_John LABRUM ___+
_Thomas LABRUM ____|
| |_Eleanor WATTS _
_Thomas LABRUM _________|
| | ________________
| |_Martha Ann CROSS _|
| |________________
|
|--Mary Ann LABRUM
|
| ________________
| ___________________|
| | |________________
|_Mary Elizabeth WRIGHT _|
| ________________
|___________________|
|________________
Complete list of names in tree
URL changed? Try Dale or Debbie's tree home site.
[19329]
[19329]
[John&Elenor onwards.FTW]
Mary Ann appears to have lead a very resourceful life. Why she was found in Thames where she married her first husband is a mystery. Thames was overflowing with miners searching for gold. Every second building was a hotel and not the place for a young girl. To marry David, Mary really needed a permission to marry certificate because she was underage i.e. 21yrs. Somehow she got away with stating on the Intention to Marry certificate that she was of age but on her marriage certificate she admits to being a minor. Another interesting point is the fact that none of David's brothers were witness to the marriage which leaves one with the impression this marriage was not a happy event for the CLARKSON family.
Her first child was born the following month, so where and how she meet David nine months prior is another puzzle. For the rest of her life, Mary Ann does not recognise she knew let alone married a David CLARKSON.
I suspect the love of her life was a Mr Richard SPRATT. She definitely had one child to this man, a son also named Richard who was born about 1972/73. His birth was not registered but after tracking this male down I have found his marriage and death certificate. He states his parents were Richard SPRATT and Mary Ann nee LABRUM. He also seem to have been aware of the death of his father.
I did some research on Mr Richard SPRATT senior and it would appear this man may have had a certain way with the ladies. He was undoubtly wealthy and very well respected amongst the early settlers. His advice was sought and reported in overseas newspapers on mining and shares. But, I have also found another young lady filing a court order against Mr SPRATT seeking money for a child she had that he had fathered. From the Thames Advertiser 1872 the following newspaper article proves an interesting read. This is around the same a time that I think Mary Ann was associating with him
Police Court.-Yesterday (before W.Fraser, Esq. R.M.)
Disobeying A Summons
Richard Spratt was brought up on warrant, charged with disobeying a summons on a pliant laid by Esther Wright, of refusing to provide for the support of his illegitimate child. Mr Bullen said that the prisoner had only been arrested on a warrant received from Auckland last night. He would ask that he be remanded to Auckland for hearing of the case the day after tomorrow. Accused asked to be admitted to bail. His Worship said he would take bail for accused, himself in £50, and take sureties of £25 each. He was arrested, his Worship reminded him, not on a warrant from him, but an Auckland warrant, and he would require substantial security
NZ Herald Friday 29 March 1872
Police Court - Thursday. Destitute Persons relief Ordinance
R.Spratt surrendered to his bail, and pleaded guilty of a breach of the above ordinance by having refused to support his child Ellen Wright. Mr Beveridge appeared for the prosecution. The court ordered defendant to pay 10s per week for the child's support and costs of the case.
When he died the following obituary was in the local newspaper.
Transcript from Thames Evening Star 19 Sep 1895
The late Mr Richard Spratt was a widower, his wife having died some 12 years back, but he leaves behind him three sons, one of whom is engaged at Sharlands chemist. The other two sons a re attending school. Deceased was a native of Enniskillen, Ireland, and, in the sixties, worked as a miner in Victoria and New South Wales. He subsequently came over to the West Coast, and during his residence there was connected with Humphreys Gully and Ross Goldmining Companies, besides others. When the rush to the Thames goldfield took place in 1865, he found his way there, and after working in the El Dorado mine, he was appointed manager. His fortunes, like many others, varied on the goldfields, and he afterwards came to Auckland where he resided for many years past. The opinion of deceased on mines was eagerly sought after both on the West Coast and since his residence in Auckland. His reports were received in London without question, not merely from a scientific point of view, but from a point of integrity. Deceased was identified with the floating of the famous Waihi Mine, and it was on his reports that the present English company took the mine up. Remarkable to relate, too, deceased original reports as to what the Waihi mine would turn out have been verified to a remarkable degree of accuracy. Deceased was confidential adviser in Auckland of the Waihi mine up to the time of his death, and he also acted in a similar capacity for the Waitekauri G.M. Company and New Zealand Mines Trust (Ltd). Deceased was identified with a number of mining companies, and was also a member of the Thames Drainage Board. He had been a member of the Auckland Brokers Association for 15 years.
In his Will he left provision for his three boys from his marriage to receive a very good schooling at St King's College. The son he and Ann had was not mentioned.
The year Richard SPRATT married is the same year Mary Ann married George LAVEROCK and when Mary Ann married Philip BAILEY she stated her previous husband had died in 1895 which was the year Richard SPRATT died.
Over the years Mary Ann changed her first name several times. On the 1893 Suffrage roll when New Zealand women were first granted the right to vote, Ann enrolled as Hepzybah Annie Laverock, Carlyle Street, Napier, Wife.
Ann suffered from Hydatids for three years before her death and she died suddenly at home. She is buried in an unmarked grave.
I found this lady a most fascinating character. How I wish I could spend an afternoon with her discussing her life.
[19323] [S28] Family Shirley Merrett England
[59826] ABBR Family Shirley Merrett England
[59813] ABBR Death Cert
[59813] ABBR Death Cert
[59813] ABBR Death Cert
[59872] ABBR Marriage Cert.
[59872] ABBR Marriage Cert.