Mary Ann Elizabeth (Maynard) Farmer (abt. 1809 - 1876)

Born about 1809 in London, England, United Kingdom [uncertain]

Died 14 May 1876 at about age 67 in Wynberg, Western Cape, South Africa

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Biography

Birth and Parentage

Mary Ann Elizabeth Maynard, the second daughter and youngest child of Levi Maynard and his wife, Sarah née Mortimer was born in 1809, probably in London, England, United Kingdom.^[1] She had an elder sister, Leah, and two older brothers, James Mortimer, and Joseph.

The whole family emigrated to the Cape Colony of South Africa in the 1820 Settlement on board the Aurora as members of the settler party of Hezekiah Sephton.^[2]

Although they had planned to leave in January, an unusually hard winter spell froze the Thames, which delayed their departure until 15 February 1820. Their company numbered 344 people, consisting of 101 men, 82 women, 15 teenagers and 146 children under 14. Commanded by Capt. Pearson, Aurora made landfall after 3 months on Monday 15 May, anchoring in Algoa Bay, on the east tip of South Africa. ^[3]

[4]

However, according to a letter which Levi, James Mortimer and Joseph wrote to Hezekiah Sephton, requesting the return of their deposit, ^[5] they chose not to go with the rest of the party to Algoa Bay, seeing better prospects for themselves at Cape Town, which is where, in Simon's Town, they eventually settled and from whence the letter, dated 29 June 1820 was written.^[5] Mary Ann was baptised on 10 December 1822 in St. Francis' Church, Simon's Town.

In 1824 Levi moved to Cape Town where he established himself, probably supplying timber to passing ships - he and his sons were sawyers.^[5] By this time, there must have been family troubles, because Levi and Sarah separated. Separation papers were drawn up between them, with their sons as trustees for their mother. ^[5]

Marriage and Family

On 17 February 1834, Mary Ann married William Farmer, in Wynberg, Cape Town. ^[6][5][7]

They had one son, William Mortimer Maynard Farmer.^[8]

... it was not until 1837 that they took up residence in Strand Street where Farmer opened a hardware store and ironmongery in partnership with his younger brother, Henry. Her return to Wynberg followed the insolvency of her husband and although they started trading again, their business venture does not appear to have been very successful. No further record of William Farmer has been found after 1847.^[5]

Death

Mary Ann Elizabeth passed away at the age of 67, in Wynberg, Western Cape, South Africa on 14 May 1876.

Sources

1. ↑ Maynard Farmer, 1876. South Africa, Settlers Index, 1820-1920. FamilySearch Online Database. Retrieved from FamilySearch (Here;) Accessed 24 Nov 2021.
2. ↑ Mary Ann Maynard, 1820 Settler. Retrieved from British 1820 Settlers to South Africa (Here;) Accessed 21 Nov 2021.
3. ↑ Hezekiah Sephton in 1820 Settlers. Retrieved from British 1820 Settlers to South Africa (Here;) Accessed 21 Nov 2021.
4. ↑ Campbell, Colin Turing., (1897)., British South Africa; a history of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, from its conquest 1795 to the settlement of Albany by the British emigration of 1819-- ; with notices of some of the British settlers of 1820. (Appendix IV. p.183). London: John Haddon & Co. Retrieved from the Internet Archive (Here;) Accessed 21 Nov 2021.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5} Robinson, E.H., (1996). Beyond the City Limits: People and Property at Wynberg, (1795 -1927). (p.112-128). Thesis presented for the Degree of PhD, in the Department of History University of Cape Town, December 1995. University of Cape Town (UCT) non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. Retrieved from (Here;) Accessed 22 Nov 2021.
6. ↑ Mary Ann Maynard in entry for William Farmer, 1834 in South Africa, Church of the Province of South Africa, Parish Registers, 1801-2004. FamilySearch Online Database with images. Retrieved from FamilySearch (Here;) Accessed 27 Nov 2021.
7. ↑ British Settlers to South Africa. Retrieved from British 1820 Settlers to South Africa (Here;) Accessed 27 Nov 2021.
8. ↑ Willliam Mortimer Maynard Farmer, 1899 in South Africa, Transvaal, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1869-1958. FamilySearch Online Database with images, citing Probate, Transvaal, South Africa, Pietermaritzburg Archives (formerly Natal State Archives), South Africa; FHL microfilm. Retrieved from FamilySearch (Here;) Accessed 27 Nov 2021.

• Church of St Francis of Assisi, Simon's Town: https://stfrancissimonstown.weebly.com/
• Simon's Town: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon%27s_Town