suffrage_petition
Surname: 
Browne
Given names: 
Mary
Given address: 
Sydney Place Wanganui
Sheet No: 478
Town/Suburb: 
Whanganui
City/Region: 
Whanganui

Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.

Community contributions

2 comments have been posted about Mary Browne

What do you know?

Anonymous

Posted: 27 Sep 2021

A previous comment was posted in error as it related to a different Mary Brown.

Mary was born Mary Elizabeth STRATTON on 23 January 1849 in Cuba Street, Wellington.
She was the eldest of eleven children born to George STRATTON and Sarah MEMBERY. George
had been born in Perth, Scotland and sailed as a New Zealand Company emigrant. He arrived into Port
Nicholson as a 14 year old on board the barque “Lady Nugent” in March 1841. Sarah had been born in
Crewkerne, Somerset, England. She was also a New Zealand Company emigrant and arrived into Port
Nicholson as an 11 year old on board the “Lord William Bentinck” in May 1841.

Mary moved from the family home (almost on the corner of Cuba and Vivian Streets, Wellington) when
she was nine years old. Her family had a Crown Grant of 11 acres in Lower Hutt on which her father,
a carpenter, built a substantial 6 roomed house. The land ran between Wairere Road and where the
Connolly sub-station now stands and had the address, Camp Road. At this time, Hutt Central School
did not exist and it is assumed that Mary had no formal education. Her parents though were able to read
and write and may have taught Mary.

Mary married George BROWNE (an engineer) when she was 21 and he was 25. The marriage was
conducted by Rev. John Moir on 7 September 1870 at the Stratton family home in Camp Road.
Mary bore three children: Sarah Jane (1871-1969), Alfred Morris (1872-1953) and Fanny Elizabeth
(1875-1957). With three children of her own, by early 1876 when both her parents died, Mary was left
with young siblings aged 11, 9, 7, and 4. Mary and two brothers aged 22 and 19 cared for these young
children.

By 1885, Mary and her husband had moved to Sydney Place, Wanganui. They stayed there until the
early 1900s when they moved to Kairanga Road, Palmerston North.

Tragedy struck Mary in 1905 when her grand-daughter Lilian died whilst staying with her aged only 9
years. Tragedy struck again in 1917 when Lilian’s brother Morris died in an accident aged 12 years. By this
time Mary and George were living with a son in Tokomaru. In a fierce gale, their son and grandson were
repairing a farm shed when debris struck Morris and killed him.

Mary’s husband, George, died in 1930. Mary died, aged 90 years, on 24 July 1939 at 19 Frederick
Street, Palmerston North of cerebral haemorrhage and arteriosclerosis. Her funeral service was held at
All Saints Anglican Church Palmerston North and she was buried at Terrace End Cemetery on 29 July 1939/

Anonymous

Posted: 27 Sep 2021

Born Mary Styles baptized 3 April 1842 East Clandon Surrey UK died 1915 ?? Petone, daughter of
George Styles 1815 Surrey UK died 1904 Petone NZ and Mary Potter 1818-1907 Petone.

Mary married 1875 Robert Brown.
1880 –1890 Petone Robert Brown is a ropemaker
1911 34 Hutt Road Petone where their daughters Agnes wedding was held
1914- 1919 at 73 Sydney Street Petone and son Alexander Robert Brown.

Issue:
Agnes Clyde Brown 1884 married Arthur Henry Trotter
Alexander Robert Brown 1883-69 Hutt married Naomi Priscilla Watkins 1892-1945
Eva Brown 1880 -1968 married Henry Mosley lived Taranaki
Mary Styles siblings and parents also in Petone NZ
Harriet 1839-1927 Napier married Thomas Walton Myers daughter Ada Beat. Myers 1880-68 married
Charles George Trimmer of Wellington NZ
Ann Styles 1845 died 1922 …no trace
Caroline Styles 1847 -1940 spinster lived in PETONE 1896 meaning she also HAD to sign the suffrage
and later lives at Randwick Road, later in Hastings NZ.
Hannah Styles 1850-1938 son Charles Lulham Styles born 1868-1934 lived in Petone as a carver….
Ellen Styles baptised 14 Nov 1852 E Clandon Surrey UK died-1950 married Duncan William Alexander
1852-1947 Hutt…issue Edgar James 1879-1941, Beat.May 1881-1858, William Gilb. 1882-1964,
Edward Gordon 1884-1942, Arthur Duncan 1886-1942, Ethel Annie 1888-1976 Ernest McLay 1990-
76 and Harold Allan Alexander 1893-1983.

Source https://library.huttcity.govt.nz/docs/WPAC/PDFs/Suffrage125-HuttWomen.pdf