Mary Jane (Grant) Seacole (abt. 1805 - 1881)

Born about 23 Nov 1805 in Haughton, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica [uncertain]

Wife of Edwin Horatio Hamilton Seacole — married 10 Nov 1836 in Kingston, Jamaica

Died 14 May 1881 at about age 75 in Paddington, London, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Mary (Grant) Seacole is Notable.

Mary (Grant) Seacole has African ancestry.

Mary (Grant) Seacole has Scottish Ancestors.

Mary (Grant) Seacole was born in Jamaica.

Mary Seacole was a Jamaican-born British nurse and businesswoman who is remembered for assisting sick and wounded military personnel during the Crimean War. Her was the first autobiography written by a black woman to be published in Britain.

Mary was the daughter of Rebecca Grant. Her father is uncertain, but the most likely candidate is John Alexander Francis Grant of the 85th Regiment. ^[1]. Between 1805 and 1820, Mary's mother Rebecca had several more children, with several different fathers, a common enough occurrence in Jamaica at the time. Although many accounts give her birthplace as Kingston, it is likely that she was actually born in a small hamlet called Haughton, near Lacovia, in the parish of St Elizabeth; about 80 miles west of Kingston.^[1] Like many of the other mysteries of her early life, Mary's birthday is uncertain, in spite of many claims that it was 23 November 1805.^[1]

Mary Grant married Edwin Horatio Seacole on 10 November 1836 in Kingston, Jamaica.^[2]

It appears that Mary was never baptised as a child into the Church of England in Jamaica, but on 16 August 1848 was baptised into the Roman Catholic faith as an adult. The ceremony was performed by Monsignor Dupont at the Holy Trinity Church. She was baptised as Mary Jane Sicole [sic] Grant. Mary gave her parents names as John Grant and Rebecca Grant.^[1]

Mary's death (age 76) was registered in the Apr-May-Jun quarter of 1881 in the Kensington district.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Book: In Search of Mary Seacole, The Making of a Cultural Icon - Google Play Books
   page GBS.PT18.w.0.1.128_5
   Google Books (accessed 13 March 2024)
2. ↑ Marriage: "Jamaica, Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880"
   citing Page: 65; Digital film/folder number: 004620487_001_M9N2-PG1; Image number: 37
   FamilySearch Record: 6ZYY-NF5H (accessed 13 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 939F-DDHS
   Mary Grant marriage to Edwin Horatio Seacole on 10 Nov 1836 in Kingston, Jamaica.
3. ↑ Death Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Death (accessed 13 March 2024)
   Seacole, Mary Jane (Age at death: 76).
   GRO Reference: 1881 Apr-May-Jun in Kensington Volume 01A Page 37.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9068802/mary-seacole: accessed 13 October 2023), memorial page for Mary Seacole (14 Oct 1805–14 May 1881), Find a Grave Memorial ID 9068802, citing St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green, London Borough of Brent, Greater London, England; Maintained by Find a Grave.

See also:

• http://www.essexrecordofficeblog.co.uk/tag/secret/
• Wikipedia: Mary Seacole
• Wikidata: Item Q963703, en:Wikipedia