Individual Notes
Note for: Charlotte Jillett, 23 JUL 1847 - 27 AUG 1913
Index
Burial: Date: 29 AUG 1913
Place: Porirua Cemetery, Porirua
Individual Note: Some details from B Bennett nee Pye
Date of Birth and Place from M Ross
*Could not locate a Birth Folio for Charlotte Jillett*
*Marriage Details Date: 1868, Folio No: 964, Names: John Whitehouse and Charlotte Jillett*
*Death Details Date: 1913, Registration No: 1913/6855, Aged: 67 years, Name: Charlotte Whitehouse, Date of Death 27/8/1913 from Death Registration*
The Evening Post 28th August 1913 shows
Whitehouse - At the residence of Mrs. Edwin T. Coal, Charlotte, relict of the late Mr. John Whitehouse, after a long and patiently borne illness; aged 67 years
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Funeral Notice
The Friends of the late Mrs. T?. Whitehouse are respectfully invited to attend her Funeral which will leave the residence of Mrs. E. F. Cole, Porirua, on Friday, the 29th inst., at 2 p.m., for the Cemetery, Porirua
J. Greer and Sons, Undertakers, Tawa Flat
Individual Notes
Note for: Robert Jillett, 25 SEP 1812 - 29 SEP 1860
Index
Burial: Date: 4 OCT 1860
Place: St James Anglican Church, Lower Hutt
Individual Note: Some details from B Bennett nee Pye
Date of Birth and Place from M Ross
EP 25/5/1907
On 24th May, 1852 — fifty- five years ago — the barque Tory sailed for the Victorian goldfields with a number of New Zealand colonists who had caught the "yellow fever" It is stated that of the hundred and thirty men who took a passage on that vessel only three are alive to-day, Messrs. J. Futter (Johnsonville), Frank Smith (Wellington), and J. Brown (Upper Hutt), whose ages total 217 years. To-day the three veterans met in the city, and celebrated the anniversary of the Tory's departure — and incidentally Empire Day — by facing a camera. "The first night out," says Mr. Brown, relating his memories of the voyage, "we were caught in a north-west gale, and had it not been that we were fortunate enough to have Bob Jillet (sic) (an old whaler) and Captain Munn aboard, in all probability we would have come to grief on Kapiti Island. They directed the master of the barque, and we pulled up under the lee of Kapiti, and remained there four days till the storm passed Jillett at that time, had a lease of Kapiti from the natives, and had a lot of sheep and cattle running on it. We went ashore, and Jillett killed a bullock, and we had a jolly good time." The Tory arrived in Hobson's Bay at the end of three weeks, after a favourable passage. "All the way over," continues Mr. Brown, "we lived on potatoes and onions, as we could not stand the mouldy biscuits and salt junk." He picked up Messrs. Smith and Futter at Bendigo during Christmas time 1852. They did not meet again till five years later, in Wellington, when they all returned home.
The New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator 27th October 1842 shows
20 pounds Reward.
Whereas, it has been represented to the undersigned, that certain persons have instigated the natives at Kapiti to destroy cattle for the purpose of purchasing the carcase.
The above reward will be paid on conviction of any person or persons destroying cattle on the Island of Kapiti, or instigating the natives to do the same.
N.B. — The above cattle are placed under the superintendence of Mr. Robert Jillett.
W. B. Rhodes and Co.
October 20, 1841.
New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson 14th April 1843 shows
LAW INTELLIGENCE. SUPREME COURT.
APRIL SITTINGS.
Wellington, Wednesday, April 4,
(CIVIL SIDE. - BEFORE CHIEF JUSTICE MARTIN.)
HARRIS Y. FITZHERBERT.
Mr. Hanson appeared for the plaintiff and Mr. Ross for the defendant.
This was an action brought to recover the sum of 25(small l, is this pounds?) pounds. 4s. 4d., the amount of an order drawn on the defendant by one Alexander Antonio. The circumstances out of which this action arose are as follows :-
The plaintiff, Charles Harris, was employed as cooper at Alexander Antonio's whaling station at Kapiti, at the rate of 7 l (small l, is this pounds?) per month. The defendant agreed to purchase the oil and bone taken at Antonio's station, and, as the plaintiff alleged, promised to accept an order for the amount of his wages upon his allowing him to remove the oil and bone upon which, by the custom of whaling parties, he had a lien to the amount of the wages due. The promise, it was alleged, was contained in certain letters written by the defendant which were put in. The defendant removed the oil and bone but refused to accept or pay the order. The defendant pleaded that he was not liable; that there was no such custom; and that he had not promised to pay.
