Caroline Louisa Waring (Atkinson) Calvert (1834 - 1872)

Born 25 Feb 1834 in Sutton Forest, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of James Snowden Calvert J.P. — married 11 Mar 1869 (to 18 Apr 1872) in Sutton Forest, New South Wales, Australia

Died 18 Apr 1872 at age 38 in Sutton Forest, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Louisa (Atkinson) Calvert is Notable.

Louisa (Atkinson) Calvert was born in the Colony of New South Wales (1788-1900)

Caroline Louisa Waring Atkinson was the first Australian-born woman novelist, and also a noted botanist, naturalist and artist.

Caroline Louisa Waring Atkinson was born at her family's property, Oldbury, Sutton Forest, New South Wales, in 1834.^[1] She was the daughter of James Atkinson and Charlotte Waring. Her father died in April 1834.

She married explorer and botanist James Snowden Calvert at Oldbury on 11 March 1869.^[2][3]

She gave birth to a daughter, Louise Snowden Annie Calvert, in 1872, and died at "Swanton", Sutton Forest, 18 days later on 28th of April, 1872.^[4][5] She was buried in the Atkinson family vault at All Saints Anglican Cemetery, Sutton Forest.^[6]

Obituary

The Late Mrs. J. S. Calvert,^[7]

Australia has produced so few ladies who have attained eminence in the literary and scientific world that we feel a melancholy pleasure in referring to one who passed away a few years since in the enjoyment of an honourable reputation as an authoress and naturalist. Though reared under great disadvantages, mentally and physically considered, Mrs. J. S. Calvert, better known as " the amiable and accomplished Miss Atkinson," rose to eminence by the mere force of genius, and by her valuable collections from the animal and vegetable kingdom.

Caroline Louisa Waring Atkinson, who was born at Oldbury, near Berrima, on the 25th of February, 1834, was the youngest daughter of the late Mr. James Atkinson, J.P., a gentleman of great worth and respectability, who for some years held a high official situation under the Colonial Government. Her mother, also, was a person of some mark; for in her younger days she had distinguished herself by the publication of several useful works for children. By the premature death of her father, Miss Atkinson was deprived of those educational advantages, which young persons in her social position usually enjoy, and, at the age of twelve, she was thrown completely on her own resources for moral and intellectual improvement. Notwithstanding these obstacles, she soon displayed a remarkable taste for natural his-tory and the delineation of such objects as attracted notice; whilst the brilliancy of her imagination was manifested by various tales which she wrote for her amusement in vacant hours.

When Miss Atkinson had passed the period of childhood, and the delicacy of her constitution seemed to require change of air, she took up her abode at the Kurrajong with her mother ; and there, being influenced by the grandeur of the scenery, the beauty of the surrounding flora, and the habits of the native animals around her, she wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald a series of papers, under the title of " A Voice from the Country," which attracted considerable notice at the time, and secured for her the friendship of the late Mr. W. S. Macleay, F.L.S., the Rev. W. B. Clarke, F.R.S., and the Rev. Dr. Woolls. In addition to these occasional papers, Miss Atkinson was the authoress of several Australian tales, entitled "Gertrude," and "Cowanda," "Tom Hillicker " &c., illustrated by herself; and also, at a later period, of several narratives published in the Sydney Mail. The style of these works is uniformly chaste and simple, whilst the moral lessons which they suggest are eminently calculated for good, it maybe remarked that in all Miss Atkinson's writings, there is a manifest desire to disseminate useful knowledge and generous sentiments. She wrote not for effect, but for the advancement of social virtue.

During her residence at the Kurrajong also she collected and prepared valuable specimens of native plants for Baron F. von Mueller, many of which are recorded in the volumes of the "Flora Australienses" and the "Fragmenta Phytographiæ Australiæ." The genus Atkinsonia was established in her honour, whilst the species Epacris Calvertiana was named to indicate her exertions at a later period. But Miss Atkinson was not simply a lover of natural history. She had an ardent desire to benefit the youth of the district. At a time, therefore, when the ministrations of religion were not so frequent at the Kurrajong as they now are, she used to collect a number of children every Sunday for the purpose of giving them religious instruction. Many of them became sincerely attached to her, and, though now grown up, and some of them Mothers of families, they love to speak of her former residence amongst them, and of her kind interest in their moral and spiritual welfare. Although dead, therefore, she yet speaks to us from the volumes of our " Flora," as well as from the living testimony of those who appreciated her worth.

