and land claims.
Letters and memoranda 1847-57 concerning resignation of Daniel Wakefield as Attorney-General and other matters.
Papers 1863-1907 of Charles M. Wakefield, including letters to his mother, referring to his work as a surveyor and his collection of New Zealand insects.
Copies of letters 1835-47 of E.G. Wakefield, Arthur Wakefield and William Wakefield, mostly written to their sister Catherine Torlesse, referring to New Zealand politics, progress of settlement at Nelson and family news.
Conditions Governing Access
Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use
Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.
Preferred Citation
Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.
Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.
Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)
Archival History
Material selectively filmed at the private residence of Mrs. P. Mitchell, Devon, England, as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project, 1993 (AJCP Reels: M2794-M2795125-138, 156). Original microfilm digitised as part of the AJCP Online Delivery Project, 2017-2020.
Existence and Location of Originals
The private residence of Mrs P. Mitchell, Devon, England.
Existence and Location of Copies
The original AJCP microfilm of the records filmed from this collection is available at the National Library of Australia [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1539130] as well as other institutions holding AJCP microfilm.
Finding-aid Notes
This finding aid is a revised online version of the original finding aid prepared by the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP), published by the National Library of Australia in 2018. The original AJCP finding aids were unpublished typescripts or photocopies available from libraries that held copies of the original microfilm.
Dates used in this finding aid refer to the date range of the records selected for filming rather than to the date range of the Series or Files.
Advisory Statement
Maoris are advised that this Finding Aid contains terms and descriptive information that reflect authors' views or those of the historical period, but which may not be considered appropriate today. While the information may not reflect current understanding, it is provided in an historical context.
Subjects
Allon, A.J.; Immigration to New Zealand; Maori; New Zealand; New Zealand Association; South Australia; Stanley, Edward S., Lord Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby; Torlesse, Catherine; Wakefield Family; Wakefield, Arthur; Wakefield, Edward G.; Wakefield, William
Bibliography
Originally cited in Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook. Part 8: Miscellaneous (M) Series. Third Edition, published 1998. Entry 476, pp.185-186.
Biographical / Historical
Further papers of members of the Wakefield Family in New Zealand, including Edward Gibbon Wakefield, his brother Daniel Wakefield (1798-1858) and nephew Charles Marcus Wakefield (1838-1902).
Arthur Wakefield (1799-1843). Entered Royal Navy 1810, Captain 1839, retired 1841. New Zealand Company's agent for Nelson settlement, arriving in 1841. Laid out Nelson and organised administration of colony. In 1843 took part in expedition to arrest Te Rauparaha and was killed in Wairau Affray.
Edward Gibbon Wakefield (1796-1862). Held minor diplomatic posts. Gaoled in 1827-30, his writings on colonisation influenced Government policy on the sale of land in the colonies, especially South Australia. In 1837 he formed the New Zealand Association and in 1840 became a director of the New Zealand Company. Took part in the campaign for colonial self-government. Emigrated to New Zealand in 1853 and was a member of the House of Representatives, 1853-55.
William Hayward Wakefield (1803-1848). Served in European Armies, attaining rank of lieutenant-colonel. Appointed Principal Agent for the New Zealand Company, he arrived in Wellington in 1839 and purchased large tracts of land from Maori chiefs. He was responsible for the interim government of the settlement.
Supervised Company's settlements at Wellington, Nelson, Wanganui and Taranaki and started the negotiations for the settlement at Otago.
Item Descriptions
Series A. Charles Marcus Wakefield's Scrapbooks, c. 1830s-1880s
2 itemsScrapbook 1, c. 1830s-1860s (File 1)
1 itemFilmed selectively.
Press cuttings, pamphlets, memorial cards, sketches re Australia and New Zealand, c. 1830s-1880s (Item ff. 21, 40-156)
Subjects include: death of Edward Gibbon Wakefield; E.G.Wakefield memorial; South Australia; H.J.Cridland's house at Hoon Hay; cottage at Fendalltown, 14 January 1866; New Zealand insects; activities of Wakefields in New Zealand; Lord Littelton; menu for dinner given by Philosophical Institute of Canterbury for Major Palmer, Lt. Darwin and Lt Crawford on Transit of Venus expedition, 1874; family history; death of Arthur Wakefield; New Zealand company advertisement; book reviews; memorial by Arthur Wakefield to Earl Minto, 28 February 1837; Daniel Wakefield; Thomas Attwood and Birmingham Political Union.
Includes: Memorial card for Angela Attwood, widow of Daniel Bell Wakefield of Wellington, 30 November 1874; First New Zealand bank note sent to Thomas Attwood by John Pierce, 17 January 1841.
Scrapbook 3, 1840s-1880s (File 3)
1 itemPress cuttings, photographs, pamphlets, c1840s-1880s (Item)
Subjects include: New Zealand Land Company; massacre at Wairau; loss of Blue Jacket by fire; E.G.Wakefield's house at Wellington, 1862; visit to Uxbridge by King Tawaiko, 1884.
Although listed, this material was not filmed by the AJCP as the volume was too large to film.
Series B. Boxfiles, 1818 - 1963
15 itemsSubseries 1. Edward Wakefield, 30 April 1843
1 itemBiographical / Historical
Edward Wakefield (1768-1854)
Subseries 2. E.G. Wakefield, 1818 - 1962
2 itemsBiographical / Historical
E.G. Wakefield (1796-1862)
Subseries 3. Catherine Gurney Torlesse and others, 1837-09-03 - 1852-10-12; 1962 - 1963
6 itemsLetters to Catherine Gurney Torlesse (nee Wakefield), 16 September 1843 - 12 October 1852 (File)
3 itemsFilmed selectively.
