Sarah (1848-8/10/1871) and Sarah Alice (3/10/1871-12/10/1871) Jessep.

Victorian deaths involving childbirth were not much reported in those days - childbirth involved sex, which was simply not talked about - at least, not put in the newspapers.  Occasionally, however, the dates on a gravestone tell an unmistakable story.

The proceedings of the Supreme Court, Dunedin, were somewhat diversified on the 20th ult., by the hearing of a case in which Charles Jessep sought to dissolve his marriage with his wife Amalie Jessep, a native of Hanover, on the ground of adultery. This is the first divorce case heard in Otago. The petitioner has, until lately, been engaged in different parts of Otago in mining pursuits, and the co-respondent, Charles Nicholson, is a store-keeper and hotel-keeper at Moa Flat, Otago. It appears that the respondent was at one time engaged as domestic servant by Mr Maw, boarding house keeper; in Melbourne, and that she was married to the petitioner at the Lutheran Church, East Melbourne, in 1862. After remaining a short time at the Temperance Hotel, Lonsdale street, Jessep and his wife proceeded to Donnelly's Creek, Gipp's Land, Victoria, and finally came to reside at Miller's Flat. Shortly after this the respondent contracted an acquaintance with the co-respondent, and, according to the evidence, is, and has, been for some time past, living with him. His Honour admitted that the adultery had been proved, but decided that a single Judge of the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction to determine the case, adding that it must be heard and determined by the full Court.   -Otago Daily Times, 1/10/1869.

MARRIAGE.

On the 19th October, at the residence of Mr Macfie, Russell street, by the Rev. D. M. Stuart, Charles Jessep, fruit and produce merchant, Dunedin, to Sarah West, only daughter of Daniel West, late of Essex, England.  -Otago Daily Times, 20/10/1870.

BIRTHS

On the 3rd October, 1871, at her residence, George street, Dunedin, Mrs Charles Jessep, of a daughter.   -Otago Daily Times, 9/10/1871.

FUNERAL NOTICE. 

THE FRIENDS of Mr CHARLES JESSEP are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of his late Wife, which will leave his residence, George street, Tomorrow (Tuesday), at three o'clock. 

WALTER G. GEDDES, Undertaker, Octagon.   -Otago Daily Times, 9/10/1871.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.