Guide to the Papers of the Wakefield Family (as filmed by the AJCP), 07 March 1804-1963

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Summary

Collection number:

M2794-M2795

Creator:

Wakefield Family

Extent:

22 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.

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)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

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.

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.

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.