John Chauner Williams - Journal-letters, 1855-1874

PMB 24

fonds

Canberra : Pacific Manuscripts Bureau, [19--]

440571

Microfilm : PMB 24

ne microfilm reel 35 mm

John Chauner Williams (1819-1874) was a son of the noted South Seas missionary, the Rev. John Williams, who was killed at Erromanga, New Hebrides, in 1839. From 1858 to 1873, he was British consul in Samoa, and for several years until 1864, he was also United States consul. Williams was married twice - the second time in 1855. His second wife was formerly Miss Amelia (Amy) Crook

This microfilm contains journal-letters (in two exercise books) of John Chauner Williams for the period October 25, 1873 to February 20, 1874. The journal-letters were written while Williams was in Sydney for medical treatment. Their purpose was to enable Williams to post to his wife in Samoa a day-by-day budget of news when the exercise books were full. The microfilm also contains journal-letters of Williams' wife (in four exercise books) for the periods October 22, 1855 to January 4, 1856; and October 25, 1873, to February 20, 1874, and one on loose sheets for September 1 to September 19, 1864. The first of these was kept in Sydney to send to her husband in Samoa; those for 1873-1874 were kept in Samoa to send to her husband in Sydney; that for 1864 was kept in Samoa to send to a woman friend in England to give her "some little idea of our daily life." The letters contain many intimate glimpses of Samoan life and personalities. For a fuller outline of their contents, see Pambu for January 1969

PMB (Australian National University. Pacific Manuscripts Bureau) ; 24
Available for reference
Microfilm copy of original documents. The originals of all journal-letters except that for September 1-September 19, 1864, are in the Mitchell Library. The remainder are in private ownership