Reverend Thomas Baker : relics and family photographs, ca. 1863-1894

LR 83

fonds

ca. 1863-1894

Graphic Materials, Photographs, Objects

414151

Partially Microfilmed : 12 cartes-de-visite photographs at CY 4172

Photographs - 12 cartes-de-visite - 11 x 7 cm.
Objects - 1 whale's tooth - Approx. 15 cm. long - Holes have been drilled in the top and bottom
Objects - 1 telescope - 25 cm. closed, 78 cm. extended - In working order
Objects - 1 lacquered storage box - 26 x 44 x 15 cm. - Handle at one end. Hinged lid broken off. Contains a lockable drawer but the lock is broken and there is no key

Reverend Thomas Baker ran a Methodist Mission Station at Davuilevu, Fiji. In 1867 while on a proselytising trip to the village of Nagagadelavatu, Baker was killed by natives with an axe. His body was dismembered, cooked and eaten. Reference source: "The saddest story ever told in Fiji", by Dorothy Heighway in The Missionary Review, 5 October 1922, pp. 5-7

PHOTOGRAPHS:
1. Rev. Thomas Baker
2. Mother of the Rev. T. Baker
3. Father of Rev. T. Baker
4. Widow of the late Rev. Thomas Baker, returned to Sydney, 1867
5. Mrs Baker
6. Harriett Anne, Sarah Alice, Rev. T. Baker's daughters
7. Alice Baker, 2nd daughter of the Rev. Thomas Baker
8. Elizabeth [?]. Native nurse brought by Mrs Baker when she returned with her 3 little girls (stayed some years)
9. Early Fijian missionaries, early friends in Fiji of the Rev. Thomas Baker
10. Rev. Jesse Carey, co-worker on the [?] River, Fiji, when he was martyred, 1867
11. Jim B[?]. Fijian chief, photo given to Alice Baker
12. Rev. [?] Langham & Mrs Langham, fellow workers of Rev. Thomas Baker

REALIA:
a. Whale's tooth. This was sent to the cannibal chief [by] Rev. T. Baker for a safe journey to his village. Another Fiji chief who had a grudge sent another whale's tooth to tell him to kill the Rev. T. Baker and party of Fijian Christians
b. Telescope Rev. T. Baker carried on his pioneer journeys in Fiji. On morning of his death, he surveyed the country through this telescope. Suddenly, he turned around to his companions and said "Lads let us be quick or we shall be killed today". This telescope was returned years later to Mrs Baker. It had been used by natives for a tobacco box
c. Box used to contain the relics and photographs

Restricted: -

Forms part of Papers of Rev. Thomas Baker and his family, c.1840-1924, held at CY 4172 (ZML MOM 126)

Handwritten notes in the box contain information about the history and provenance of the relics. The notes incorrectly state that a lens is missing from the telescope

All photographs identified on reverse in handwritten ink or pencil
"W. & T.C. Heath, Devonport" -- engraved on telescope