On leaving the Kurrajong, with her mother, she resided for a time in the neighbourhood of Berrima with her brother - Mr. James Atkinson, J.P., of Oldbury - and in 1870 married Mr. J. S. Calvert, J.P., now almost the only survivor from Dr. Leichhardt's first expedition, and settled at Sutton Forest. There she commenced a career which seemed calculated to produce favourable results amongst those with whom she was associated, and to develop the natural resources of the district. It pleased Almighty God, however, to order otherwise, and ere yet the second year of connubial happiness had run out, she was called away suddenly on the 28th of April, 1872, to that better land which bad been the object of her aspirations from infancy, leaving behind her a sorrowing husband and a dear and interesting child (now in her seventh year) who it is fondly hoped, may reproduce in future years the amiable character and the scientific taste of her respected mother. A tablet placed in the Church at Sutton forest records the feelings of her husband, whilst another in St. Peter's Church, Richmond, erected by subscription amongst her friends, tells of her pious labours and scientific researches during her residence at the Kurrajong. In reference to this tablet, it should be mentioned that the Rev. Dr.Woolls preached in St. Peter's on Sunday, April 12,1874, a sermon on the character of the late Mrs. Calvert. This was subsequently printed, and, in addition to other matters of interest, it contains an elegy on her death, the joint composition of Dr. Woolls, and the Rev. W.B. Clarke, the late eminent geologist.

The character of our authoress may be inferred from the tenour of her life, and whether it is contemplated from a moral or scientific point of view, it may safely be held up as an example to Australia's daughters. Though weak in constitution, possessing few social advantages, and depressed by the difficulties of her position, she did what she could to promote the glory of God and the welfare of her fellow-creatures. In so doing, she always manifested a cheerful and loving spirit. Wisdom's ways were to her "ways of pleasantness, and all her paths were peace;" and, though cut off in the midst of her days, it may be added that she had long anticipated a sudden removal, and lived in daily preparation for it. Of her it may truly be said, therefore, she rests in peace, and her memory is blessed.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Index (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 09 Sep 2022), Index entry for ATKINSON CAROLINE L W; Parents: JAMES & CHARLOTTE; church code: CV; Registration Number: 943/1834 V1834943 18
2. ↑ Marriage Index (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 09 Sep 2022), Index entry for JAMES S CALVERT and CAROLINE L H ATKINSON; District: BERRIMA; Registration Number: 1842/1869
3. ↑ Family Notices (1869, March 24). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved September 9, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244917060
   MARRIAGE. CALVERT—ATKINSON.— On the 11th March, at Oldbury, by the Rev. T. Horton, assisted by the Rev. J. Hassall, J. S. Calvert, Esq., J.P., of Cavan, to Louisa, youngest daughter of the late James Atkinson, Esq., J.P., of Oldbury.
4. ↑ Death Index (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 09 Sep 2022), Index entry for CALVERT CAROLINE L W; Parents: JAMES & CAROLINE; District: BERRIMA; Registration Number: 3219/1872
5. ↑ Family Notices (1872, May 4). Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), p. 28. Retrieved September 9, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70494418
   On the 28th April, at her residence, Swanton, Sutton Forest, the wife of J. S. Calvert, leaving a baby 18 days old, and many friends to mourn their loss.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182350293/caroline-louisa_waring-calvert: accessed 9 September 2022), memorial page for Caroline Louisa Waring “Louisa” Atkinson Calvert (25 Feb 1834–28 Apr 1872), Find A Grave: Memorial #182350293, citing All Saints Anglican Cemetery, Sutton Forest, Wingecarribee Shire, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by Kim Townsend-Denniss (contributor 48858363) .
7. ↑ The Late Mrs. J. S. Calvert, (1878, November 30). Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), p. 17. Retrieved September 9, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70597057

• A. H. Chisholm, 'Atkinson, Caroline Louisa (1834–1872)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/atkinson-caroline-louisa-2910/text4183, published first in hardcopy 1969, accessed online 9 September 2022.
• Wikipedia contributors. (2022, September 6). Louisa Atkinson. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 09:55, September 9, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Louisa_Atkinson&oldid=1108792384
• "Public Member Trees", database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/113379877/person/190157635759/facts : accessed 16 August 2019), profile for Caroline Louisa Waring Atkinson.