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Descendants of :

Nathaniel Wallace (Nat) THOMAS

Generation 1

1. Nathaniel Wallace (Nat) THOMAS was born ABT 1802 and died 16 Nov 1879 in Kangaroo Island, SA. He married Sophia BENFORD 21 Mar 1879 in Kangaroo Island, SA. She was born ABT 1820 in England and died 05 Jul 1880 in Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island, daughter of Thomas BENFORD.

Other events in the life of Nathaniel Wallace (Nat) THOMAS
Occupation: 2nd Willoughby Lighthouse Keeper
Burial: Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA
Immigration: ABT 1824, Nereus

 Children of Nathaniel Wallace (Nat) THOMAS and Betty THOMAS - m:
  i.     Sam THOMAS was born EST 1830 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died ABT 1846 in Antechamber Bay
  ii.   2.   Mary THOMAS was born 11 Sep 1833 in Wilsons River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 09 Sep 1913 in Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA
  iii.   3.   Hannah THOMAS was born ABT 1839 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 11 Mar 1912 in Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA

Generation 2

2. Mary THOMAS was born 11 Sep 1833 in Wilsons River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 09 Sep 1913 in Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA. She married William SEYMOUR ABT 1849 in Res. Nat Thomas, Antechamber Bay, K.I.. He was born ABT 1815 in Bishops Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England and died 14 May 1873 in Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA.

Other events in the life of Mary THOMAS
Burial: Penneshaw Cemetery, Kangaroo Island

Children of Mary THOMAS and William SEYMOUR:
  i.     Jane SEYMOUR was born ABT 1852 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 01 Jun 1914 in Parkside asylum, Adelaide, SA
  ii.   4.   Emma SEYMOUR was born 04 Feb 1854 in res. W A Cawthorne, Adelaide, SA and died 24 Feb 1922 in Kangaroo Island, SA
  iii.   5.   Joseph SEYMOUR was born 24 Mar 1859 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 11 Oct 1946 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA

3. Hannah THOMAS was born ABT 1839 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 11 Mar 1912 in Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA. She married Thomas SIMPSON 20 Feb 1860 in Normanville, SA. He was born ABT 1819 and died 07 Jul 1904 in Kangaroo Island, SA.

Other events in the life of Hannah THOMAS
Burial: Penneshaw Cemetery, SA

Children of Hannah THOMAS and Thomas SIMPSON:
  i.     Nathaniel Thomas SIMPSON was born 08 Dec 1860 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 05 Aug 1927 in Magill, SA
  ii.     Betsy Sophia SIMPSON was born 1862 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 25 Nov 1863 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA
  iii.     William Valentine SIMPSON was born 14 Feb 1864 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 03 Oct 1936 in Kangaroo Island, SA
  iv.   6.   Mary Ann SIMPSON was born 07 Jun 1865 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 17 Sep 1932 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA
  v.   7.   Stephen SIMPSON was born ABT 1868 and died 18 Apr 1949 in Adelaide, SA
  vi.   8.   Thomas SIMPSON was born 25 Feb 1869 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 19 Mar 1937 in Brompton, SA
  vii.     John (Jack) SIMPSON was born 27 Jun 1870 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 10 Feb 1950 in Adelaide, SA
  viii.     Joseph SIMPSON was born 24 Mar 1872 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 13 Jan 1901 in Port Pirie, SA
  ix.     Stamford Wallace (Tiger) SIMPSON was born 17 Sep 1876 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 21 Oct 1955 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA
  x.   9.   Jane Eliza Gertrude SIMPSON was born 01 Feb 1882 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 26 Oct 1936 in Adelaide, SA
  xi.   10.   Hannah Elizabeth SIMPSON was born 10 May 1894 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 1948 in Swan, WA

Generation 3

4. Emma SEYMOUR was born 04 Feb 1854 in res. W A Cawthorne, Adelaide, SA and died 24 Feb 1922 in Kangaroo Island, SA. She married Francis Thomas BARRETT 21 Aug 1883 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA. He was born 20 Aug 1853 in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England and died 01 Apr 1901 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA, son of Henry BARRETT and Sarah FORD.

