I didn't actually get a copy of the Shipping Register but am pretty sure it was an 'N'. But I suppose it could have been incorrect? It was from Register that I confirmed that it said "Australian born" and "age 60".
The only other 2 'confirmations' as such which I have are:
(1) in a newspaper article in the old "Frankston Standard" at the time of wedding of niece of Mr. Jacob's wife - (account of the wedding in Mornington, Vic. in March 1908 of Catherine PITCHFORD - Mrs. Jacobs' niece - and Albert WARD). This gave a list of guests and their gifts to bridal couple - "Mr. & Mrs. N. Jacobs - aunt & uncle of bride". The Jacobs were then living at their house "Woodclyffe" (spelt Woodcliffe at that time) and family diaries have indicated various relatives visiting 'the Jacobs'.
Mr. Jacobs came out from Mauritius on family ship "C.J.S." (initials of firm 'Charles Jacobs & Sons') in January 1908. Catherine was not on that voyage - only three persons on ship; I haven't been able to trace (via the internet - it is difficult for me to go into the P.R.O. very often at all, as I have an ill husband) when Catherine Jacobs came back to Australia. She even could have stayed at the house she bought from 1906 on, and - again via a newspaper account - it stated that 'she was awaiting the arrival of her husband from Mauritius' .
(The home "Woodcliffe" + 25 acres was up for Public auction in rooms of C. J. & T. Ham, 75 Swanston Street, Melbourne on 25 October, 1906, (preliminary notices in "The Age" newspaper) , property being sold by widow of Sir Francis Murphy.) Again, I haven't been able to confirm the purchase from subsequent newspapers but have no doubt of the purchase.
I feel that the home was bought in order to accommodate the couple, after they retired from the Sugar and tea plantations in Mauritius. I know their hotel "Family Hotel" in Curepipe changed hands in 1908, being taken over by a Miss A. Wiehe ('a member of an old and respected French-Mauritian family').
2. In a newspaper article in 'Frankston Standard" in May 1908, it spoke of
'Mr. N. JACOBS who was returning to Mauritius on the ship "C.J.S." belonging to the family firm in which he is a partner, after a very pleasant holiday at his home in Mornington, and that he enjoyed it so much he intended returning often'.
I have tried in many different directions - Jewish Historical Society, State Library of Vic. who checked indexes of Deaths Vic. to 1984, SA to 1940, NSW to 1945, Probate Vic. 1900-59, Vic. 1906-49; no Jacobs in Various Indexes such as Main Cat., Manuscripts, Australiana, Biography, the Cyclopedia of Vic. The Public Records Office has many Jacobs going back and forth to Mauritius, including some of the sons of Charles Jacobs, travelling on firm's "CJS". Various "Mrs. Jacobs" but cannot identify if Catherine is one of them.
Mauritius contacts have not found deaths of either from 1900 on.
Perhaps they could have married in Wales or England - Catherine was born June qtr 1842, chr. 18 Sept., 1842, Trevethin, Monmouth, England. dau. of John Wilkinson and Margaret Jones.
Have found a Catherine Wilkinson (age 19) on ship "Art Union" from Plymouth, Devon, arriv. S.A. on 22 August, 1864, Adelaide.
Her younger sister Margaret came out in 1863 age 16, and married in Adelaide age 17 in Dec. 1864. I thought Catherine could have come out for her sister's wedding.
This is a very long Post. The moderator will probably divide it up into two. Ruth
