Nobbs family further papers, 1851-1884, 1929, 1981, collected by Joyce Lillyman

MLMSS 7825

fonds

1851-1884, 1929, 1981

825845

Microfilm : CY 4847, frames 1-68

0.05 metres of textual material (1 box)

George Hunn Nobbs (1799-1884), clergyman, was born in Ireland, the son of Francis Rawdon, Earl of Hastings, and Gemima Ffrench. He arrived at Pitcairn Island in 1828 and became the pastor and school teacher. In 1829 he married Sarah Christian, granddaughter of Fletcher Christian. In 1852, in England, Nobbs was ordained by the Church of England and licensed as a chaplain of Pitcairn Island. In 1856 the Picairn community voted to migrate to Norfolk Island, but some members elected to return to Pitcairn in 1858 and 1863. Nobbs remained on Norfolk Island as the community's pastor and teacher until 1859, and chaplain until his death. His eldest child, Reuben Elias Nobbs, left Pitcairn Island for Valparaiso in 1849. He worked in a mercantile office and taught in the English and Classical Seminary. Bouts of ill healt forced him to return to Pitcairn in 1854. His younger brother, Francis Mason Nobbs, also had a stint in Valparaiso and returned home with his sibling. He served as Chief Magistrate of Norfolk Island, 1876-1880, 1883-1884 and 1894.

Joyce Lillyman's maternal grandfather was George Rawdon French Nobbs, eldest son of Francis Mason Nobbs. She married James Lillyman in 1944 and they had two sons, Mark and John. In 1981 she donated to the State Library of N.S.W. various Nobbs family papers, located at MLMSS 3886.

References:
Compiled from the collection
Descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty / Harry L. Shapiro. Honolulu, Hawaii : the Museum, 1929. (Memoirs of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum ; vol. 11, no. 1)
George Hunn Nobbs, 1799-1884 : chaplain on Pitcairn and Norfolk Island. Norfolk Island : Pitcairn Descendants Society, 1984
Australian dictionary of biography. Volume 3 : 1851-1890. Melbourne : Melbourne University Press, 1989
H. E. Maude, 'Nobbs, George Hunn (1799 - 1884)', Australian dictionary of biography online edition, published by Australian National University
http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A020253b.htm

Letter from B. Goodger, Field Librarian, State Library of New South Wales to Mrs J. Lillyman, 18 Aug. 1981, with copy of signed gift form, 24 Aug. 1981, for her donation of Nobbs family papers, including diaries of George Hunn Nobbs, 1853-1861

Incomplete handwritten diary, 31 Jan.-10 Oct. 1884, 21 Apr. 1885-24 Nov. 1885, of Francis Hobbs describing his activities on Norfolk Island, including gardening, farming, shingling, public works, church-going and matters relating to the Melanesian Mission; and describing shipping arrivals and departures, whaling, and the visit by the Governor of N.S.W., Lord Loftus, 21-25 Apr. 1884

Handwritten notes concerning the family of Fletcher Christian, with a later handwritten transcription

Autograph letter signed from Reuben Elias Nobbs in Valparaiso to his father, Rev. George H. Nobbs on Pitcairn Island, 25 Feb. 1851, describing his appointment as a school master at the local English and Classical Seminary, his bouts of ill health and his friends and confidantes

Autograph letter signed from J.[?] Arthur, Master-at-Arms on Her Majesty's Ship Portland, to the Rev. George H. Nobbs on Pitcairn Island, 30 Jan. 1854

Correspondence of the Rev. George H. Nobbs with Mabel Elizabeth Henry, Hatherley Villa, Gloucestershire, England, 1872, concerning her acknowledgement of him as the son of her grandfather, Francis Rawdon, Earl of Hastings

Handwritten last will and testament of, and signed by, George H. Nobbs, 25 Apr. 1884, and signed by witnesses, John Adams and Driver Christian

Typescript note on the Lillyman family, with photocopy of family trees from Descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty / Harry L. Shapiro. Honolulu, Hawaii : the Museum, 1929. pp 98-106 (Memoirs of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum ; vol. 11, no. 1)

This collection originally included a thermal photocopy of the Nobbs family tree, taken from Descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty / Harry L. Shapiro. Honolulu, Hawaii : the Museum, 1929. pp 98-106 (Memoirs of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum ; vol. 11, no. 1), that had deteriorated. It was destroyed and replaced with another photocopy from the above source in August 2008.

Letters originally in the papers of Joyce Lillyman were cited in George Hunn Nobbs, 1799-1884 : chaplain on Pitcairn and Norfolk Island. Norfolk Island : Pitcairn Descendants Society, 1984

The condition of the handwritten last will and testament of George H. Nobbs, 25 Apr. 1884, was assessed as poor. Mould growth on the paper surface had softened fibres and formed a strong adhesion to the original plastic pocket. A photocopy was then made of the document in the plastic pocket. After the plastic pocket was cut to remove the document, a small section remained adhered to the plastic. Testing proved impossible to remove this section. Mould spores were removed by brush vacuum and drying in a fume cabinet. The document was then humidified, flattened and housed in polyester pocket. The photocopy is housed with the original document.