Other events in the life of Emma SEYMOUR
Burial: Penneshaw Cemetery, SA

Children of Emma SEYMOUR and Francis Thomas BARRETT:
  i.   11.   Gilbert BARRETT was born 14 Oct 1884 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 31 Jul 1950 in Murray Bridge, SA
  ii.     Oliver Gordon BARRETT was born 19 Oct 1886 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 30 Aug 1920 in Adelaide, SA
  iii.   12.   Francis Thomas BARRETT was born 02 Jun 1888 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 23 Jun 1967 in Naracoorte, SA
  iv.   13.   Clara Ann Bertha BARRETT was born 26 Feb 1891 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 09 Mar 1980
  v.   14.   Beatrice Elsie (Mildred) BARRETT was born 10 Aug 1893 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 15 Sep 1996
  vi.   15.   Lewis Charles Albert (Geordie) BARRETT was born 07 Nov 1897 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 31 Oct 1974

Children of Emma SEYMOUR and John William METCALF:
  vii.     William John SEYMOUR was born 16 Nov 1880 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 12 Aug 1883 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA

5. Joseph SEYMOUR was born 24 Mar 1859 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 11 Oct 1946 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA. He married Rachel Josephine EBERT 25 Nov 1888 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA. She was born 12 Nov 1854 in Adelaide, SA and died 02 Aug 1923 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA, daughter of Friedrich Christoph EBERT and Hannah CHARLESWORTH.

Other events in the life of Joseph SEYMOUR
Burial: Penneshaw Cemetery
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island

Children of Joseph SEYMOUR and Rachel Josephine EBERT:
  i.   16.   Rachel Josephine (Rae) SEYMOUR was born 16 Nov 1888 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 06 Mar 1958 in Plympton, SA
  ii.   17.   Mary Ann SEYMOUR was born 11 Mar 1892 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 13 Oct 1971 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA
  iii.   18.   Ann May SEYMOUR was born 23 Apr 1894 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 11 Feb 1972 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA

6. Mary Ann SIMPSON was born 07 Jun 1865 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 17 Sep 1932 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA. She married Alfred James WALLER 13 Jan 1885 in Yankalilla, SA. He was born 02 Nov 1853 in Cape Jervis, SA and died 29 Sep 1925 in Kangaroo Island, SA, son of James WALLER and Harriet CHANDLER.

Other events in the life of Mary Ann SIMPSON
Burial: 18 Sep 1932, Kingscote Cemetery, SA

Children of Mary Ann SIMPSON and Alfred James WALLER:
  i.   19.   William Alfred WALLER was born 01 Nov 1885 in American River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 12 May 1975 in SA
  ii.     Thomas Henry WALLER was born 10 May 1887 in Salt Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 09 Jun 1983 in SA
  iii.   20.   Amy Eliza Gertrude WALLER was born 01 Feb 1889 in Salt Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 20 Nov 1970 in Beulah Park, SA
  iv.     Charles Stephen WALLER was born 01 Sep 1891 in Salt Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, SA and died May 1915 in Gallipoli, Turkey
  v.     Alfred Wallace (Wallace) WALLER was born 27 Nov 1894 in Salt Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 14 Apr 1975 in Kangaroo Island, SA
  vi.   21.   Norman Victor WALLER was born 02 May 1897 in Salt Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 31 Jan 1985 in Tumby Bay, SA
  vii.   22.   John Robert (Jack) WALLER was born 26 May 1904 in Salt Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 06 Feb 1967 in Port Lincoln, SA

7. Stephen SIMPSON was born ABT 1868 and died 18 Apr 1949 in Adelaide, SA. He married Hannah Louisa BUTTERLEY 29 Mar 1900 in Adelaide, SA. She was born 29 Oct 1876 in Adelaide, SA and died 27 Nov 1959 in Magill, SA, daughter of James BUTTERLEY and Rachel Josephine EBERT.

Other events in the life of Stephen SIMPSON
Residence: BEF 1925, Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA

Children of Stephen SIMPSON and Hannah Louisa BUTTERLEY:
  i.   23.   Daisy Faith SIMPSON was born 18 Jan 1902 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA
  ii.     Harold Thomas SIMPSON was born 28 Feb 1904 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 20 Jun 1972 in Adelaide, SA
  iii.     Charles Stephen SIMPSON was born 17 May 1907 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 30 May 1978 in SA
  iv.     Leslie Victor SIMPSON was born 09 Sep 1910 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 26 Feb 1980 in SA
  v.     Edward Neil Morgan SIMPSON was born 15 Jul 1912 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA
  vi.     Joyce Elizabeth Josephene SIMPSON was born 13 Sep 1914 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 05 Nov 1914 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA
  vii.     Stamford Anzac (Stan) SIMPSON was born 22 Jan 1916 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 23 Apr 2002 in Adelaide, SA

8. Thomas SIMPSON was born 25 Feb 1869 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 19 Mar 1937 in Brompton, SA. He married Martha France COUSIN 1893 in Adelaide, SA. She was born ABT 1866 and died 23 Apr 1894 in Kangaroo Island, SA. He married Mary O'LEARY 1900 in Adelaide, SA.

