Wilson, Peter
Production date
1832-1872
1800-1839
1840-1849
1850-1859
1860-1869
1870-1879
Description
Born in Scotland, doctor Peter Wilson (1791-1863) served as a naval surgeon in the 1812-14 Anglo American war. He acquired a medeical practice in Spain and also served at the military and civilian hospital at Gibraltar. While in Gibraltar he met Helen Simpson, daughter of James Simpson, the American Consul in Tangiers, and they married in 1839. Wilson travelled in Morocco before immigrating to New Zealand on the ship Slains Castle in January 1841 and took up land in Whanganui. He later moved to New Plymouth and replaced McShane as Colonial Surgeon.
Collection includes letter books containing comments and observations of colonisation, hospital annual reports and reminiscences of early life. There is a journal covering Wilson's voyage to New Zealand on the Slains Castle and a lecture on Morocco given by Wilson at the Taranaki Institute in 1857. Also a diary of a journey from New Plymouth to Whanganui in 1853 and a number of letters from Wilson to Donald McLean.
Object detail
1800-1839
1840-1849
1850-1859
1860-1869
1870-1879
Box 1
Holy Bible 1829. Includes birth dates and marriage dates on fly.
Letter book. Lecture on Morocco, delivered by Dr. Peter Wilson at Taranaki Institute 1857.
Leather writing folder inscribed with handwritten quotations.
Letter book containing Colonial Hospital reports 31 December 1849, 6 January 1851, 3 January 1852, 1853, 1854, letters, reminiscences of early life, lecture notes and poetry.
Notebook containing letters from 19th January 1858 to 27th August 1858.
Manuscript journal of a voyage from London to New Zealand on board the ship Slains Castle (1840-41).
Box 2
Folder 1.
Typescript of Journal of a voyage from London to New Zealand on board the 'Slains Castle' (1840-41) with notes on the authenticity of the transcript by Helen Mary Warren. 36 pages.
Folder 2.
Typescript and photocopy. Census Act 1858, Schedule B. Photocopy from the Grey Collection, Auckland Public Library.
First, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth reports of the Colonial Hospital of New Plymouth .
Glossary of terms used in reports. Copy of statistics 1853/1854.
Transcript of the First Annual Report of the Colonel Surgeon of New Plymouth. Handwritten copy.
Folder 3.
Letters, photocopies and transcripts.
H. A. Wilson, Government House, Auckland 2 Aug. 1864
To the most exalted and most glorious Prince Nuley Soliman...from David Humphries, Minister Resident from the U.S. of America. Undated.
From Mr Grieve Wilson to Peter Wilson on board His Majesty's Ship Naiad. 10 Nov. 1810
From Grieve Wilson to Peter Wilson on board H.M.S. Minerva. 4 Apr. 1814
To Peter Wilson on board Slaine's Castle from Captn. Sandham R.E., 14 Sept. 1840
From Grieve Wilson to Peter Wilson. 3 Dec. 1825
Addressed to Mr Peter Wilson, Surgeon, Hospital, Gibraltar and prefaced Dear James, from Grieve Wilson. 3 Dec. 1825
From Emma Wilson to Peter Wilson. 29 May 1834
From Emma and J. Wilson to Peter Wilson. 8 Dec. 1851
From Sarah Marcia Mawby to Helen Wilson. 14 May 1855
Typescript. Extracts from the Weekly Press, 20 January, 1904, p. 10, Relic of Old Wanganui by Old Settler and 26 Jan. 1904
Folder 4.
Diary of a Journey from New Plymouth to Wanganui 1853. Photocopy of manuscript held in the Grey Collection, Auckland Public Library. Also four transcripts of the diary including one taken from instalments published in the Taranaki Herald 8 March to 26 April 1854. A set of footnotes written by Ron Lambert as part of research done for the book Peter Wilson: Colonial Surgeon by Gail Lambert (1981).
Notes on reminiscences & diaries etc. of Dr. Wilson by Mr Bagnall 18 Feb. 1946.
Folder 5.
Ja. An agreeable reconnoitre and reminiscences of early life by P. Wilson. Printed booklet. (Part one only)
J1. Transcript. Reminiscences of early life (Parts 1-3) with note regarding the original scripts signed by Ron Lambert June 1979.
Jb. Letter and photocopy. Part two of the Reminiscences of early life as published in The New Zealand Magazine April 1850. From Alexander Turnbull Library 6 Nov. 1979.
K. Reminiscences of early life no. 4. Transcript.
Folder 6.
Photograph of engraving of landing at Moturoa of M. Creed. In an envelope addressed to H. Skinner Esq.
Photographs of Dr Peter Wilson, Mrs Wilson, Helen Jane Wilson, Annie Wilson.
D. Notes on The Gables. Handwritten extracts from diaries and journals, books and newspapers.
Lecture delivered at Mechanics Institute New Plymouth, 1857. A little learning is a dangerous thing. Transcript of notes in Wilson's letter-book.
Comments of the French Press on the colonization of New Zealand. Translated by O. F. Abott 1839-1840. Typescript.
Observations on colonization, submitted to the New Zealand Company in June 1840, returned as not suiting it's views. London 7 June 1840. Signed P. Wilson. Transcript of notes in Wilson's letter-book.
