Item 1 - Belbin pocket book

Small memorandum book in leather pocket book. In this James Belbin noted his departure from Norfolk Island arrival in Hobart on 3 October 1808, being victualled from the Government stores after having already received. blankets etc. in Norfolk Island. He then noted the arrival and departures of ships, their cargoes and sometimes what provisions, etc were issued from the stores. He noted the arrival of Governor Bligh in the 'Porpoise'. Interspersed a bit haphazardly amongst the regular entries were personal memoranda, such as his arrest for support of Governor Bligh: The first entries, recording his arrival in 1808, are written on the back page, the regular entries of arrivals and departures of ships begin at the front of the volume. A few miscellaneous memoranda appear to have been entered at the back of the notebook (including a note from The News of the trial of Governor Picton of Trinidad in the Court of Kings Bench 1806) or in any odd space, including the leather of the wallet (eg. a note that the Government cow shed built by Mr Lord had fallen down killing 12 cattle). Inside the cover Belbin entered the dates of birth of himself and children and the death of his wife and a daughter at Norfolk Island