Other events in the life of Thomas SIMPSON
Residence: 1932, Oodnadatta, SA

Children of Thomas SIMPSON and Martha France COUSIN:
  i.     Gladys France SIMPSON was born 27 Apr 1893 in Adelaide, SA and died 02 Oct 1984 in Adelaide, SA

Children of Thomas SIMPSON and Mary O'LEARY:
  ii.     Dorothy SIMPSON was born 03 Mar 1901 in Adelaide, SA
  iii.     John Thomas Clare Horace SIMPSON was born 18 Apr 1905 in Kapunda, SA

9. Jane Eliza Gertrude SIMPSON was born 01 Feb 1882 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 26 Oct 1936 in Adelaide, SA. She married William Henry DAVEY 22 Feb 1903 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA. He was born ABT 1884 and died 09 Apr 1956 in nr Adelaide, SA, son of Luke DAVEY.

Other events in the life of Jane Eliza Gertrude SIMPSON
Burial: Mitcham Cemetery, SA

10. Hannah Elizabeth SIMPSON was born 10 May 1894 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 1948 in Swan, WA. She married Alfred Ebenezer DUNCAN 04 Dec 1897 in Hindmarsh, SA. He was born 05 May 1872 in Bowden, SA and died 1951 in Swan, WA, son of Robert Burns DUNCAN.

Generation 4

11. Gilbert BARRETT was born 14 Oct 1884 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 31 Jul 1950 in Murray Bridge, SA.
He married (1) Annie Lilla PORTER 23 Apr 1908 in Terowie, SA. She was born 16 Aug 1886 in Kent Town, SA and died 26 Nov 1920 in Port Pirie, SA, daughter of Andrew Allen PORTER and Janet Agnes PATTERSON.
He married (2) Margaret Mary CARPENTER 23 Apr 1927 in Adelaide, SA. She was born 1885 and died 22 Apr 1952 in Waikerie, SA.

Children of Gilbert BARRETT and Annie Lilla PORTER:
  i.     Clive Gilbert Castine BARRETT was born 08 Oct 1908 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 11 Nov 1986
  ii.     Clement BARRETT was born 06 Jul 1912 in Loxton, SA and died 08 Jul 1912 in Loxton, SA
  iii.     Ronald Andrew BARRETT was born 30 Jun 1916 in College Town, SA and died 12 Jun 1977 in Norwood, SA

12. Francis Thomas BARRETT was born 02 Jun 1888 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 23 Jun 1967 in Naracoorte, SA. He married Christine May MELVILLE 08 Feb 1913 in Kent Town, SA. She was born 05 Jun 1890 in Queenscliffe, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 02 Dec 1952 in Naracoorte, SA, daughter of James MELVILLE and Charlotte BATES.

Other events in the life of Francis Thomas BARRETT
Residence: 1932, Hynam,SA

Children of Francis Thomas BARRETT and Christine May MELVILLE:
  i.     Ruel Thomas BARRETT was born 18 Aug 1913 in Kent Town, SA
  ii.     Kathleen May BARRETT was born 01 Mar 1916 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 11 Jun 1953 in nr Penola, SA
  iii.     Lester James BARRETT was born 06 Oct 1917 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 27 Feb 1974 in SA
  iv.     Brian Percy BARRETT was born 06 Mar 1920 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 27 Aug 1943 in New Guinea
  v.     Trevor Melville BARRETT was born 20 May 1924 in Loxton, SA and died 02 Dec 1970 in Naracoorte, SA
  vi.     Peggy Clare BARRETT was born 31 Aug 1926 in Mile End, SA and died 21 Feb 2007

13. Clara Ann Bertha BARRETT was born 26 Feb 1891 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 09 Mar 1980. She married William Waite MITCHELL 15 Mar 1913 in Kent Town, SA. He was born 08 Apr 1891 in Port Pirie, SA and died 15 Sep 1977, son of William West MITCHELL and Elizabeth TURNER.

