Guide to the Papers of the Wilson family (as filmed by the AJCP), 1814-1944

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Summary

Collection number:

M940

Creator:

Wilson Family

Extent:

9 items

Language:

English

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.

For example:- M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

Letterbook of William Wilson 1823-24, Sydney.

Notebook 1828, 1830, of voyages by John Wilson in the brig Sisters and the barque Dover.

Letters 1824-34, to James and Willisam Wilson from their sister Jane.

Letters 1827-49, to James and William Wilson from their parents John and Barbara Wilson.

Papers 1835-80, of Sir James Milne Wilson, including letters to his family and Francis Watkins, documents, drafts of parliamentary bills, drafts of speeches and photographs.

Wilson papers 1814-94.

Correspondence 1828-50, of the Allardyce family, with a copy of the will of William Allardyce.

Papers 1935-44, relating to the history of the Wilson and Degraves families.

Biographical / Historical:

The Wilson Family settled in Banffshire in northern Scotland in the seventeenth century. They were merchants and shipowners and their vessels traded with the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Spain and Portugal. Captain John Wilson (c. 1762-1833) ventured further afield, voyaging to Brazil and India. He married Barbara Grey (d. 1859). Three of their children emigrated to Australia.

William Wilson (c. 1806-1840) commanded his father's brig Devoren, which sailed to Sydney and Hobart in 1822. His brother John Wilson (c. 1808-1825), who possibly sailed on the same ship, worked in the Commissariat in Sydney in 1823-1824. He died in the following year, soon after his arrival in Van Diemen's Land. Captain Wilson returned to Australia on the Devoren in 1824 and subsequently settled in Hobart. He married Grace Lord, the daughter of the soldier, pastoralist and merchant Edward Lord. Wilson had mercantile and pastoral interests, but appears to have had financial difficulties in his last years.

James Milne Wilson (1812-1880) left Banff in 1828 and joined his brother in Van Diemen's Land in December 1829. He worked in engineering and shipping and later acquired pastoral properties in Van Diemen's Land and the Port Phillip District. He leased the Cascade Brewery in Hobart for 14 years. In 1859 Wilson was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council and held the seat until his death. He served as a minister in the Whyte Ministry in 1863-1866 and was Mayor of Hobart in 1868-1869. In August 1869 he became premier and colonial secretary and held the posts until November 1872. He then became president of the Legislative Council. He was knighted in 1873 and made a KCMG in 1878.

In 1847 James Wilson married Deborah Degraves (1821-1897). She was the daughter of Peter Degraves (1778-1852), who emigrated to Van Diemen's Land in 1821. He was a prominent landowner and businessman and was part-owner and manager of the Cascade Brewery in Hobart.

Access and use

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.