Charlotte Badger, George Bruce and the Making of History

In this talk, Jennifer will explain that at first sight, Charlotte Badger and George Bruce share a similar history. After being transported to New South Wales in the early years of penal settlement, they separately washed up at the Bay of Islands, living under the protection of the same rangatira, Te Pahi, in the same year, 1806. Yet, what we know about them and their experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand differs because of the records they did, and didn’t, leave behind. Jennifer will discuss the contrasting histories of these two characters, and how what we know about Badger and Bruce reflects, not just the history of the early contact period in the north, but the way in which our understanding of the past itself is made.

Jennifer Ashton is an Auckland-based writer and editor. In 2012 she completed a PhD at the University of Auckland. Her book Thief, Convict, Pirate, Wife: The Many Histories of Charlotte Badger was published by Auckland University Press in 2022.

This event is co-hosted by the Friends of Takapuna Library. Jennifer’s book will be on sale.

Enquiries: fotl2019@gmail.com