An Extract from the diary of Mary Jacob, daughter of William Stephen Jacob
Courtesy of Liz Bennett

The death of her father, from Mary Jacob's diary 1862


Mary Jacob was my great-grandmother. This is an extract from her diary in August 1862, when she was aged 16. She was the eldest child of William Stephen Jacob, an astronomer. He had been appointed State Astonomer at Poona. He, his wife, two eldest and two youngest children travelled from London to Poona by boat. After several months at sea they arrived at the beginning of Austust 1862. William fell ill almost immediately. (There's an obituary of William Jacob here - Starts at the bottom of the page.)

Saturday 16th August 1862
Annie and I were dressing soon after 6a.m. when Miss Brown came into our room and told us Papa was much worse and that he was wandering, and soon after she came again and said Papa was rational and we were to make haste and go, so we did. We went and kissed Papa and he said to Annie who went in first - "Good night, Annie, my dear. I hope you will lay all these things to heart, and especially what Jesus said, 'Where I am, thou shalt be also". When I went, he said "Good night, Polly". And Mama said, "What will Mary do without you, who have been her constant teacher?", he said, "She will have a better Teacher. She must ask God to be her Teacher." He spoke with great difficulty. They tried to make him sign a paper but could not get him to do it. When the doctor came they tried again, and Mama was going to hold his hand, but he would not let her and said "What is it you want me to sign, I don't sign papers without knowing what they are about." (His mind went directly they asked him about that.) They tried too explain, but he said he thought he and capt. Shortrede had signed that document before, he made a sign for his spectacles nd seemed to be reading and then repeated what he had said. Then he took hold of the shawl and said he was looking for that document Shortrede and he had signed together. Mama said - "Never mind about that" and laid him back and he said "Take care, you'll lose the place" and laid back still. Mama asked him several times if he had any message for the boys, and once she thought he said - Trust in God. Then she asked him several times if he knew her voice and if he did to press her hand and once he nodded. He became fainter and fainter and his breath came thick and hard. We rubbed his hands and feet and put warm bottles to them for they were very cold. Suddenly the hard breathing stopped and he breathed quietly for a few minutes and then he died.

The Candys, Mrs Mitchell and Miss Brown were in at different times and we sent for Adolph. who came shortly before his death. Our grief is unspeakable. All that pain was from his liver, and he could not lie down since Thursday afternoon. They sent for a Mrs Miller to lay out the body and we saw it several times: the countenance so calm, noble and beautiful, all suffering had passed away. Flowers were put round his head and we cut off some of his hair and we are each to have a piece. He said to Mama before we went in when Mama asked him if he were happy - you know I am - Thou shalt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is staid on thee." The funeral was at a quarter before 6p.m. and several of dear Papa's old Christian friends came to it, Mr James Mitchell read and prayed here and then again at the burial ground under a shed. It was pouring all day, the first good monsoon day they have had at Poona. Dear Papa died at 10' to 10a.m. and the last time he spoke clearly was 8.

Monday 18th August 1862
Mama and Mrs Candy were busy getting mourning from a hawker. Oh, how great is our loss! I cannot realise that we shall never see that dear face again on earth, never feel his arms lovingly round me and hear him call me "Polly". It was dreadful to see that body, so active in life, lie so still and give no answer to our kisses, those bright, impressive eyes closed in death, never more to look upon us in affection and love...