The Jacobsen Triplets

1 – 7 March marks ‘Multiples NZ Awareness Week’ and an opportunity to profile the ‘Jacobsen Triplets’.

Jacobsen triplets.  Nelson Provincial Museum, Tyree Studio Collection: 82131

Archie, Ivan and Christina Olga Jacobsen were born in Blenheim in late April 1908.  Newpapers at the time reported that Mrs Jacobsen and the triplets were in good health, as were the SIX other Jacobsen children!

 

Despite having just given birth to triplets, Mrs Jacobsen was preparing to travel to Tākaka to join her husband who was looking after the other children.  Mrs Jacobsen had to deal with, not only new triplets, but also face an intrigued public.  Before leaving Blenheim, the trio were ‘exhibited in the Town Hall’ on 19 May and hundreds of people turned out to bid them farewell. As a farewell gift Mrs Jacobsen was presented with a purse which contained some sovereigns given by the public to assist with the 'noble work of rearing large families'. She stopped in Nelson en-route to Tākaka receiving much fanfare and gifts for the triplets. 

Tākaka was not the family's final destination. In 1913 there was much excitement in Tapawera as the triplets celebrated their 5th birthday. School children were invited to tea and Tapawera residents gathered at the Jacobsen home to mark the special occasion. The school headmistress, Miss Hodgkinson, gave a speech describing how delighted she was to have triplets attending her school in Tapawera. The triplets were described as 'healthy and well-developed children for their age, and are thought of much by their parents'.

Newspaper articles regarding the triplets always make special mention of their good health and well-being. However, the news was not so good in November 1918 when it was reported that one of the triplets, Ivan was injured when he was 'run over by a lorry' suffering severe lacerations and bruising during armistice celebrations. 

Fortuntely the news was better in May 1929, when papers reported that the triplets had 'come-of-age'.  An update on the trio was offered - Ivan was employed as a farm hand at Kaituna, Archie was running the Mahakipawa-Grovetown mail, while Olga was living at home with her mother.

 Raising six children PLUS triplets…

Mr and Mrs Jacobsen - we salute you!

Jacobsen triplets, Collingwood.  Nelson Provincial Museum, Tyree Studio Collection: 178163

Jacobsen Triplets, circa 1910. Nelson Provincial Museum, Tyree Studio Collection: 80979

 
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