Mr. Hanson opened the plaintiff's case and called
Joseph Burrell sworn. - Is clerk to Alexander Antonio's whaling party at Kapiti; remembers receiving from the defendant the letter produced; witness read the letter over to every one of the men separately; saw a letter written by the defendant to Antonio; the letter produced is the same; he told the cooper that he was not to be a party to detaining the oil and bone; that all just debts would be paid, and he consented to let it go immediately; the order drawn (by Antonio in favour of plaintiff upon the defendant for 25 l. 4s. 4d.) produced was written by witness by the direction of Antonio.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ross. - Plaintiff is in Port Nicholson now, and not in the employment of Antonio; he is already engaged for the next season to Mr. Robert Gillet(sic); the plaintiff is not going to whale at Antonio's station; no money has been paid on plaintiff's order to the knowledge of witness; cannot say what amount of goods the plaintiff had; perhaps to the value of 2 1; witness had not been paid, and was requested by the defendant to speak to the men about the oil and bone; he was requested by letter; plaintiff had the goods about six weeks after the order was drawn; defendant told witness to enter the things for him which plaintiff had in the book against his name; it was the book in which he made up the account of wages due.
Joseph Hippolite sworn. - Was carpenter of Antonio's party last year; knows plaintiff; he was cooper of the same party; remembers the Richmond coming to Kapiti for oil; she did not take all the oil and bone the first time she came; does not recollect when she came again; she took only a part of the oil the second time she came, because the people had no security for being paid; the plaintiff was one of those who were not paid; recollects the defendant sent a letter saying he would pay the orders; there was enough oil kept back to pay the people the second time the Richmond came; the oil was shipped on board the Richmond; witness saw it shipped; after seeing the defendant's letters they told Antonio he might ship the oil if he liked.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ross. - Witness was upon wages; the cooper was on wages; the last witness was on wages; the cook was on wages; the cook is not the tonguer; some men in their party were on lay, but in every party the cooper is on wages; no other men besides the four mentioned are upon wages.
George Young sworn. - Is a licensed victualler residing in Wellington; was formerly a whaler; it is 11 years since witness was first connected with whaling; it is generally the case for every man in a whaling party to have security upon the oil and bone; no man likes to see the oil or bone go off the beach until all the men are paid; the cooper in all shore parties is paid by the month; the practice is to pay at the end of the season, or at least when the oil is shipped; the security applies to the cooper; has known instances of the oil and bone being claimed by the cooper in default of payment, and by every man in the fishery; knows plaintiff; remembers his coming to him in October last; he brought an order with him; the order produced is the same; witness had it above (sic) a week in his possession; the defendant gave plaintiff an order upon witness payable when the oil and bone arrived from Kapiti; he objected to it, and the plaintiff returned and brought the defendant with him; he saw the defendant at that time; defendant said witness was to let plaintiff have what he wanted to the extent of 5 l., and he would give witness credit for it, which he has done; he let plaintiff have 5 l. in cash; the defendant told him to let plaintiff have that part, but he would not think of paying the men till he got the oil and bone from Kapiti; plaintiff was present when defendant said this; witness did not hear anything more; he let plaintiff have the 5 l.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ross. - Gave 5 l. to the plaintiff; got credit for that sum from the defendant; had no other order in his possession at this time; the defendant, said let him have that sum and he would pay the rest when the oil and bone came round; it was not till after the advance was made that witness had the order; the order was left with witness till the plaintiff came from Kapiti; he paid the 5 l. on the 25th or 26th of October; has no interest in the order now; plaintiff has never drawn anything on the order; did not know the plaintiff before he came to his house with the defendant; witness whaled at Kapiti and Queen Charlotte's Sound; he was six months whaling at sea; the order was put into his hands the same day, or the next day after he made the advance; had seen the order before.
Charles Samuel Cave sworn. - Is a whaler residing at Cloudy Bay; has been connected with whaling about 17 years in a vessel and in shore parties; if witness agrees for monthly wages he is of course paid before the oil goes off the beach; if he were inclined to stop the oil no one could hinder him; the custom is for every man to be satisfied before the oil is taken away.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ross. - Has been whaling 17 years; acted as cooper about 14 years both at sea and on shore; he means by the custom as far as his own experience goes; it depends upon the agreement; he never had any dispute about being paid.
