Mary Anne Matthews was born circa 1831 in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland, the daughter of John and Mary.
By 1848 at the age of 17 years old, both of her parents had died, Mary then embarked on the ship Earl Grey, as an Assisted Immigrant Passenger, along with a number of orphaned woman known as the "Potato Orphans". They were the first ship of Irish Famine Orphans to arrive in Sydney, Australia, on 8 August 1848.
In the Irish Famine Memorial / Orphans records, Mary is noted as being presbyterian.
Mary obtained a job working for a sailmaker James Wann, in Redfern.
By 1851 Mary had moved to New Zealand, where on the 19 of July, she married William Henry Jones, b.1829, in the Wesleyan Chapel, Wellington.
Mary and William had 12 children that survived infancy, four boys and 8 girls.
Mary died on the 13 February 1909, at Little Taranaki Place, Wellington, New Zealand, and is buried in the Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington. NZ. Plot 3410.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1831 (circa) | |
| Date of Death | 13th Feb 1909 | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | John Matthews | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Mary (surname - perhaps Marshall) | |
| Townland born | Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland. | |
| Spouse (First Name/s and Maiden/Surname) | William Henry Jones b. 1929 in India. | |
| Place & Date of Marriage | 19 July 1851, at the Wesleyan Chapel, Wellington New Zealand. | |
| Number of Children | 12 children survived infancy, 4 boys and 8 girls. | |
| Names of Children | First born, William Henry b.1852. Other children, Frances Maud b. 1855, John James b. 1856, Margaret Millicent b.1859, Marion b. 1860, Kate Maria b. 1861, Emerline Emma Louise b. 1864, Elizabeth Lillian b.1866, Ernest Seaforth b. 1868, Alice Lettitia b.1870, Frederick James b. 1872, Edith b. 1875. | |
| Place of Death | Mary died on the 13 February 1909, at 8 Little Taranaki Place, Wellington, New Zealand. She is buried in the Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington. In plot 3410. | |
