Kebbell John (1 results)

None. Condition: None. Over 80 original autograph letters and manuscripts, from ca. 26x20 cm (10 ¼ x 8 in) to ca. 6x11 cm (2 ¼ x 4 ¼ in); most letters are ca. 18x11 cm (7 x 4 ½ in) or slightly larger or smaller. With ca. 50 period copies of the letters (mostly, original manuscript copies or drafts, but also period lithographed copies) of the same size. Brown ink on creamy, bluish or pink laid and wove paper (single leaves and bifoliums, some watermarked); some leaves with blind-stamped paper mill marks in the left upper corners. Many letters are docketed in period ink on the first or last leaves of bifoliums (or on recto/verso of a single leaf). In all ca. 520 pp. of text. With twenty-four original manuscript financial documents, from ca. 40,5x16 cm (16 x 6 ¼ in) to ca. 11x17,5 cm (4 ¼ x 6 ¾ in). In all ca. 38 pp. of text. Six bank papers with lithographed templates of "Messrs. Barnetts, Hoares, Hanburys & Co.," four documents with British revenue stamps pasted on. With thirteen original envelopes, ca. 7x12 cm (2 ¾ x 4 ¾ in), all addressed to "George Humphrys, Esq., Suffolk House, Cheltenham, England," all docketed in pen or pencil, most with New Zealand postal stamps. Fold marks and occasional creases, several documents with tears on the extremities or on the folds, several envelopes with tears and minor losses after opening; overall a very good archive. Historically significant, extensive archive of original autograph letters signed, period copies and drafts of letters, as well as financial papers, regarding the management of pastoral runs in the Marlborough Province of New Zealand's South Island during the pioneer years of sheep farming in the country. The collection contains correspondence and related documents from the archive of George Humphrys, an English esquire from Suffolk House, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (later from Ashcombe Park near Leek, Staffordshire), who in ca. 1860 bought a pastoral run in the Onahau Bay (Queen Charlotte Sound, South Island) from the pioneer of the Marlborough region and future member of the Parliament of New Zealand, Captain Courtney Kenny (1835-1905). Most part of the documents are correspondence between Humphrys and his legal representative in New Zealand, a Wellington pioneer solicitor John Kebbell (over 60 original letters from Kebbell and ca. 40 copies and drafts of the letters from Humphrys), covering the period from the purchase of the pastoral run in 1862 to 1872, the last year of Humphrys' life (died in 1873). The letters from 1860-1865 mostly concern Humphry's dealings with his tenant, Bryan Sneyd Herbert Broughton (ca. 1838-1862), and the negotiations about the purchase of the run by Broughton's aunt, Mary Jane Briggs. A resident of Cheltenham, Mary Jane Briggs, founded the local Vallombrosa preparatory school for boys and was its principal for over twenty years (1864-1889). In 1861, she purchased George Humphry's pastoral run "now in the occupation of Bryan Sneyd Herbert Broughton as tenant" - the original "Agreement for Sale of hereditaments in New Zealand," signed by Humphrys and Briggs, is included in this collection. In 1862, Mary Jane Briggs and her other nephew, Reginald Broughton (1836-1912), travelled to New Zealand to inspect the pastoral run and finalize the sale; Reginald was also to become the headmaster at Nelson College. The conditions of the sale didn't satisfy both parties, and after lengthy negotiations, the deal was terminated. Furthermore, on April 21, 1862, Herbert Broughton drowned in Onahau Bay after his boat capsized during bad weather (not long after, Broughton Bay in Keneperu Sound was named after him). In September that year, Mary Jane Briggs departed for England on board the Royal Mail steamer "Lord Worsley," but the ship wrecked off the west coast of New Zealand's North Island, and all passengers were taken prisoners by hostile Taranaki Maoris, who were not initially inclined to keep them alive. Mary Jane Briggs lost all her luggage but returned safely to the South Island.