Mary (Bruce) Lefroy (1836 - 1913)

Born 9 Aug 1836 in Cawnpore, India [uncertain]

Wife of Anthony O'Grady Lefroy C.M.G. — married 3 Jun 1852 in St George's Cathedral, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 22 Jun 1913 at age 76 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Biography

Mary was born in 1836. She was the daughter of Lt-Col John Bruce Military Commandant of Western Australia and Johannah Herklotz.

On 3 June 1852, 17 year old Mary married 35 year old Anthony Lefroy in St George's Cathedral, Perth, Western Australia. ^[1]

They had at five children; Henry Bruce (b. 1853), Mary "Maddie" (b. 1856), Dorothea Jane (b. 1858), Emily Elizabeth (b. 1860), Anthony Langlois O'Grady (b. 1862, d. 1877).

Her husband was a farmer; later Private Secretary to Governor Fitzgerald of Western Australia, Colonial Treasurer and Acting Colonial Secretary. He passed away in 1897.

West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Tuesday 24 June 1913, page 5
Widespread regret was expressed yester-day when it became known that Mrs. A. O'Grady Lefroy, of "Cambray," St. George's-terrace, had passed away. Although she had reached the advanced age of 78 years, she en-joyed remarkably good health until a little over a week ago. Mrs. Lefroy, however, continued to get about as usual, and on Fri-day last she was out driving with Mrs. Sept. Burt. Next day she did not feel so well, and she sank gradually until Sunday even-ing, when she died of heart failure at 8.30 o'clock. Earlier in the day her daughter, Mrs. A. H. Williams, forwarded a message to Mr. H. B. Lefroy, M.L.A., at Walebing, and he at once came to Perth by motor car, but he arrived after his mother had expired.

Mrs. Lefroy's death has removed one of the most esteemed and respected of the old colonists of the State, and it has created a gap in the ranks of the charitable work-ers of the city which will be sorely felt. The deceased lady was a great supporter of the different institutions which exist for the alleviation of distress, and she per-formed much useful work both with her means and her kindly sympathies. She was one of the founders of the House of Mercy, and up to the time of her death took a very active part in the administration of the affairs of that institution. Mrs. Lefroy was a member of the committee of the Home of Peace and of Lady Lawley's Cottage-by-the-Sea, and she was one of the oldest members of the Dorcas Society which was founded by her mother, Mrs. Bruce, over 50 years ago.

Born at Cawnpore, India, in August, 1835, Mrs. Lefroy was in her 78th year. She came to Western Australia in 1850 with her father; Colonel John Bruce; who held com-mand of the military forces here for many years. Her mother, who was well known to all old residents of this State, and who re-sided in England after Colonel Bruce's death in 1870, was a daughter of Mr. Justice Herklotz, of Chinsura, an old Dutch settlement in India.

The deceased lady was the widow of Mr. Anthony O'Grady Lefroy, C.M.G., one of the pioneers of this State, whose virile qualities brought him into the forefront of those who paved the way in this western portion of Australia. At the time of his marriage Mr. Lefroy was pri-vate secretary to the then Governor, Cap-tain Fitzgerald. That post gave him scope for the display of his ability for offices of trust in high civil employment, and promo-tion followed rapidly. In January, 1856, he became Treasurer of Western Australia, which position he held until Responsible Government had been proclaimed in 1890, and the first Ministry assumed office on December 30, 1890. Mr. H. B. Lefroy, M.L.A., the only surviving son of the de-ceased lady, was Minister for Educa-tion in the Forrest Government in 1897 and Minister for Mines in 1898. He was Agent-General in London for West-ern Australia from 1901 to 1904, and he now represents the Moore electorate in the Leg-islative Assembly.

Mrs. A. H. Williams, who was with Mrs. Lefroy at the time of her death, was her third daughter. The other two, who are unmarried, left Perth on a visit to the old country in January last, with the intention of staying away for eight or nine months The funeral is appointed to take place this afternoon, leaving "Cambray," St. George's-terrace, at 3 o'clock for St. George's Cathedral, where the first part of the service will be conducted, after which the cortege will at 3.30 proceed to the East Perth Cemetery.^[2]

Burial

East Perth Cemeteries, Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ "Australia Marriages, 1810-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTZ6-KBK : 10 February 2018), Antony O'Grady Lefroy and Mary Bruce, 03 Jun 1852; citing Perth, Western Australia, Australia, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,363,650.
2. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/26877870
3. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152890993/mary-lefroy

• Lefroy, Mary (1836–1913)
• http://www.thepeerage.com/p69224.htm#i692238