100 Years of Disappointed, Disgruntled, Discredited Husbands
Mar 27
Mahala Mills
Marriages in Hobart, 1837 RGD 36/1/1 George died 1849. Mahala Mills also took over the license of the Brunswick Wine Vaults/Hotel. The Britannia and Trades’ Advocate, 25 October 1849 ORNITHOLOGICAL.—About four o’clock on the afternoon of Monday last, the 10th instant, as Mrs. Mills’ stage coach, between this town and New Norfolk, was…
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Jan 21
Mrs Kinsman
“Mrs. Fillia Kinsman and her coach,” State Library of South Australia Poor Mrs Kinsman was thus left to fight her own way in life, mysteriously bereft of her husband. With the little money she had, she purchased some cows and sold milk and butter. She realised that there was an opening for a passenger conveyance…
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Jan 21
Mary Ann MacDougall
Mary Ann took over the management of the Colonial Times after the sudden death of her husband in 1848, until 1855 when she remarried. The above from the Colonial Times, 1 August 1848 There is a compilation of information telling her story elsewhere so I’ll direct you there to read it. Colonial Times, 25 July…
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Aug 26
Mary Ann Friend
View at Swan-River. Sketch of the Encampment of Matw. Curling Friend, Esqr., R.N., 1830, by Mrs Mary Ann Friend (from Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales). Mary Ann was born in London, daughter of John Ford of Hampstead. In 1826 she married Matthew Curling Friend (1792-1871), a retired naval officer, inventor and nautical…
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Feb 3
Fern Sellers – Christmas Eve
THE FERN SELLER—CHRISTMAS EVE. This is an original and characteristic sketch, in which perhaps our artist has sacrificed a little fidelity to nature. In this instance the object seems to have been to embody an idea thoroughly and faithfully rather than exhibit skill in the delineation of female beauty. What the holly is to the…
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Jan 22
Two women & their shops
This is just an excuse to share these two photos. Not your usual shops! (Gulgong & Hill End both started as gold towns, hence the rough & ready nature of the buildings.) Above: Woman and shop-house, Hill End (NSW) American & Australasian Photographic Company 1870-1875 From the Mitchell Library,State Library of NSW Below: Woman with…
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Jan 20
Feather Curlers & Cleaners
Sydney Gazette, 11 August 1825 Not an occupation I can find out much about. Feather curlers were used by milliners to produce suitable feathers for their hats. However, if you read down through these advertisements you’ll see they’re offering a different, if related, service. Bearing in mind here, hats were necessary fashion accessory, and if…
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Jan 15
Waubadebar
In Bicheno, in a little park overlooking Waubs Bay, you’ll find a lonely, and empty, grave. HERE LIES WAUBADEBAR A FEMALE ABORIGINE OF VAN DIEMENS LAND DIED JUNE 1832 AGED 40 YEARS This Stone is Erected by a few of her White friends WAUBA DEBAR’S GRAVESTONE – 1855 This place on which you are standing…
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Aug 28
Mary Reibey
LINKS TO NEWS STORIES (with opening paragraphs): It is the lunch hour. In Macquarie Place, office workers who spend their working hours in the tall buildings round about, have come out to sit on the park seats or the green grass. There, as they enjoy the warm spring sunshine, they eat their sandwiches and read…
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Aug 26
Mrs Hutton
Perth Gazette, 17 October 1835 Perth Gazette, 24 October 1835 Perth Gazette, 27 December 1850 Perth Gazette, 13 Jun 1851 The Inquirer and Commercial News, 2 April 1856 Perth Gazette, 11 April 1856 Perth Gazette, 14 August 1857 Perth Gazette, 12 November 1858 The Inquirer and Commercial News, 8 June 1859
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