Collection: Nicholson, Maria - Letters to Elizabeth Hall

Description

The collection consists of 9 letters from Maria Nicholson to her cousin Elizabeth Hall, dated between March 1859 and October 1861. The letters describe her voyage on the 'Eclipse' and her observations on life and events here in New Zealand.

Dates

Creation: 1859-1861

Access and use.

This material is freely available for research and private study within the J.C.Beaglehole Room. For any use beyond this, please address requests to the J.C.Beaglehole Room in the first instance.

Biographical information

Maria Nicholson travelled to New Zealand on the "Eclipse" in 1859, as governess to the family of the Rev H H Brown, clergyman at Omata, New Plymouth. In April 1860 she went to Nelson with the majority of the Brown family fleeing the Taranaki War. She was initially hosted there by Bishop Hobhouse. After Mr Brown could no longer afford to keep her on, she found a position as governess in the Eyes household in Wairau, where she remained until she had saved enough money for her return passage to England, leaving from Picton in February 1862.