Children of Clara Ann Bertha BARRETT and William Waite MITCHELL:
  i.     Raymond Thomas MITCHELL was born 16 May 1912 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 08 Sep 1991
  ii.     John William Seymour MITCHELL was born 01 Jan 1914 in West Adelaide, SA and died 17 Sep 1989

14. Beatrice Elsie (Mildred) BARRETT was born 10 Aug 1893 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 15 Sep 1996. She married George Edward BOWDEN 04 Dec 1914 in Adelaide, SA. He was born 04 Aug 1885 in Kensington, SA and died 26 Apr 1970 in Magill, SA.

Children of Beatrice Elsie (Mildred) BARRETT and George Edward BOWDEN:
  i.     Doreen Emma BOWDEN was born 23 Jun 1915 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA
  ii.     Keith Benjamin (Blue) BOWDEN was born 04 Oct 1916 in College Town, SA and died 28 Jul 2001
  iii.     Rita Elsie BOWDEN was born 25 Dec 1917 in Hamley Bridge, SA

15. Lewis Charles Albert (Geordie) BARRETT was born 07 Nov 1897 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 31 Oct 1974. He married Colleen Mary COLES 24 Aug 1929 in Adelaide, SA. She was born ABT 1909 and died 04 Nov 1996, daughter of Frank Peter COLES.

Children of Lewis Charles Albert (Geordie) BARRETT and Colleen Mary COLES:
  i.     Frank BARRETT was born 15 Feb 1938 in Mile End, SA and died 15 Feb 1938 in Mile End, SA

16. Rachel Josephine (Rae) SEYMOUR was born 16 Nov 1888 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 06 Mar 1958 in Plympton, SA. She married Peter Craig TAIT 04 Apr 1909 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA. He was born 1888 in Melbourne South, Victoria and died 19 May 1961 in Malvern, SA, son of John Taylor TAIT and Jessie CRAIG.

Children of Rachel Josephine (Rae) SEYMOUR and Peter Craig TAIT:
  i.     Jessie Josephine TAIT was born 26 Aug 1909 in Rose Park, SA and died 07 Sep 1974
  ii.     Phyllis Eileen TAIT was born 03 Sep 1911 in Keswick, SA and died 20 Jan 2002
  iii.     Mary Isabella (Belle) TAIT was born 09 Jan 1914 in Kilkenny, SA and died 07 Mar 1983
  iv.     Nellie May TAIT was born 06 Apr 1915 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 30 Jun 1915 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA
  v.     Betty Craig TAIT was born 20 Aug 1923 in West Croydon, SA

17. Mary Ann SEYMOUR was born 11 Mar 1892 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 13 Oct 1971 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA. She married Frank ABELL 05 Sep 1925 in Adelaide, SA. He was born 02 Jun 1884 in Norwood, SA and died 14 Jul 1954 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, son of Thomas John ABELL and Ellen DREWETT.

Other events in the life of Mary Ann SEYMOUR
Burial: Penneshaw Cemetery, SA
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island

18. Ann May SEYMOUR was born 23 Apr 1894 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 11 Feb 1972 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA. She married Thomas Arthur HARRY 16 May 1921 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, Australia. He was born 08 Jan 1892 in Glanville West, SA and died 22 Jul 1966 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, son of Edward Michael HARRY and Mildred MALTHOUSE.

Other events in the life of Ann May SEYMOUR
Burial: Kingscote Cemetery, SA
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island

Children of Ann May SEYMOUR and Thomas Arthur HARRY:
  i.     Mavis Annie HARRY was born 18 May 1921 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 21 May 1995 in Kangaroo Island, SA

19. William Alfred WALLER was born 01 Nov 1885 in American River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 12 May 1975 in SA. He married May WILLSON 01 May 1920 in Wallaroo, SA. She was born 02 May 1889 in American Beach, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 08 Oct 1968 in Adelaide, SA, daughter of Charles Danford WILLSON and Frances Zuleime SEALY.

Other events in the life of William Alfred WALLER
Occupation: Sea captain

Children of William Alfred WALLER and May WILLSON:
  i.     William Drake WALLER was born 14 Jan 1921 in Adelaide, SA and died 19 Feb 1997 in Bedford Park, SA
  ii.     Kathleen Frances WALLER was born 14 Jan 1921 in Adelaide, SA
  iii.     Mary Patricia WALLER was born 27 Sep 1923 in West Croydon, SA
  iv.     Daphne Valda WALLER was born 21 Oct 1925 in West Croydon, SA

20. Amy Eliza Gertrude WALLER was born 01 Feb 1889 in Salt Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 20 Nov 1970 in Beulah Park, SA. She married William Holmes SHARAM 1910 in Victoria. He was born 18 Jun 1876 in Naracoorte, SA and died 02 Feb 1937 in Kingscote, SA, son of William SHARAM and Annie Laura HOLMES.

