Wooden Seaman's Chest - owned by Peter Spicer (Snr)

This sea chest belonged to Peter Spicer Brockman (Junior), nephew of Joseph Cookworthy.

It is believed that the original owner of the sea chest was Captain Peter SPICER (Senior) (1767-1830). It was then passed on to his son, Peter SPICER (Junior) (1806-1874).

(a) Peter SPICER (Snr) married Jane Frances BATTY and had two children, Peter Spicer (Jnr) and Charlotte Gaborian Spicer. Charlotte married John COOKWORTHY and had four children including Frances Glasford. Subsequently, Frances married Joseph Cookworthy (her 1st cousin). Peter (Jnr) died in Hong Kong, and with no children of his own, he bequeathed all gifts to his sister, Charlotte. Hence, the sea chest was passed down the Cookworthy family line.

(b) Joseph COOKWORTHY (1828–1909) was a settler of Western Australia. He arrived in the colony in 1873, having previously been an army officer and civil servant in India. Joseph served in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1890 until 1897, representing the seat of Sussex. Joseph died on 21 February 1909 in Busselton, Western Australia, at the age of 81.

(c) Charlotte Gaborian BUSSELL (nee Spicer, formerly Cookworthy): In 1828, Charlotte married John COOKWORTHY. John died in 1835, leaving Charlotte a young widow. A few years later, she met John Garrett BUSSELL and they married in 1838. Charlotte lived at 'Cattle Chosen' until John's death in 1875. She then moved to Paris with her daughter Caroline. Caroline was joined by her young niece, Emily Flora Brockman, to help look after Charlotte. Charlotte died on 26 August 1899 in Paris.