897287
- TitleMiniatures of Captain James Thomas Morisset, ca. 1800; his daughter Laura Theresa Sellheim, 187-?; and grandson Major-General Victor C. Sellheim, 190-? / photographic copies taken ca. 1936 from original miniatures
- Call numberMIN 42a
MIN 42b
MIN 42c - Level of descriptionfonds
- Date
ca. 1936 copies from original miniatures ca. 1800-1910 - Type of material
- Reference code897287
- Issue CopyCopy print : MIN 42a-c
Available on open access in the Mitchell Library Reading Room - Physical Description3 photographs - gelatin silver, hand coloured - visible oval image 7.0 x 5.8 cm, in oval frame 7.7 x 6.4 cm
- ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
James Thomas Morisset (1780?-1852), a military commander, entered the army in 1798 as an ensign in the 80th Regiment. He became a lieutenant in 1800 and in 1805 purchased a captaincy in the 48th Regiment. He arrived in N.S.W. in 1817 with his regiment, and in December 1818 he was appointed commandant at Newcastle. He was promoted to major in August 1819. While in Newcastle he earned praise for improving the breakwater, building roads and barracks, and for his treatment of the convicts. In 1821 Governor Macquarie named Morisset’s Lagoon in his honour. In November 1823 he was appointed commandant at Bathurst.
In February 1825 Morisset returned to England on leave. While in England he applied for the post of commandant at Norfolk Island which was about to be re-established as a penal settlement. He was appointed to the position at a salary of £600, and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in December 1826. He arrived in Sydney on the Harmony in September 1827 with his wife Emily (nee Vaux) and child, and was appointed by Darling to act as superintendent of police. He eventually arrived on Norfolk Island in May 1829. His appointment there was dogged by ill health and during his tenure the convicts made several attempts at mutiny. He sold his commission in the army in 1834 and bought a farm near Bathurst. He was appointed a police magistrate in 1838 and commissioner of the Court of Requests in 1841. He died in August 1852, aged 72.
Laura Theresa Sellheim (nee Morisset) (1833-1878) was born on Norfolk Island, the fourth daughter of James Thomas and Emily Morisset. In June 1865 she married Philip Frederick Sellheim, a pastoralist and Under Secretary for Mines in Queensland. She died in August 1878.
Major-General Victor Conradsdorf Morisset Sellheim (1866-1928), a soldier, was born in Sydney, the eldest son of Philip Frederick and Laura Theresa Sellheim. At the outbreak of war in South Africa he was a special service officer; one of a number of Australians attached to British units and headquarters. He saw action with British infantry batallions, but later joined the Queensland Mounted Infantry for the advance to Pretoria. For his services in South Africa Sellheim was appointed C.B. and mentioned in dispatches. He returned to Australia in December 1900 obtaining a number of staff appointments and promotions. In 1914 he became head of the administrative staff of the 1st Division, Australian Imperial Force, based in Egypt and later London. He returned to Australia in August 1916 serving on the Military Board. He was promoted to major general in 1920. Sellheim resigned in 1927 and became administrator of Norfolk Island. He died in January 1928.
References:
Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition. http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/ (accessed 8 September 2010)
The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 June 1865 and 29 August 1878. Accessed on Trove. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au/ (accessed 8 September 2010)
Library correspondence file - Collection historyThree miniatures were given to the Mitchell Library by the widow of Major-General Victor Sellheim (Mrs S.H. Sellheim) in 1933 (MIN 434-MIN 436). However on her instructions the miniatures originally donated were replaced by these miniatures, which are "of a higher grade". They were prepared by Freeman and Co. Photographers ca. 1936-1937. These instructions were contained in a letter from Mrs S.H. Sellheim dated 14th December, 1936. Reference: Mitchell Library Research Notes - PXn 445
- Scope and ContentThree hand-coloured miniature portraits each separately framed in an oval brass frame with an eyelet on top. The set of miniatures are presented in a grey suede case with stand. A sticker attached to the case underneath the stand is inscribed 'Freeman & Co. Ltd.':
MIN 42a
Capt. J. T. Morisset, H.M. 48th Regt.. Peninsular War, War against Napoleon, 1801. Commandant of Norfolk Island 1829-1834.
MIN 42b
Laura Theresa Sellheim, daughter of Capt. J. T. Morisset. Born at Government House, Norfolk Island, 1830.
MIN 42c
Major-General Victor Sellheim, C.B., C.M.G.. Staff Australian Military Forces, 1896-1927. S. African & Great War. Administrator Norfolk Island, 1927-1928. Grandson of Capt. J. T. Morisset. - Copying ConditionsOut of copyright: Created before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales - Finding AidsResearch notes available in Mitchell Library Reading Room, PXn 445 -
- Description source
Information transferred from Pictures Card Catalogue as part of the eRecords Project, 2009-2010
Titled below miniatures on velvet mount inside case - General note
Following the sudden death of Victor Sellheim in Norfolk Island, his widow Susan returned to Sydney and ordered this second replica set of these miniatures which she then donated to the Mitchell, State Library of New South Wales.
Another set of miniatures of lesser quality at MIN 434-MIN 436
Digital order no:Album ID : 1184335 - Date note
Dated by Curator of Photographs, Mitchell Library, Sept. 2010 - Creator/Author/Artist
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