Looking for Mary Ann Southee emigrated to New Zealand 1841

[spades]

The SOUTHEE family group from the webpage mentioned above were:

SOUTHEE
John        40
Sophia     37
William    13
George    11
Henry       9
Mary Ann  7
Alfred       4
Elizabeth   Infant

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[spades]

This church webpage lists John SOUTHEE and also provides a useful Family History Sheet and Descendency Sheet for him and his children.
https://christ-church.org.nz/rootspersona-tree/southee-john/

A similar page for Mary Ann:
https://christ-church.org.nz/rootspersona-tree/southee-mary-ann/

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[spades]

Hi Kaybrom,

In your original post you mention that, "...One child of Joseph and Sophia died in 1841 which possibly could have been on the ship when travelling to NZ."

Can you provide a source for this, please?

Spades

[Kaybron]

Hi johnw65,  I have looked at this entry but what I am confused with is that there are a number of articles on Past Papers where Mary Ann Short (wife of Reuben Short and daughter of John Southee) recounts here early days in New Zealand.  Mary Ann gives a birth date of 17 December 1824 and says that her father is John Southee.  She came to NZ on the "Lady Nugent" when she was 16 or 17.  She died when she was 100 years and 6 months which gives a birth year of 1825. 

Regards Kaybron

[spades]

I see your problem more clearly now, Kaybron.

Does anybody have any ideas?

Spades

[jonw65]

Hi
I agree that it is all very strange. I haven't seen the original yet, but presumably the abode on the 1825 burial was Birchington.
Would John have named a daughter Mary Ann if the older Mary was still alive? It has been known to happen, but I would say only rarely. Having a Mary and a Mary Ann, I mean!
John

[Kaybron]

Hi Spades,  Thank you for all the links and also for providing the ages of John and Sophia's children on the Lady Nugent.  The age for Mary Ann (7) ties in with the baptism at the Ebenezer Chapel in 1835. 

It is strange that in the Family Information sheet about Mary Ann Southee/Short that she states that she was born in 1824 and there are several write ups relating to her 100th birthday.  These do not tie in with being aged 7 on the Lady Nugent. 

In reply to your query about Alfred's death on the ship, I was mistaken with this.  He died in 1841 in Wellington.  I found this on NZ Cemetery Records.

Perhaps Mary Ann Southee/Short was on the ship under another name.

jonw65 Yes it is odd having a Mary Ann when Mary was still alive.  Maybe the Mary Ann was telling a few lies and passing herself off as her older half-sister.  This is odd as if she was born in 1833-1835, she married her first husband in 1848 when she was 13 or 15.

Regards Kaybron   

[Dundee]

jonw65 Yes it is odd having a Mary Ann when Mary was still alive.

As far as I know, Mary and Mary Ann were considered to be different names.

Maybe the Mary Ann was telling a few lies and passing herself off as her older half-sister.  This is odd as if she was born in 1833-1835, she married her first husband in 1848 when she was 13 or 15.

I think someone was fibbing, Mary Ann was dead so it wasn't her.  You would think there should be a 100th birthday celebration if it was true.  Her first marriage was in 1854, not 1848.  The second marriage certificate should show her age.

Debra 

[Kaybron]

Hi Debra,  Checking through notes, I did realize that I had given the incorrect date for the first marriage.

There were a few write ups in the paper about Mary Ann reaching 100 years and also on her headstone there is mention of reaching 100 years.

This is a link to an article published in the paper in 1923.  Mary Ann recalls events in the early days and also mentions that she will be turning 100 soon. 

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19230711.2.72?end_date=31-12-1925&items_per_page=10&phrase=2&query=Mrs+Short&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1923

Regards Kaybron