Mary Ann Payne, Free Settler "Golconda" 1858

Name Mary Ann Palmer, (female)

Birth Details Date & Place about 1822, East Brent, Somerset

Baptism 2nd June 1822, St. James the Great Church, Winscombe, Somerset

Occupation Initially Domestic Servant with the Hemens Family in Woodborough, then Domestic Duties while Charles was alive then Mary Ann ran the family farm, punt and other businesses.

Residence various places in Somerset, then Sydney, Merriang and Summerview, Alexandra, Victoria

Religion Church of England

Notes Immigrated on Golconda to Botany Bay in August of 1858, somehow migrated to Victoria by 1862. Drawn to the area because siblings already resident in the area (Woodstock).

Mary Ann operated Payne's Punt on the Goulburn River, Alexandra, Victoria after her husband died.

Mary Ann Payne conducted business in her own right. She owned the punt, called the "Farmer's Friend", and operated it in conjunction with the store and hotel on the river bank (the Goulburn River). The hotel, much remodeled, eventually became The Water Trust pumping house

Sources 1. Marriage Certificate of son, George, 1872/140 and vital records of many other children

2. Somerset Marriage Registers, courtesy of Graham Payne, Somerset, England

Death Details Date & Place This is a bit of a puzzle, one possibility is about 1906 in Maylands Western Australia. Another is that she remarried after Charles's death to a Mr. Foster or Forester both are family stories and we haven't been able to sort out which is true.

Burial Unknown

Cause of Death Unknown

Age at Death Unknown

Could possibly be Vic BDM 1883/1196

Date of Death: 17/3/1883 at Eaglehawk

Name: Mary Pain - Publican - Female - 50 years

Parents: Father Joseph ?? Butcher - Mother Sarah Pain mn unknown

Religion: Cof E

Born: Bridgewater, Somersetshire

In Victoria: 25 years

Unmarried.

THEORIES

Polly's marriage certificate shows her father's occupation as publican even though he was no longer alive. Assume then that her mother was the publican.

If it was mistaken that she was unmarried that would explain her married name as her parents names. Time in vic coincides. Place of birth close and religion correct.