Mary SEYMOUR

See family tree at http://dukeofyork.tribalpages.com/family-tree/dukeofyork/19359/6918/Mary-THOMAS-Family

Mary married William SEYMOUR off the Africaine - see separate page of their descendants

SEYMOUR, Mary, nee Thomas, born at Hog Bay River - 11 September 1833, died - 9 September 1913, The first daughter of Betty (a Tasmanian Aboriginal) and Nat Thomas (an Englishman)

-http://www.ozburials.com/CemsSA/penneshaw.htm

Mr. J. R. Walker, of Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, writes to us as. follows:—

 'I notice in 'The Observer' photos of a lady and gentleman who claim to be the oldest South Australian born and now living. I have much pleasure in forwarding to you a photo of Mrs. Mary Seymour. Mrs. Mary Seymour, whose maiden name was Mary Thomas, was born on Kangaroo Island on September 11, 1833. Mrs. Seymour has never been out of South Australia, and has not seen Adelaide since 1846. She has only been off Kangaroo Island once since that date, and that was a visit to Second Valley. Mrs. Seymour can tell some wonderful tales of the early days on Kangaroo Island, and of the petroleum springs that used to exist on the south coast on the island, and she has an idea that she could find the springs now if she could only have a fortnight prospecting. But no one seems to have enough enterprise to provide an opportunity for the lady.'

Mrs. Mary Seymour, of Hog Bay, one of the most interesting identities of Kangaroo Island, died on Tuesday. She was 'the first woman bom on Kangaroo Island.'  That distinction was always claimed by   Mrs. Seymour, who resided with a daughter in her two-roomed cottage on the hill just above the council hall. She was an interesting character in many ways, and painted graphic pictures of the struggles which she endured in the early period of the State's history. To look at her casually one would hardly have thought that she had passed the allotted span of life. Her father was the late Nat Thomas, a whaler, and she was born on September 11, 1833, at Wilson's River. When the Cape Willoughby Lighthouse was erected her father and her husband became the keepers. The smoke and oil during the ensuing four years had such a harmful effect upon the health of Mr. Thomas, however, that he resolved to relinquish his post. With his son-in-law he took up land at Antechamber Bay, and for some time followed the avocation of a sheepfarmer. Then Mrs. Seymour's husband died, and she bought 268 acres near Hog Bay, and began farming in conjunction with her son and daughter. Together they cleared 12 acres and built a house of four rooms. Mrs. Seymour at this period 'slaved' night and day, and did all her own ploughing. Notwithstanding her heroic efforts, however, she found it impossible to make any marked progress, and finally sold out. She visited Adelaide only three times. On the first occasion she came ashore at Brighton. Next time she disembarked at Glcnelg, and only a decade ago obtained her initial view of Port Adelaide. Although a constant sufferer from a broken kneecap, sustained many years ago, she maintained a bright and cheerful optimism.

On Tuesday morning last Mrs. Mary Seymour, of Kangaroo Island, who had been ailing for some time, passed away. She was just upon 80 years of age, and claimed the distinction of being the first child born on Kangaroo Island, having first seen the light at Antechamber Bay. Her husband was one time manager for the South Australian Company on the island. Mrs. Seymour was educated by Mrs. Cawthorne, wife of the first appointed keeper at Cape Willoughby. The deceased leaves one son, two daughters, and numerous grandchildren. Her remains were laid to rest in the Penneshaw Cemetery.

Information on Mary Seymour, who was "born at KI on 11 September 1833", is in the Observer,  21 April 1900, page 31a; Register, 8 April 1905, page 7e, 2 September 1905, page 4g.  Her obituary is in the Observer, 13 September 1913, page 41b.  A photograph of herself and daughter is in the Observer, 26 January 1907, page 28.  "The First Born on Kangaroo Island" is in the Observer,9 September 1905, page 38a. 

See a detailed treatise written by RebeTaylor in her book "Unearthed - The Aboriginal Tasmanians of Kangaroo Island" Wakefield Press 2008.