| William George Jacobs |
| From Helena Jackson's book - 'This Family of Ours' |
| William George Jacobs, the son of William Jacobs, Cordweiner (shoemaker) and his wife Jane, was born in Chatham, Kent. C. 1820/21. I have not found the record of his birth or baptism, probably because he was a Baptist and would not have been baptised as a baby. This cerermony would probably have been much later when he was a young man as Baptists baptise by total immersion. The First record we have of him is in the cencus of 1841 when he lived with his mother and sister in Granby Street, Lambeth, in the Parish of St. Mary's. |
| Location Name Age Occupation Born in this Country Granby Street Jacobs Jane 50 Yes " William 20 Shoemaker Yes " Jane 25 Bonnet maker Yes Granby Street.... That part from the corner of Henry Place on the north side, and Grove Place on the south, as far as Granby Place. |
| After his marriage they lived in Christchurch Surrey where Jane Charlotte their daughter was born. Then in the cencus of 1851 (pg A10) we find him living with Jane and we Jane then aged 14 months at 2 Georges Street, Newington and here his trade is shown as a shoemaker. Then later in 1852 we find him still here when his first son George William was born. In 1854 when Adnet John was born they were living in St Georges Terrace, Newington, but in 1856 when William Norley was born they had moved to 56 Prior Street, Greenwich. Joseph their last child was born at 40 Grimscott Street, Bermonsby in 1858 and Jane died 4 months later. Twelve years later when the children were much older in 1870, William married a second time to Sarah Hannah Johnston (nee Spencer). Both lived in Vassall Street, Lambeth. There were married by banns at St Mary's Parish Church, Lambeth and it wil be noticed on the certificate on page A10 that the brides father was a pianoforte maker, so it seem probable that their mutual love of music was their common interest. Also to be noticed on the same certificate is that on of the witness was Jane |
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| In 1848 we find the record of his marriage to Jane Garrett Norley at St Alphege, Canterbury Kent, and here it states he was a bachelor of 28 years and his occupation is stated as a musician of Lambeth. |
| Jacobs, I wonder if this is William's daughter or his sister Jane, probably one of the two maiden Aunts reputed to have brought the children up in the Strict Baptist faith during this period it is thought the family attended Suprgeons Tabernacle, London. In 1873 we find that William, Sarah and the five children of his former marriage bound for New Zealand and a new live. One point to mention here is that William and his wife boarded the "Forfarshire" in Kent while the children all came aboard in Surrey. On the passenger list on the boat we find William's occupation is a shoemaker again, so I expect tradesmen were accepted for the reduced fares. On the journey William Jacobs and sons were the ships musicians so it must have been a very pleasant voyage. William settled in Nelson where he and his family became the centre of Music in town. After his eldest sons marriage in1877 he left Nelson to set up as a musician and teacher in Wellington for the following entries are to be found in the Wellington Almanac and Wise's post office directory. 1878 Jacobs William Musician Garret Street 1880 Jacobs William G. Musician Little Taranaki Street West 1881 Jacobs W.G. Teacher of Music Cambridge Tererace The William must have returned to Nelson for he died there on the 24th April, 1882 at Harley Street. His occupation on his Death Certificate was a Musician and he was buried on the 26th April, 1882 and is buried in Block 1 Plot 56 in the Baptist Cemetery at Wakapuaka Nelson. The service was taken by the Rev. Amson a Baptist Minster. He was aged 62 years and had only been 9 years in New Zealand. His eldest son George was present at his death and his only daughter Jane is buried in the same plot... It will be noticed on the Death Certificate that his father's name is stated as Uriah... I don't not think this is correct as William did not fill in his own death certificate and George his son could have made a mistake as with the stress of the death George may have mixed this name up with his wife's people who had Uriah's in the family. It is to noted that William himself on both his marriage certificate states his father's name is William. |
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