Box 3
Folder 7.
Letters and ephemera of the Simpson and Wilson Families
Mourning card for Sebright Thomas Simpson, died 9 Jan. 1855
Bill of lading. Goods transported on the ship Governor Grey bound for Wellington. Includes goat skins for D. McLean
Letter. To Captain Milson (?) from Donald McLean authorizing the erection of a goal at Opunake. 15 Feb. 1872
Poetry. Words suited to May ; Epigram ; Words written under a sketch of an old Feudal Castle ; To Miss Simpson, Gibraltar, 1823 ; The word Peer... ; With Helen Ann... ; A preface to a book implies... ; Strange is the task... ; Deborah Doleful... ; Preguntas
Bookplate. Two examples one with Arabic characters and the other the initials PW.
Letter. To Miss Simpson from W. Cornwell. 9 Jan. 1832
Newspaper clipping. Memories of Wellington. Describes a photograph album which includes photographs of Dr. and Mrs Wilson. Undated
Letter. From Sidi Mohamet to the Governor of Tangier, conveying his curse on his two sons Abdeshaman and Yasid.
Bill of lading. List of articles shipped on board the cutter Fisherman. 1847
Bill of lading. Invoice of goods shipped on board the ship Ed. Stanley to be delivered to New Plymouth. 22 Oct. 1847
Notes on accounts and debts. Undated
Letter. To Mrs Wilson from Eliza Duquist, Bec Place, 23 June 1840
Letter to Dr. and Mrs Wilson with momento attached. Sender unidentified. 4 Jan 1840
Letter to Patricio Wilson from E. Wilson. 17 Oct. 1874
Marriage certificate. Peter Wilson to Helen Ann Simpson. 11 June 1840.
Letter. To Patricio Wilson from Donald McLean. 12 Feb. 1872
Poetry. O Chess I hate thy very name.
Memorandum. Notes on Roman Emperors.
Copy of letter from the King of Morocco, Nullez Zedan to King Charles the First 1649. ( Handwritten )
Copy of Sir John Campbell's letter to the Revd. W. Dodds, Dunbar. 5 Jan. 1855 ( Handwritten )
Transcript of letter. From Kincaid, Cadiz to James Simpson. 11 Dec. 1789
Folder 8.
Letters.
Folder 9.
Transcripts. From Dr. P. Wilson and Helen Wilson to D. McLean 1845-1871 ( McLean Letters )
1.Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 10 Sept. 1845
2. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 28 Dec. 1845
3. Letter from H. A. Wilson, Henui to D. McLean. 28 Apr.1846-47
4. Letter from P. Wilson to D. McLean. 7 Aug. 1846
5. Letter from P. Wilson to D. McLean. 2 Nov. 1846
6. Letter P. Wilson to D. McLean. 8/9 Nov. 1846
7. Memorandum P. Wilson to D. McLean. 4 Jan. 1847
8. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 11 Feb. 1847
9. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean 22 Mar. 1847 (includes photocopy of original)
10. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 15 Apr. 1847
11. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 29 May 1847
12. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. July 1847
13. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 16 Aug. 1847
14. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 20 Sept. 1847
15. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 22 Oct. 1847
16. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 9 Nov. 1847
17. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 12 Nov. 1847
18. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 21 Nov. 1847
19. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 25 Nov. 1847
20. Letter from P. Wilson, Wanganui to D. McLean. 1 Dec. 1847
21. Letter from P. Wilson, New Plymouth to D. McLean. 6 June 1857
22. Letter from H. Wilson, Henui to D. McLean. 1 Nov. 1857
23. Letter from H. Wilson, Henui to D. McLean. 25 Nov. 1858
24. Letter from H. Wilson, Henui to D. McLean. 19 Dec. 1858
25. Letter from H. Wilson, Henui to D. McLean. 4 Apr. 1859
26. Letter from H. Wilson, Henui to D. McLean. 23 May 1859
27. Letter from H. Wilson, Henui to D. McLean. 31 Oct. 1859
28. Letter from H. Wilson, Henui to D. McLean. 4 Dec. 1859
29. Letter from H. Wilson, New Plymouth to D. McLean. 25 Apr. 1860
30. Letter from H. Wilson, to D. McLean. 21 Dec. 1860
31. Letter from H. Wilson, to D. McLean. 23 Jan. 1861
32. Letter from H. Wilson, to D. McLean. 2 Apr. 1864
33. Letter from H. Wilson, Government House, Auckland to D. McLean. 2 Aug. 1864
34. Letter from H. Wilson, New Plymouth to D. McLean. 2 June 1865
35. Letter from H. Wilson, Calpe Cottage to D. McLean. 23 Feb. 1871
36. Part of letter from H. Wilson to D. McLean? Undated
Folder 10.
Letters in Arabic script from the Sultan of Morocco to the American Consul in Tangiers (52 items) including an explanatory letter from Nat Cutting to James Simpson regarding the letters. 25 July 1792
Translations of selected letters between James Simpson and the Sultan of Morocco. (21 items)
Box lists and contents notes (3) for this collection.
Digital file
PDF copy of transcript of "Journal of a voyage from London to New Zealand on board the barque Slains Castle"
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