Mary Ann (King) Kempton (1810 - 1882)

Born 25 Jun 1810 in Ickenham, Middlesex, England

Descendants

Died 11 Mar 1882 at age 71 in Greytown, New Zealand

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Biography

Mary emigrated to Wellington, New Zealand on the Adelaide in 1839/40 with her two young sons, Thomas and Henry, and husband, Thomas.

She passed away in 1882.^[1]

Last Saturday afternoon, at Greytown, the beloved wife of Mr Thomas Kempton, sen., ex-Mayor of that borough, died at the age of 73 years. The deceased claimed to be almost the first, if not the very first, white woman who landed on the shores of Port Nicholson. In March, 1840, the ship Adelaide, after a six months’ voyage, came to an anchor close to where now stands the outer T of the Queen’s Wharf. Mrs Kempton had been unwell during the passage out, so, in order to get her on shore as quickly as possible, a boat’s crew was sent on shore. The men landed upon the beach immediately opposite where now stands the New Zealand Insurance Company’s Office, cut down the scrub, and quickly erected a ti-tree whare, returned to the vessel, and brought Mrs Kempton on shore. The members oi the deceased’s family, after undergoing their full share of the vicissitudes of early colonising, left Wellington, and were the pioneers of Greytown. The eldest son was the first white man who turned the sod with a spade in that place. They conveyed and delivered goods over the Rimutaka upon pack bullocks before a road was made in that region. They built, planted, and increased in sheep, cattle, and horses, and deservedly prospered. About three years ago the deceased lady and her husband—both hale and hearty—celebrated their golden wedding, surrounded by their children, grandchildren, and many friends. A few weeks since deceased, who hitherto had been noted as a remarkably hale and cheerful old lady, was seized with sickness, which made rapid havoc and ended in death. Her funeral takes place to-day (Tuesday) at 2 p.m. at Greytown, when doubtless there will be, from all parts of the Wairarapa and elsewhere, a large gathering of relatives and friends to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of one of the oldest matrons of New Zealand.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online Death: 1882/1265 Kempton Mary Ann 72Y
2. ↑ New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6523, 14 March 1882, Page 2

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