Mary Ann Burbery

Born in Christchurch in November 1855, Mary Ann Vickery was baptised there the same month. She gave birth to a child, Henry Robert (father unknown) before marrying Frederick Sefton Moorhouse Genet in Christchurch on 3 December 1879. They had five children before Frederick left the family "in search of work." A Frederick Sefton Genet can be found in the 1922 Electoral for the Hutt area as a gumdigger at Te Hana.

MAGISTRATE’S COURT., Lyttelton Times, 7 December 1869: CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, Dec. 6. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) Stealing Flowers from the Domain.— Frederick Sefton Genet was charged with having purloined roses from the Domain. The head gardener, Mr Armstrong, said he detected accused taking the flowers, and accosted him. He gave a false name in reply to a question as to his address. Witness had seen him in the garden frequently before, but he had not seen him commit any depredations or misconduct himself before. In reply to the Bench, accused said that he seen other people taking flowers, and he did not think: that he was himself doing anything wrong in plucking a rose. He was frightened when the gardener spoke to him, and that was the reason why he gave a wrong address. His Worship censured him for his conduct, and the subsequent falsehood, pointing out that if persons were once allowed to disturb flowers in public gardens there would be no end to the practice. The establishment and support of such places cost a great deal of public money, and they must be protected Accused would be discharged this time, but if he, or others, were brought up on a similar charge, severe punishment would have to he inflicted.

CHRISTCHURCH., Press, 20 September 1892: (Before R. Beetham, Esq., R.M.) Maintenance.—In the matter of an order made against Frederick Genet, directing him to pay £1 per week to his wife, Mary Ann towards the support of his five children - was, on proof of his inability to pay that amount, reduced to 12s per week.

MAGISTERIAL., Press, 3 November 1892: Maintenance. Frederick Genet was charged with failing to obey an order of the Court, directing him to contribute towards the support of his wife and family, being in arrears £l 16. Mr Donnelly appeared for him. The defendant had already served a term in gaol for a similar default. He now stated that having work he would be able to contribute in future, and the case was adjourned till November 16th.

MAGISTERIAL., Star, Issue 4603, 27 March 1893: (Before R. Beefcham, Esq., E.M.) Maintenance. — Frederick Genet, who did not appear, - was charged with being in arrears on an order to pay 12s per week for the maintenance of his wife and family. An order was ordered to be issued for his arrest.

A Maintenance Case., Star, 31 May 1893: WELLINGTON, Mar 31. A man named Frederick Jennet was remanded to Christchurch today to answer a charge of disobeying an order of the Court to provide for the maintenance of his family.

MAGISTERIAL., Star, 1 June 1893: Frederick Jennet (on warrant), charged with being in arrears on an order of the Court, calling upon him to contribute 3s weekly towards the support of his four children, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour.

CHRISTCHURCH., Press, 2 June 1893 (Before R. Beetham, Esq., R.M.) Maintenance. — Frederick Genet, who had been arrested at Wellington, for failing to obey an order of the Court directing him to contribute 12s per week towards the support of his four children, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour.

MAGISTERIAL., Press, 2 November 1893: Annoying a Parent. —Mary Vickery, a woman much advanced in years, charged her daughters Grace Murphy and Mary Ann Genet, with having, on October 21st, used to her offensive and provoking language. Mr Beswick for the plaintiff, Mr Bruges for defendants. The plaintiff alleged that owing to some family dispute about a settlement of property by the plaintiff's deceased husband, the defendants made a practice of waylaying and following their mother through the town. On the occasion mentioned in the information they followed her in this way through the streets into shops, and addressing her so as to cause a crowd to collect, said that she had poisoned her husband, and they intended to have his remains exhumed. Their persistence in the practice caused her great trouble and annoyance, and she asked for the defendants to be bound over to keep the peace. For the defence Mrs Murphy denied having interfered with her mother. Mrs Genet admitted she followed her mother to look after her, but had never caused any annoyance. Mr Beetham said there was not sufficient evidence against Mrs Murphy, but Mrs Genet was ordered to enter into her own recognisances in £10 to keep the peace.

CHRISTCHURH., Star, 17 February 1894: A Charitable Aid Case.— Mrs Jennet, who attended at court yesterday, asking for relief for her children, repeated the application to Mr Beetham this morning. Sergeant-major Mason said he had communicated with the Charitable Aid Board authorities on the matter, and one of the Board's officers would explain, if necessary, the reason relief had been lately withheld from Mrs Jennet. Mr Loughrey said he appeared for the Charitable Aid Board. In answer to Mr Beetham, Mrs Jennet said she would allow her children to be sent to Burnham; she was an honest, hard-working woman, and there were several persons in Christchurch who obtained relief from the Charitable Aid Board when they did not deserve it. Mr Beetham said he could not do anything in the matter; it was not his business to order the Charitable Aid Board to give relief to Mrs Jennet or anyone else. Applicant said she would like to know why the Charitable Aid Board had refused to give her any more rations. Mr Beetham said he could not answer that question. Mrs Jennet asked if she deserted her children, what would happen to her then? Mr Beetham: "You will have to wait and see." Mrs Jennet: " Then I will smash all the windows in the Charitable Aid office and go to gaol for six months."[4]

A DESTITUTE FAMILY Press, 17 February 1894: At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr H. W. Bishop, R.M., Mary Ann Genet applied for advice. She stated that her husband, Frederick Genet, had deserted her four years ago, leaving her with six children. She had for some time been in receipt of 8s per week from the Charitable Aid Board, but for some reason she did not understand the allowance had latterly been withdrawn. She was now in a state of absolute destitution, having nothing at all in the house to eat, and asked that all her children, except the two youngest, should be sent to Burnham. Mr Bishop said there must be some reason for the action of the Board. Sergeant Major Mason said that Mrs Genet, when last attending at the Board's office, had behaved in such a manner that the police had to be sent for to remove her. She then went to the Police Depot and wished to be taken in charge. This being refused, she threatened to break the windows in the Board's office, but was dissuaded. She was a hard working woman, and witness had no doubt she could not support all her children. Mrs Genet had four small children in Court with her; she and they were tidily and cleanly dressed, and apparently well cared for. Mr Bishop asked her how she proposed to support the two youngest children if the others were sent to Burnham. She answered that she thought she could earn enough to do that. Mr Bishop said he would cause enquiries to be made, and deal with the case on the following day.

Mary Ann went to work as a housekeeper for James Charles Burbery and after his wife's death, they married at Cheviot in Canterbury on 7 October 1914 (possibly Mary Ann married bigamously - there are various dates of death given for Frederick). Mary Ann was 58 years of age. After James died in Cheviot, Mary Ann returned to Christchurch spending her time staying with her family before entering Sunnyside Hospital where she was to spend her last days.

Marriage: NZBDM#1879/3199 Genet
Marriage: NZBDM# 1914/3982 Burbery
Death: NZBDM# 1933/1811 77 years
Buried: https://heritage.christchurchcitylibraries.com/Cemeteries/interment...
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18940217.2.16; Destitute