Person:Maria Bryson (1)

Research

Maria in Ireland

Unknown.

Maria's arrival in Australia

During the 1865 inquest into the death of her 6th child Rebecca, a witness deposes as to have known Maria "ten or twelve years ago in Adelaide" ^[13]. We know this is where husband Christopher was at around that time (1853-ish) so it stands to reason that the two travelled to the goldfields together (unmarried, of course, until 1863 - well after their fourth child is born).

A search of shipping records in Australia has turned up the following entry, the only viable candidate for Maria's immigration to Australia from Londonderry:

Ship: Epaminondas

Date of Arrival: 2 Aug 1852

Port of Arrival: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Departed: Liverpool 14 April, Plymouth 30 April 1852

Passenger: Maria Bryson, single female, 19yo housemaid from Derry

She is a ship of 1,071 tonnes, recording only five deaths during the journey and all of them infants under 3 years of age. The ship was the twelfth commissioned that year to ship in government-sponsored immigrants. Demand for skilled labour and fit young workers was high, as evidenced by the affront in the following article^[14]:

We are informed that the Emigration Agent committed a singular indiscretion on the arrival of the Epaminondas. Mr. Williams of the Patent Copper Company attempted to board the vessel on her arrival, for the purpose of engaging men to proceed to Port Wakefield. He was not allowed to do so ; and if the reason was, that the muster-roll of the emigrants had not been called, the Emigration Agent was undoubtedly justified in exercising his authority to prevent persons from crowding on board. But it is stated that the Emigration Agent objected to give Mr. Williams the opportunity of picking his men, 'as the Government wished to engage some of the emigrants.' As a rule, the Government can never interfere with private parties in the labour market; but at this moment, when serious apprehensions are entertained as to the power of the stockholders and agriculturists to procure a sufficient number of hands to carry on the most pressing and necessary operations, such interference would be exceedingly unjust and injurious.

We find Maria in the Single Women section of the passenger list, a 19-year-old housemaid born of Derry. This would put the approximate birth year at 1833 which is close to our known approximate birth year. She does not appear to be traveling with any other family but why she came to Australia is yet to be discovered.

Manslaughter of Rebecca, Newspaper clipping 1865

1. ↑ Marriage 1863/223, in Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Pioneer Index, Victoria, 1836 - 1888: Index to Births, Deaths and Marriages in Victoria
   1863/223, 9 Jan 1863.
   Marriage Index Entry, 1863
2. ↑ ABUSIVE AND THREATENING LANGUAGE, in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. The Bendigo Advertiser
   XII.3264/3, 10 Nov 1865 .
3. ↑ Neglected Children, in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. The Bendigo Advertiser
   XIII/3368.p.3, 13 Mar 1866.
4. ↑ Deserting His Child, in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. The Bendigo Advertiser
   XIII/3374.p.3, 20 Mar 1866.
5. ↑ A Neglected Child, in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. The Bendigo Advertiser
   XIII.3380/2, 27 Mar 1866.
6. ↑ NEGLECTING to Support a Child, in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. The Bendigo Advertiser
   XIII.3439/2, 5 Jun 1866.
7. ↑ Manslaughter, in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. The Bendigo Advertiser
   XII.3284/3, 4 Dec 1865.
8. ↑ Manslaughter, in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. The Bendigo Advertiser
   XII.3207/Supp1, 5 Sep 1865.
9. ↑ CHRISTOPHER BALDERSTONE MARIA BALDERSTONE PATRICK BAKEY BRIDGET BAKEY BERNARD KILLEN BERNARD KILLER; Burglary and larceny; ALL NOT GUILTY SANDHURST SET ONE, in Victoria, Australia. Criminal Trial Briefs. (Victoria, Australia)
   VPRS 30/P0029, 5-54-17, 26 Apr 2024.

   Physical papers, as of typing at North Melbourne PRO

10. ↑ Deaths, in Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Edwardian Index, Victoria, 1902-1913: Index to Births, Deaths and Marriages in Victoria
    Index #10649, 28 Apr 2024.

    Year: 1907
    Name: Maria Baulderstone
    Death Place: Unknown

11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4} Death Certificate 10649/1907 Maria Baulderson nee Bryson
    Deaths in the District of Wycheproof, 28 Apr 2024.

    No: 473
    When and where Died: August 10 1907, Wycheproof Hospital, Shire of Wycheproof, County of Kara Kara, Usual Residence Ninyeunook
    Name and Surname, Rank, or Profession: Maria Baulderson, Widow
    Sex and Age: female, 75 years
    Cause of Death: (a) Carcinoma of the uterus (b) cachexia
    Duration of last Illness: 6 months
    Medical Attendant by whom Certified, and: Dr G. G. V. Phillips
    When he last saw Deceased:
    Name and Surname of Father and Mother (Maiden Name): Not known
    Signature, Description, and Residence of Informant: James Baulderson, Son, Ninyeunook
    Signature of Registrar:
    Date, and: August 10 1907
    Where Registered: Wycheproof
    When and where buried: August 18, 1907, Wycheproof Cemetery
    Undertaker by whom certified: J. H. Tusker
    Name and Religion of Minister, or Names of Witnesses of Burial: Rev'd Nelson, Church of England
    Where Born: Londonderry, Ireland
    How Long in the Victorian Colonies and which: 55 years Victoria
    Where Married: Adelaide
    At what Age married: Not Known
    To whom Married: Christopher Baulderson
    Issue, in order of Birth, their Names and Ages:
    William 49
    Mary 46
    Chrisopher 45
    Amelia 39
    James 36

    Death Certificate
12. ↑ Unproven
13. ↑ COMMITTAL FOR MANSLAUGHTER, in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. The Bendigo Advertiser, XII.3222/Supp.p1, 22 Sep 1865, Questionable quality.
14. ↑ South Australian Register, XVI.1840/p3, 7 Aug 1852.