Family background
Jacob Jacobsen (also Jacobson) was born at Langeland, Denmark, in 1841. Jacobsen arrived in Australia in November 1865 on the ship ”Ellesmere’ and after spending a year in Queensland, came to Sydney. After living in Surry Hills, he moved to Macdonaldtown in 1870. In 1874, he was working as a carter. He married Johanna Buckley in 1867 and by 1888, they had five children living out of the eight that were born to the couple. Jacobsen was naturalised in October 1884. He died in August 1911 at Canterbury. He was buried in the Roman Catholic section, Rookwood cemetery.
Occupation & interests
After moving to Macdonaldtown in 1870, Jacob Jacobsen initially worked as a carter but then started working as a speculative builder. By 1888, he owned one store and 25 houses that were let to tenants. Jacobsen was also a postmaster. His financial situation became precarious and in April 1898, when the mortgagee of his properties obtained an order for foreclosure on all his houses.
Community activity
Jacob Jacobsen was a prominent Mason.
Local government service
Jacob Jacobsen was an alderman on Macdonaldtown (Erskineville) Council in 1888-99, representing South Ward. He was mayor in 1891 and 1895.
References
Morrison, W. Frederic 1888, The Aldine centennial history of New South Wales illustrated, The Aldine Publishing Company, Sydney.
‘Notice of Foreclosure Under Real Property Act, NSW Government Gazette, 1 April 1898 p. 2681, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222849572
State Archives NSW, NRS 905 Colonial Secretary, Letters received, CSIL84/9474, 1/2549