Charles Redford sworn. - Is a whaler; knows defendant & remembers seeing him at Kapiti last year during the whaling season; was not present at any conversation between the defendant and a third person on the subject of the wages due to Antonio's party; has been connected with whaling 14 or 15 years; the custom with regard to coopers witness always understood to be that they were paid first; the cooper and the people employed on the oil are paid first; by the people employed on the oil witness means those who get it; the custom is that the cooper stands in the same position with regard to payment as those who are on lay; the cooper stands in the same position as the rest.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ross. - The men on the lay are paid according to the oil procured; if the cooper had 7 1. per month it would not matter to him what oil was got; it is always a custom that the cooper should be paid with the rest; sometimes the cooper is on the lay; the cooper is always paid and must be by the rules; whether it is a bad or a good season the cooper would be entitled to his 7 1.; if no oil is taken, the person who employed the cooper or who supplies the station must pay him.
This was the plaintiff's case.
Mr. Ross stated the defendant's case to the Jury and called the following witnesses.
John Wade sworn. - Is an auctioneer residing at Wellington; has been connected with whaling 3 years; is proprietor of some stations, and purchaser of the proceeds of others; is acquainted with other establishments besides his own; in a whaling party the cooper, carpenter, and cook are generally on wages; the other hands are on lay or share; the cooper is on wages; has no claim upon the oil; never heard of such a custom; no person on wages has any share; the cooper is not interested in the season; he is paid or entitled to be paid if there is no oil taken; never heard of such a custom as the cooper having a lien upon the oil; has been agent for Mr. Jones, of Sydney, who has very extensive fisheries; has been concerned for others.
Cross-examined by Mr. Hanson. - First became acquainted with whaling stations in 1840; had direct communication with them; was engaged in fitting out for Daymond of Sydney.
John Howard Wallace sworn. - Is a merchant residing at Wellington; has some experience in whaling transactions; has a station this season; the cooper is usually paid by wages; the other servants of the establishment are paid by wages; the whalers are paid by shares; does not know of such a custom as the cooper having a lien upon the oil; rather thinks there was such a custom before there were any laws or courts established here; during his experience the cooper has been paid by wages, and has not been considered to have any lien.
Cross-examined by Mr. Hanson. - Has been connected with whaling establishments during the two last seasons; indirectly connected for two seasons; the whalers are considered to have a lien; has never known a case where the coopers wages have not been paid; never knew any question raised as to the right of the cooper to detain the oil.
George Duke sworn. - Is clerk to Mr. Machattie of Wellington; is conversant with whaling establishments; has seen that business carried on for some years; the cooper is sometimes paid by the lay and sometimes by the month; sometimes partly one way and partly the other; has never heard of the cooper having a lien upon the oil and bone; the whalers have a lien upon the oil; there are agreements generally between the parties; a price is fixed in the articles and the whalers have the lay out of that; a fixed price is put upon the oil and the lay is out of that; the men are paid by an order for the amount due to them; they have a lien upon the oil when they agree at a certain price per ton; never heard of the cooper having a lien upon the oil.
Cross-examined by Mr. Hanson. - Never knew an instance where the cooper was not paid; has known instances where the oil was taken away before the season was ended; cannot say that he knows an instance of all the oil being taken away before the cooper was paid.
Andrew Brown sworn. - Is a farmer at Kapiti, and superintends a mercantile establishment to supply whalers; has been connected for four years directly or indirectly with every station at Kapiti except the one belonging to Mr. Jones; the cooper is usually paid by monthly wages by the master of the fishery; the cooper has no lien upon the oil according to the custom of those fisheries with which witness has been connected; never heard of such a custom as the cooper having a lien upon the oil.
Cross-examined by Mr. Hanson. - Remembers an instance where the cooper was not paid when the oil was removed; the fishery was Mr. Frazers(sic); the men having a claim upon the oil objected to the removal of it until their wages were paid; they applied to witness on the subject; the cooper made no objection to the oil being removed; this occurred during the season 1841; the headsman and pullers were the only parties who objected to the oil being removed; knows no other cases where a dispute arose; knows Frazers station, Daymond's, Stinchmore and Jenkins; Fraser (sic) is whaling on his own account, Daymond on his own account, Stinchmore on his own account, Jenkins on his own account.
Re-examined by Mr. Ross. - They have generally applied to witness to write out their articles; the cooper was never mentioned in those articles; has drawn up their agreements; their quarrels were generally referred to witness; those referred to by witness were master whalers supported by some absentee; the cooper is paid by monthly wages; the labourers by lay.