Other events in the life of Amy Eliza Gertrude WALLER
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island

21. Norman Victor WALLER was born 02 May 1897 in Salt Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 31 Jan 1985 in Tumby Bay, SA.
He married (1) Grace Louisa OKELY 30 Dec 1922 in Cottonville, SA. She was born 17 Jun 1902 in Adelaide, SA and died 21 Jul 1927 in Adelaide, SA, daughter of Charles Henry OKELY and Annie MORRIS.
He married (2) Iris Johanna CRANAGE 25 Feb 1933 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA. She was born 17 Dec 1903 in Worrolong, SA. They divorced 1939.
He married (3) Clarice Hazel WALLER - m. She was born ABT 1905 and died 11 May 1985 in Tumby Bay, SA.

Other events in the life of Norman Victor WALLER
Burial: Tumby Bay Cemetery, SA
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1941, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island

Children of Norman Victor WALLER and Grace Louisa OKELY:
  i.     Adrian Norman Charles (Ad) WALLER was born 17 Nov 1923 in Prospect, SA and died 11 Oct 2010

22. John Robert (Jack) WALLER was born 26 May 1904 in Salt Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 06 Feb 1967 in Port Lincoln, SA. He married Thelma Dolores WEBB 23 Oct 1930 in Adelaide, SA. She was born ABT 1912 and died 14 Apr 1990 in SA, daughter of Percival WEBB. They divorced 02 Apr 1941.

Other events in the life of John Robert (Jack) WALLER
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island

23. Daisy Faith SIMPSON was born 18 Jan 1902 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA. She married William George SIMPSON 1935 in Victoria.

Last Updated : 17 Sept 2023

Betsy 

"wife" of Nat Thomas

by Bev Willson

In summer, when the soft easterlies blow,
looking east towards my land,
in my imagination I see
my people - the hills, the sea, the sand
of Van Diemens's Land where I was born,
and salt tears stain my cheek.

I snare the native wallaby and roos
using threads of canvas sails,
tend the fire and cook the meals,
while men keep watch for whales.

Oft' times a ship will call to trade for fur and skins
and there's then a new supply of sugar, flour and tins
of baccy, even rum to ease our woes,
far from the countries of our birth.

As the years have drifted on, the children almost grown
I ask myself the question: Which land must I call home?

So bury me where the waters meet -
twixt the lagoon and the pulsing sea.
The one is where I've lived these years,
born children, loved ones three;
the other from where the soft winds blow
with tribal memories sweet.

Bury me here where the waters meet
twixt the lagoon and the pulsing sea.

Originally published 2005 in "Island Ways ... and By-ways, An Anthology of poems from Kangaroo Island" by Bev Willson and Denise Patrinos, ed. Kathie Stove, Bev Willson, PO Box 492 Penneshaw 5222.

Reproduced here with kind permission from the author 6 Sep 2016

Mary Seymour, nee Thomas

—An Interesting Personality.—

"The first woman born on Kangaroo Island." That distinction, is claimed by Mrs. Seymour, who resides with a daughter in her two-roomed cottage on the hill just above the council hall. There she has been for 31 years, and there she expects and hopes to stay until the end of her days. She is an interesting character in many ways, and paints 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 think that she had passed the allotted span of life. Admittedly her short, curly hair is prac tically white, and she wears glasses, and does not walk very quickly. Yet her bear ing is that of a much younger woman, her eves flash like sparks from a forge when she speaks of the treatment which has been meted to her from certain quarters, and she laughs with the heartiness of a child at a pantomime when her sense of the humorous or ludicrous—which, by the way, is remarkably keen is appealed to. Her father was the late '"Nat" Thomas, a whaler, and she was born on September 11, 1833 at Willson's River. When the Cape Willoughby lighthouse was erected her fa ther 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 voca tion of a sheepfarmer. Then Mrs. Seymour's husband died, and as she was unable to see eye to eye with her father she bought 268 acres near to 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. Not withstanding her heroic efforts, however, she found it impossible to make any marked progress, and finally sold out. She has visited Adelaide only three times. On the first occasion she came ashore at Brighton. Next time she disembarked at Glenelg, and two years ago she obtained her initial view of Port Adelaide. Although a constant sufferer from a broken kneecap, sustained 10 years ago, she maintains a bright and cheerful optimism. "Only once in my life," she assured me, as I wished her goodby, "have I been truly despondent, and that was many years ago. I always look to the light."