Correspondence of the Barrett Family, 1840-1866

Component identifier:

File D/EBT/F150

Content Summary:

Includes:

Letters of James W. Barrett (Melbourne) to his sister, Elizabeth Barrett (lodon and Newbury) (1844-1866)(9 letters). The letters describe the voyage from Plymouth to Melbourne in 1840, economic depression in the colony (1844), business misfortunes, his involvement in smuggling, travels in the Australian colonies and New Zealand, his acquaintance with men of the Wiko Wiko tribe, the oppressive heat, his experiences as a customs officer, work on a whaling vessel in the Pacific, the improvement in his circumstances (1851), the separation of Victoria from New South Wales, Bishop Goold and his denunciation of secret societies, family news from England, and the disappearance of his brother John in Australia.

Elizabeth Barrett (London) to James Barrett (20/10/1854): family news.

James W. Barrett (Melbourne) to his cousin James R. Barrett (Abingdon) (14/12/1854): Forwards letter for his sister; Barrett's success at the goldfields; Eureka uprising; fears of a war of independence.

John R. Barrett (Melbourne) to his sister, Anne Barrett (London) (17/09/1852): Voyage from England to Melbourne; impressions of Melbourne; prices, parties leaving for goldfields.

Elizabeth Barrett (Newbury) to Inspector of Police, Melbourne (2/04/1855): Seeks information about her brother John R. Barrett, aged 26, who arrived in Victoria in Sept. 1852.

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