EGW (Plymouth) to Catherine Torlesse re boarding ship for New Zealand; other passengers (4p. transcribed), 12 October 1852 (Item C5)
William Wakefield, Arthur Wakefield, Priscilla Chapman, 1843-06-29 - 1848-11-30; 1962-12-02 - 1962-12-07 (File)
11 itemsFilmed selectively.
F.D. Bell (Wellington) to T.C. Harington re death of Colonel William Wakefield. (8p.), 24 September 1848 (Item)
William Wakefield (St Pauli, Cook's Strait) to his sister Priscilla Chapman re Arthur's death. (4p.), 18 August 1843 (Item)
H.A.A(?) (London) to William (Wellington) introducing Mr Oates; New Zealand government bill; settlement of land question. (8p.), 6 May 1844, 31 Jan., 30 Nov. 1848 (Item)
Charles Torlesse (Weimea) to parents re death of Arthur 'murdered by 2 cannibal chiefs of New Zealand'. (3p.), 8 July 1843 (Item)
Barbara Beetham (Masterton, New Zealand) to Priscilla Williams [Mitchell] re Bertham family, 7 December 1962 (Item)
Subseries 5. E.Wakefield E.G.Wakefield, D.B. Wakefield, A.Wakefield, 17 February 1846 - 5 November 1857
2 items
Daniel Wakefield (64p.), 22 September 1847 - 5 November 1857 (File)
Letters and memoranda concerning Daniel Wakefield's resignation as Attorney General of New Zealand in April 1853 and other events.
Correspondents include: Daniel Wakefield, drafts; Catherine Torlesse (Stoke); Henry Sewell (Wellington); James Wodehouse (Wellington).
Subseries 6. C.M. Wakefield, 14 February 1858 - 23 February 1925
11 itemsTo and from Charles Marcus Wakefield, 8 January 1863 - 23 February 1925 (File)
8 itemsFilmed selectively.
Thomas Brown (Auckland) to C.M.Wakefield re New Zealand beetles; he has lost money in investment in a local gold mine. (8p.), 15 July 1876 (Item)
Thomas Brown (Auckland) to C.M.Wakefield re his straighten circumstances. (3p.), 10 November 1891 (Item)
W.P.White (Melbourne) to Messrs Dalgety Nichols and Co (Christchurch), 4 September 1875 (Item)
Re passage to London on Northumberland. Includes leaflets re Messrs Wigram and Sons ships. (9p.)
Deed and lease re Wakefield burial plot in Wellington cemetary includes plan (6p.), 8 January 1863 - 7 May 1884 (Item)
Horace Fildes (Westport) to Mrs C.M.Wakefield re publication Stafford memories (3p.), 23 February 1925 (Item)
Bills (c72p.), 1871 - 1876 (File)
Various invoices and bills from New Zealand.
Includes: Catalogue of superior household furniture and effects…to be sold by auction by Charles Clark on 26 October 1875 at residence of C.M.Wakefield, Fendalltown Road. (Printed.)
Prices have been written in.
New Zealand letters and papers about surveying (c30p.), 20 June 1863 - 30 November 1868 (File)
Letters re his appointment as Surveyor to Electric Telegraph Department, Christchurch, (Some letters incomplete)
Letters from C.M.Wakefield to his mother (234p.), 14 February 1858 - 22 November 1873 (File)
Letters from C.M.Wakefield (Minaki Downs, Evans Pass, Gollans Bay, Okain's Bay, Le Bon's Bay, Little Akaloa, Hoon Hay, Wairewa, Canterbury, Kahutara, Christchurch, SS Northumberland, Fendalltown) to his mother.
Subjects include: his father's death; shepherding with Torlesse; working as surveyor for Mr Shaw and Mr Cridland; living in a tent; depression - wages lowered; poor job prospects; employment with Telegraph Department; family news; voyage on Northumberland to Melbourne; rough weather; other passengers; arrival at Port Phillip; his interest in natural history; Christchurch 'mad with gaity' for visit from Governor.
(Some poor copies, coloured paper).
Includes: 'H' to Angela Attwood with news of Attwood and Wakefield family members; 'seems hard that talent and fair education should only make him [CMW] a shepherd' offers to help CMW, 19 January 1858.
Although listed, this material was not filmed by the AJCP as it was not available at the time of filming.
Series C. Letterbook (c80p.), 7 March 1804 - 14 June 1854
5 items
Copies of letters from EGW (London, Wellington, Auckland) to Reverend C.M. and Catherine Torlesse, 11 December 1835 - 14 June 1854 (File 1)
Copies of letters from Arthur Wakefield (Hebrus, Sheerness, London, Nelson) to sister, Catherine Torlesse and father, 26 September 1815 - 23 November 1841 (File 2)
Subjects include: his decision to go to New Zealand; progress of settlement at Nelson.
Copies of letters from William Wakefield (Port Nicholson, Wellington) to Catherine Torlesse, 25 March 1840 - 29 March 1847 (File 3)
Subjects include: his pleasure at arriving in New Zealand; 'the natives are fast improving amongst us', news of other family members in New Zealand; death of Arthur; mischief done by missionaries with regard to land question.