This blog will eventually contain the entire contents of an old diary I found in a box of books. My dad and I found the box of books on the old Wynyard Tip in Tasmania many years ago.
As the clues unfold we will discover together more about the writer, as well as enjoy the writing together.
Please comment!! I am eager for any feedback or clues that you may know as to the author of the diary, or information you have on the diary itself or context of its contents. It also has many clippings from newspapers etc which I will include as we come to them.
What we now know: - diary found by dad and I at the Wynyard tip around 2001 - diary written circa: 1896 - diary originally purchased from Richard Gee (an importer who was apparently on Charles Street in Launceston) - writers name Miss Lina Jane Boultbee - Miss Boultbee lived in Swansea and at Table Cape (Tasmania) - Miss Boultbee lost her father when she was 14 - Miss Boultbee was unmarried at time of writing, and in fact never married - Miss Boultbee was either Christian or well-versed in Christian influences of the time - Miss Boultbee attended wedding for Mr A. Weymouth's daughter on the 21st of February - Miss Boultbee died in 1952, aged 89. She is buried at the Wivenhoe cemetry, Burnie.
Here is a photo of Lina Jane Boultbee- Courtesy of EBoultbee - "Aunt Lina and her unmarried sister used to own adjoining houses on the site of what is now the Burnie Hospital. When they died they left the money to my Grandfather who had returned from the war. He had 10 children but no money - he rented farms to try and earn a living and support the family. The money they left enabled him to buy his first ever property in Devonport - the area that is now known as Maxwell Court. This is named after my Uncle Max (the eldest son of my Grandfather) who inherited the property. " _______ By the way, if you wish to view any of the scanned images of diary entries closer you can click on them for a more zoomed easier to read image.
I'm not sure but I think there is a name scribble near the date but I can't make it out. Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteAlso does anyone have any information about the business name and address: Richard Gee Importers in Charles Street, Launceston?