Fisher family further papers

MLMSS 10493

fonds

approximately 1840-1979

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs

9649499

0.16 metres of textual material and 7 photographs (1 box)

Thomasine ‘Timmie’ Fisher (1825?-1913) was the eldest daughter of William Charles Wentworth. In 1844 she married Thomas John Fisher, a Sydney barrister. Upon the marriage Wentworth gave Thomasine land at Vaucluse, allotments in Macquarie and Goulburn streets in Sydney, and farmland near Bathurst. They lived at ‘The Priory’, St Leonards, Sydney. Fisher repudiated his in-laws' social standing by breaking off all contact with them. He forbade Thomasine to see her parents, though he permitted her to correspond with her mother.

Donnelly Fisher (1850-1919), son of Thomasine and Thomas, was admitted as a solicitor in 1875 and became senior partner in the firm of Fisher and Macansh. He was a prominent freemason, at one time being a grand master. In December 1880 he married Genevieve Gowlland. Before his marriage, Donnelly had a son, Reginald, with Alice Masis. After she fell pregnant, Masis appears to have married William Charles MacDonald, who was aware that Reginald was Fisher's son.

References:
Sarah Wentworth, mistress of Vaucluse / Carol Liston. Glebe, N.S.W. : Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, 1988
Colonial ambition : foundations of Australian democracy / Peter Cochrane. Carlton, Victoria : Melbourne University Press, 2006.
Vendor catalogue

Part of a collection originally held by Fisher family descendants, most of which was acquired by the State Library of New South Wales in 1972

Papers of Thomasine Fisher and Donnelly Fisher, including letters, documents and photographs. Includes letters sent from Alice Masis to Donnelly Fisher regarding their son, the last of which is dated 23 November 1880, as well as a letter from William Charles MacDonald to Donnelly Fisher dated 3 June 1885.

Series 1
Papers from the estate of Thomasine Fisher, 'The Priory', approximately 1840s-1902
Includes printed Proclamation of Town Lots at St Leonards, Kiama and Balgowlah, granted by Sir George Gipps; receipts to John Burton from Revenue Branch, Colonial Secretary, Sydney, relating to allotments at Balgowlah, 1845 and 1846; 'Valuation of furniture and chattels at The Priory, North Sydney. The residence of Mrs T. Fisher deceased'; 'Abstract of the title of the Trustees of the will of the late W.C. Wentworth, deceased, to land at Vaucluse near Sydney', 1902; handwritten copy of the will of Lt. Col. George Barney, Royal Engineers, 1886.

Series 2
Papers relating to the business and personal life of Donnelly Fisher, 1878-1979
Includes letters from Alice Maslin, 1880s; letter from William Charles MacDonald, 1885; documents including insurance policy receipts, tender for ironwork at St Leonards and legal letters 1878-1920s; letters concerning donation of Fisher family papers to Mitchell library, 1979.

Series 3
Photographs relating to the Fisher family, 1880s-1960s
1. Thomas John Fisher studio portrait, 1880s
2. Thomasine Fisher studio portrait by Freeman & Co. Sydney, 1880s
3. Thomasine Fisher studio portrait by Freeman & Co. Sydney, 1880s
4. Donnelly Fisher in Masonic uniform, studio portrait by J. Hubert Newman, Sydney approximately 1880
5. Donnelly Fisher head and shoulders portrait by J. Hubert Newman, Sydney, approximately 1880
6. Donnelly Fisher in Masonic uniform, studio portrait by Charlemont & Co, Sydney, 1890s
7. Group wedding portrait [unidentified], 1960s

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder