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Letter dated 11th December 1832 sent by Mary Meredith to her stepdaughters - Anxious to hear how they go in the gaieties of Hobart Town life, Sarah's improved health, will send gooseberries, eggs stc. sent by "Heir of Cranbrook House", Sabina will miss their society and may join them, hats, Cotton family, garden, Maria.

Letters from Sarah W. Meredith (1807-1869) to stepmother Mary Meredith from Hobart: gossip, family especially sisters Sabina and Louisa, food and clothing to be sent home by schooner and supplies such as fresh butter from Amos, poultry, beef, coffee to be sent to town fro the sisters; chaperon; L.ouisa Twamley; ball at Government House; wedding of sister Sabina to Boyes; ball on board ship; Louisa Swanston to marry Solicitor General and would pay his debts; Mr Bell [Louisa's husband] raising roof of house; loss of "The George III (12 Apr.1835) and Governor's religious ceremony, Dorcas Society formed- all respectable ladies join (16 Sept. 1835); arrival of Col. Snodgrass to hold reins of government (14 Oct. 1836); sent mother red herrings, she and Mr Poynter liked them for breakfast toasted and spread on bread and butter, instructions for making bed valances for Sarah, Learmonth's eldest son to marry, paid bill for Maria [stepsister] at Mrs Milloys, Lady Franklin's flrst dance - huge dining room fitted as drawing room, people admired curiosities spread on tables, one or two "awful quadrilles", tea coffee, cakes; Miss Woodley? engaged to Mr Bennett -both went up to top of Mt Wellington and returned the same day "a feat never yet performed by a female"; comment "I do not mention anything approaching gaiety, such a wicked thing is not thought of now and certainly Lady Franklin is worse than Mrs Arthur" (8 Dec. 1837); Charles going
to England. After her marriage in 1836 to James Peck Poynter (1790-1847) letters are signed S.W. Poynter

Letters from Charles Meredith (1811-1880) to his mother and father, from Maria Island: whale blubber, needed casks, calico etc. (6 Aug. 1833); from Hobart wool prices, John Amos' grant, Allport's circular (Aug. 1834); from N.S.W.: visiting farms (Sept. l834); from Hobart: Colonist, Robertson editor, libel case- Robertson sentenced to 13 months in prison and £200 fine for libel on Col. Arthur &
Rowlands (Feb.-Mar. 1835), Boyes, schooner stores, wool prices; Montague & Col. Arthur - Arthur trying to aggravate family; Allport advised against action against Rowlands, advised father to return servants to Government and confine pursuits to sheep, price of sugar, rice etc., interview with Frankland in re McDonald's grant; from N.S.W.: purchased sheep run at "Tuggranery" on Murrumbidgee River, Capt Sturt arrived from England married and selected "Gininginingderry" [Ginninderra] 16 miles from Tuggranery
and 22 miles from Charles's section.

Letters from school at New Town Academy from Henry Meredith (1821-1836): went to races- boat on four wheels drawn by horses, new school being erected, holidays with Master Butcher and Master Smith, hopes Mother recovered from her "long illness" (1832-1833); from Hobart: business matters, Boyes, Richards and Smith's bills, vessel nearly discharged and Bell kept sober (5 Dec. 1834).

Letter dated 17th June 1829 from George Meredith Jnr from Red banks asking for supplies, including spirit, spades, bags,
Windsor soap, quills, knife and fork, tobacco, iron for chains- Mr King's smith a chain maker.

Correspondence to parents George and Mary Anne Meredith from the Meredith children

Letters from George Meredith to his wife, Mary, his "confidant", from Hobart: journey from Hobart, stay at Jericho, Dickons & cattle (1822); John's folly, Gregson, Archer, Oyster Bay, law case, land grant, John to receive £100 for Mary, garden, fruit trees, prospects not as good as expected, privations for family, China silk to distribute [to children] according to "good behaviour list", discipline of family (1822-3); business, politics, bushranger Tilley etc. (2 Apr. 1825, Mar., Apr.1833); family: F. Champion requested sanction to pay addresses to daughter Sarah, G.M. asked wife to draft reply from a mother's point of view (28 Apr. 1825); bushrangers (1826); brickmaking (ND 1830s); "Billy Austin affair" (12 Feb. 1832); girls keeping house for George Meredith in town and hope Mrs Meredith would come to town to install them in their new residence (4 Sept 1832), Sarah and Miss Bell bridesmaids (8 Mar. 1833); Mary Meredith's "domestic complaints" but she was head of the house even if 2 of the daughters were married (30 Mar. 1833); Henry and John in town to get trousers, "dear little Fanny's" illness (3 Apr. 1833); garden, Charles to advise on farm in G.M.'s absence; friends and business associates: Dickons, Emmett, Gregson (pledged reformation of his habits, 3 Apr. 1833, got Scotch governess for his children, ND.), Poynter, Boyes; interview with Col. Arthur (ND.); Bryant: wife to Hobart, children to Orphan School (ND.). G.M. from Sydney: Mr Oxley, Major Goulburn (28 Mar. 1823). From Mary M.: the farm, merino flock, fat stock in prime condition (6 Mar. 1823 & ND.); expecting the Misses Hammond, schooner seen, men in custody in George Town, may yet recover the little gun, letter from Governor about grant, tender for stores (ND. ?1825).

Letters from George Meredith to his wife, Mary, his "confidant", from Hobart: journey from Hobart, stay at Jericho, Dickons & cattle (1822); John's folly, Gregson, Archer, Oyster Bay, law case, land grant, John to receive £100 for Mary, garden, fruit trees, prospects not as good as expected, privations for family, China silk to distribute [to children] according to "good behaviour list", discipline of family (1822-3); business, politics, bushranger Tilley etc. (2 Apr. 1825, Mar., Apr.1833); family: F. Champion requested sanction to pay addresses to daughter Sarah, G.M. asked wife to draft reply from a mother's point of view (28 Apr. 1825); bushrangers (1826); brickmaking (ND 1830s); "Billy Austin affair" (12 Feb. 1832); girls keeping house for George Meredith in town and hope Mrs Meredith would come to town to install them in their new residence (4 Sept 1832), Sarah and Miss Bell bridesmaids (8 Mar. 1833); Mary Meredith's "domestic complaints" but she was head of the house even if 2 of the daughters were married (30 Mar. 1833); Henry and John in town to get trousers, "dear little Fanny's" illness (3 Apr. 1833); garden, Charles to advise on farm in G.M.'s absence; friends and business associates: Dickons, Emmett, Gregson (pledged reformation of his habits, 3 Apr. 1833, got Scotch governess for his children, ND.), Poynter, Boyes; interview with Col. Arthur (ND.); Bryant: wife to Hobart, children to Orphan School (ND.). G.M. from Sydney: Mr Oxley, Major Goulburn (28 Mar. 1823). From Mary M.: the farm, merino flock, fat stock in prime condition (6 Mar. 1823 & ND.); expecting the Misses Hammond, schooner seen, men in custody in George Town, may yet recover the little gun, letter from Governor about grant, tender for stores (ND. ?1825).

Consist of George and Mary Meredith's family correspondence, correspondence with their children, children's schooling, friends and neighbours, household and servants, and George Meredith's business and magistracy correspondence

Consist of Meredith family correspondence, some accounts and photographs. The letters are mainly between mothers and daughters and sisters and record the life of a settler family from the point of view of the women and children of the family.