Newton Levin sworn. - Is the master of the Susunnah Anne; has been four years connected with whaling establishments; has visited most of the whaling stations upon this coast; has been employed so latterly; witness never enquired particularly, but believes coopers are generally employed by the month; he never had a claim to the lien made to him; remembers a season when he took the oil away before the close of the season and paid the cooper at the close; the cooper made no objection.
Cross-examined by Mr. Hanson. - Does not recollect hearing of a case where the cooper was not paid; it is the custom to advance slops to coopers as well as the others.
John Gun examined by Mr. Hanson. - Is a cooper; was cooper at the whaling station of Mr. Fraser (sic) in 1841; allowed the oil and bone to be taken before he was paid because there was ample property left to satisfy him, and he had confidence in Mr. Fraser (sic) that he would pay.
This closed the evidence.
The learned counsel having addressed the Jury, his Honor, in summing up, explained how the law regards liens, and how they became established; he said this was a case which would require their most serious consideration, as it would establish a president in a matter which involved the interests of many. It had been said by one of the witnesses, that the custom had existed before courts of law were established here, it was right that they should know that the law adopted and followed the custom. The evidence was conflicting; but in considering the evidence of the merchants and the coopers, they would remember their different interests. They would give the evidence their serious consideration, and then they would be able to decide whether the custom had been proved.
The Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for 20 l. 4s. 4d., finding that the lien had existed.
New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian 18th August 1849 shows
Last Saturday, the 11th inst., as Mr. Jillet (sic), with John Grotto his shepherd, were removing five head of cattle from his station at Kapiti to another
part of the island in a large boat, when about 300 yards from the station the cattle became restless, and one of them broke adrift, and threw himself across the gunnel of the boat, when she commenced to fill. Mr. Jillet (sic) succeeded in cutting three of the beasts adrift; the other two being secured to the boat were drowned along with the shepherd, who was not able to swim. The next day with assistance of the whale boats, the boat and the body of poor Grotto were recovered. The deceased was about 52 years old and has left one son to bewail his loss.
New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian 9th October 1850 shows
To Cover this Season,
The Imported Draught Horse Samson
Samson is a dark bay horse, stands sixteen hands high, with strong muscular power, and is allowed to be one of the best draught horses in the colony, Samson will be at Mr. Burcham's, River Hutt, every Monday and Tuesday; at Mr. Ames's, Wellington, every Thursday; at Mr. Brown's, Porirua, every Friday and Saturday; and Messrs. Hammond's, Porirua Road, the remainder of the week. For the convenience of Mares, Paddocks will be provided at 3s. per week, but without responsibility.
Terms - Three Ponds each Mare, payable 1st January, 1851. An allowance will be made to the bona fide owners of three or more Mares.
Robert Gillett, and M. & R. Hammond
Porirua Road, 2d(sic) October, 1850
George Buck and Robert Jillett were on the committee wanting to secure the return of W. B. Rhodes, Esq., J.P to represent the Wellington Country District in the General Assembly
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A meeting was held every evening at seven o'clock at Mr. McKaine's, Halfway House and Mr. Calder's Rainbow Hotel, Barrett's Hotel.
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Details from a poster on Timesframes at the National Library. Poster dated Wellington 11/8/1853
Cemetery Fiche for St. James Anglican Church shows Burial Record Robert Jillett, Date: 29/9/1860, Aged: 47
The Wellington Independent 2nd October 1860 shows
Died - At his residence, Hutt, on Saturday, 29th September, Mr. Robert Jillett, aged 57 years
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The Friends of the late Mr. Robert Jillett are respectfully informed that his remains will leave his late residence, next Whitewood's Hotel, Hutt, on Thursday, 4th October, at 1 o'clock, p.m.
Alfred Keys, Undertaker
October 2, 1860
The Wellington Independent 5th October 1860 shows
The Estate of the Late Robert Jillett
Notice is hereby Given, that all persons having claims against the above Estate, are requested to forward the same to the undersigned immediately for payment, and all persons indebted to the above Estate are requested to pay their accounts without any further notice.
Thomas Mills, Hutt
Acting Executor
The Wellington Independent 17th May 1861
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The Following Person are Objected to as not being Entitled to have their Names retained on the List of Voters for the
Electoral District of Porirua
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Jillett, Robert, Kapiti, Leasehold, Dead
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Oct. 5. 1860