Mary Anne Kent - Wells - Brown, Free Settler “Mermaid” 1828

Mary Ann Kent married Daniel Brown in the home of the Revd. Joseph Beasley at Kempton according to the rites of the Congregational Church on 21st July 1845.

Mary Ann used the surname Wells for this bigamous marriage.

The application for a marriage licence states that Daniel Brown was a butcher, aged 34, who had been resident in the district for two years. Mary "Wells" was a widow 28 years of age with no distinctive rank or profession who had been resident for 10 months.

(The probable origins of Daniel Brown) have been investigated by Douglas Burbury)

Daniel Brown was licensee of the "Royal Hotel" at Bagdad 1848/9, the "Bridgewater Hotel" 1855/6, and the "Veteran's Hotel" at Kempton 1858 to 61. He co-owned the paddle-steamer the "Monarch" with Thomas Thompson who was also co-licensee of the "Bridgewater Hotel".

Five children were born to Daniel and Mary Ann Brown.

Daniel Brown died 16th September 1886, aged 67. Mary Ann Brown died 21st October 1901 aged 85. Both are buried in the cemetery of St. Mark's, Kempton.

The Family of Mary Ann Kent/Brown

MaryAnn Gunyon was born in London in 1816, on 3rd April 1833 in Hobart she married John Kent born circa 1809 in Marylebone.(son of Thomas and Jane Kent) died 17th February 1862 in Hobart. Mary Ann died 21st October 1901 in Kempton..

John and Mary Ann Kent had two daughters.

(i) Louisa Sophia Kent, born 13th September 1833 in Hobart, married 18th March 1852 in Gretna William Jarvis, born 2nd December 1828 at Sorell Creek ( son of William Jarvis and Sarah Pyers) died 13th February 1904 at Tea Tree. Louisa died 9th November 1905 at Tea Tree.

(ii) Emma Jane Kent born 21st October 1835 at Longford, died 15th August 1837 in Hobart.

On 21st July 1845 in Kempton Mary Ann Kent used the surname Wells when she married Daniel Brown.

Daniel and Mary Ann had five children;

(iii) Phoebe Brown, born 23rd May 1846 in Kempton married 10th January 1872 in Brighton George Hurd, born 1847 (son of William Herd and Emma Gunyon) died 27th September 1898. Phoebe died 2nd June 1933.

(iv) Daniel Brown born 4th February 1848 in Kempton married 1st June 1871 in Oatlands Olive Lavinia Savage, born 12th March 1848 (daughter of Thomas Humphrey Savage and Caroline Munday) died 2nd October 1919 at Scottsdale, Daniel died 24th August 1935 at Scottsdale.

(v) Ruth Brown born 6th July 1850 at Kempton, died 13th November 1929 at Kempton.

(vi) Arthur Henry Brown born 12th October 1852 at Kempton, died 3rd August 1854.

(vii) Mary Ann Brown born 6th March 1855 at Kempton, married 17th August 1900 in Kempton, Naaman Collins. MaryAnn died 17th March 1944 at Kempton.

(viii) Wellington Brown born circa 1856, married 1st October 1883 in Hobart Alma Louisa Rodda.