Guide to the Papers of Edward Jacomb (as filmed by the AJCP)
M2338
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2019
Online Items
Series Ms 894. Edward Jacomb, Family Portrait, 1899 - 1923
Volume 1, Part 1, f.VII, 1 - 141, [? - 1899] (File 894/1)
Comprises: Father's years in Indian Civil Service. E.J's early life in England at school
Volume 1, Part 2, f.142 - 341, 1899 - 1906 (File 894/2)
Comprises: E.J'S education at Oxford in 1899; visits to Victoria, B.C.; brother Charles' visit to Australia in 1905 for his health; extracts from Charles' letters to his parents: life on board Illawarwa, from Adelaide 1 May, from Melbourne 4 June and 29 May, with descriptions of the journey, includes hurricane, meeting Amy Lea in Adelaide and other social excursions, visit to Mildura, Braybrook Fruit Farm E.J.'s study of law in Paris; sailing to Australia in Ortona with Charles and parents, 1906; appendix f. 314-6 gives details of the Australian branch of the family descendants of Commander Robert Jacomb R.N. (1788-1853) who migrated to Tasmania in 1832 with wife and three children, includes quotations of letters from W.G. de Renzy, Melbourne, 1853-5 re. Robert Elwall Jacomb. Family tree of Australasian Jacombs on f.333-4.
Volume 2, Part 1-2, f.1-124, 1906 - 1909 (File 894/3)
Comprises: Journey to Melbourne 1906; visits to cousins; prospects of joining New Hebrides Civil Service; journey to Mildura and description of the area; visit to ostrich farm, journey down Murray River on Trafalgar; description of the Braybrook fruit farm; E.J. leaves for New Hebrides (1907) from Sydney; visits Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island; arrival at Vila on 12 April; description of Vila and of local society; visits to other islands and return to Vila on 14 July 1907; journey to Noumea and on to Fiji; court cases in Suva; meeting with Sir Everard Thurnand employment offer in New Hebrides as assistant to the Resident Commissioner; description of office duties; visits to the interior and other islands; details of land disputes, problems of getting water; murder at Port Vato; visit from parents; Charles' activities at Mildura fruit farm; parents visit to Tasmania, January 1909; personality clashes in Vila with Commissioner M.King; E.J. leaves Vila.
Volume 2, Part 3, f. 125-287, 1910 - 1911 (File 894/4)
Comprises: E.J. goes to Sydney and on to Melbourne; journey back to Vila with Charles; life in Vila; Charles returns to Braybrook, his problems there; court cases in Vila, problems with French officials; parents return and journey in Europe; E.J. visits Noumea; problems between French and natives in Tanna; E.J.'s second leave in Sydney and return to Vila with parents (December 1910); complaints by missionaries of sale by French settlers to natives of arms and alcohol-complaints ignored by French Resident; medical conditions in New Hebrides; parents visit Norfolk Island (February 1911)-description of inhabitants; problems with Braybrook fruit harvest and floods; E.J. appointed Acting Native Advocate to Joint Court, (April 1911) description of the court and its procedures; illegal native labour recruitment by French; expulsion of French Resident Commissioner Martin; E.J. resigns;E.J. and parents leave for Europe (23 October 1911).
Volume 3, Part 1, f.1 - 192, [VI], November 1911 - October 1913 (File 894/5)
Comprises: Journey to Europe; Charles' life at Braybrook Farm, Mildura; E.J. visits Colonial Office and Aborigines Protection Society and discusses situation in New Hebrides; return voyage to Australia (Feb - March 1912); news from New Hebrides, letters from Harrowell, EA G Seagoe (30 November 1911); return' to Vila and private practice; details of first case; social life in Vila; farming problems in Mildura; E.J's trip to Northern Islands; selling of the fruit farm at Braybrook; Charles return to England (April 1913); court cases in Vila; disagreements with French over labour problems; court proceedings against E.J.; Charles and wife Dorothy travel to Vila to join E.J. in legal partnership.
Volume 3, Part 2-3, f. 193 - 380, 1913 - 1916 (File 894/6)
Comprises: Charles and Dorothy's life in Vila; meeting of French settlers on 2 December 1913 at Doutrelean Hall, Vila that they have no confidence in Joint Court; cases before the court; correspondence with R.J.Fletcher, Surveyor, Undine Bay, September 1913 - June 1914; problems living with Charles and Dorothy-they dislike the natives; E.J. sails to England on Niagra (July 1914) via America, journey across Canada; declaration of War - no one at Colonial Office interested in New Hebrides affairs; news from Charles in Vila; E.J. returns to Australia in Demosthenes (24 Oct, 1914) and to Vila, Charles and Dorothy leave after much trouble with natives; Charles joins War Office; E.J's journey in New Hebrides; War news from England; details of court cases in Vila; further correspondence with R.J.Fletcher; Lamaru (June - November) hurricane damage June 1916; visit to Norfolk Islands (March); Charles enlists and is sent to France; problems in Vila, and E.J. migrates to Norfolk Island. (October 1916) for his health.
Volume 4, Part 1-2, f.1-145, 1916 - 1919 (File 894/7)
Comprises: Life on Norfolk Island; letters from R.J. Fletcher, Lamaru, Epi, with news from New Hebrides; family news from London and France; E.J. leaves for Sydney and England via Canada and USA (1917); family problems; E.J. employed at Admiralty; letters from R.J. Fletcher, Lamaru, Epi (1917-18) with news of New Hebrides-problems with food supplies; critical remarks re. the missionaries; labour problems of the natives; the scandal of 'Plantation marriages' and the lot of native women on the plantations; bringing up his half caste child; native customs; for the sake of the natives hopes the Islands will not be handed over to the French; illegal sale of alcohol; local language and pidgin.
Volume 4, Part 3, f. 146 - 200, 1919 - 1920 (File 894/8)
Comprises:E.J. visits Australia House and tells Ellison and Sir Robert Garran about the situations in New Hebrides; E.J. sails for Australia (July 1919) on Aeneas and after several days in Sydney travels on to Vila; since Joint Court is no longer sitting E.J. winds up his business in Vila; exchange of letters with R.J. Fletcher, Lamaru, Epi September-October 1919-problems of isolation at Lamaru and bringing up his half caste child; E.J. travels round northern Islands and leaves for Sydney on 22 November 1919; social life in Sydney and Melbourne; sailing for England on Aeneas (January 1920).
Volume 5, Part 1, f.1-139, 1920 - 1923 (File 894/9)
Section includes: E.J's return to England; family affairs; E.J. gets news from Fletcher, Sydney, Crombie at Cohunna, Victoria and Minto McCoy, Sydney and some others; Fletcher gets a job in Pa peete; description of his life there; E.J. trains as a doctor at Birmingham University Aut. 1921; futher family problems; E.J. transfers to Bristol University for second MB; problems with rental on E.J's house in Vila; Publication of Isles of Illusion by Asterick; constable 1923 which comprises of letters written by R.J. Fletcher to Bohun Lynch and published by him without RJF's permission; Charles financial problems; death of father...
Series 894/10. Miscellaneous, 1 November 1755 - 1958
Filmed selectively.
Resolutions passed by a conference of the Protestant Churches held at Paama, New Hebrides 7p. (printed), 24 June 1913 (File 10/9)
Re deplorable conditions for the natives and lack of action by the Joint Court.