Mary Stevens

Alternate Names

     She was also known as Mary Stephens Mawyer. Her married name was Glanville.

Birth, Marriage and Death information

     Mary Stevens was born on 29 February 1824 at Roche, CON, ENG; a minor at marriage.
     She married John Glanville J.P., son of Richard Glanville and Lucy Veale, on 10 January 1843 at St Columb, CON, ENG, (when age calculated as 18 years, 10 months and 9 days) also St Mawgan - presumably where his banns were read. Registered St Columb. His father named Richard Glanvill.
     She died on 29 November 1903 at Nowra, NSW, AUS, (when age calculated as 79); cause of death: Oedema of Lungs, ossification of heart valves, senile decay. Dr HK King last seen 29 Nov 1903
Shoalhaven Telegraph 9 Dec 1903:
The death of Mrs John Glanville, sen. (briefly reported in last issue), deserves more than passing notice, seeing that the deceased lady could rightly be classed as one of the pioneers of the district, and had played a, worthy part in its early settlement and development. She came to Shoalhaven just on 60 years ago, and during that long period had resided in the district— first at Wogamia and latterly in Nowra— and, dying in a ripe old age, leaves behind her a name honored and revered by all who knew her, and a family, comfortably settled, who have every reason to call her blessed.
The late Mrs Glanville was born on the 29th February, 1824, in the parish of Roche, in Cornwall, England, her maiden name being Mary Stevens. When in her 19th vear, on the 10th January, 1843, she married the late Mr John Glanville, in the parish church of St. Columb. and left her, parents’ home on her wedding day for Australia, her young husband having previously decided to come to New South Wales, induced thereto by representations made to him by an elder brother, who had visited the colony and had received grants of land at Bamarang and Wogamia. The young couple came out in the ship Euphrates, amongst their fellow passengers being the late Mr G. H. Plunkett, Attorney- General, his family, and the Cowper family, who afterwards figured prominently in the history of the colony. These two families showed great kindness to the youthful' bride, who had left home and kindred to assist her husband to carve out a career in a new land, and the friendship then formed lasted through life, though the parties were widely separated and had few opportunities of meeting each other. Mrs Glanville, whenever she visited Sydney, always had a cordial welcome from her distinguished ship mates. They arrived in Sydney on the 10th August, 1844, and Mr and Mrs Glanville came straight to Shoalhaven, making their home at Bamarang for the first twelve months, and then settling at Wogamia, with which estate the, family has ever since been associated.
The Shoalhaven of those days was altogether different, to what it is now. Free settlers were very few in number, there were no roads, and none of the conveniences now enjoyed. The only house in the vicinity of Nowra at that time was Mr James Graham's; Greenhills, where the young immigrants first called, and where they were met by the late Mr Richard Glanville, who accompanied them to their new home. This was nothing but the old-time bark hut, very primitive in character, but it was “home.” On the day Mrs Glanville’s first baby was born a terrific storm carried the roof off the hut, and mother and babe were exposed to the fury of the elements until repairs were effected. The experiences she passed through in her early colonial days were anything but pleasant to one who had been gently nurtured, but like most of the stout-hearted pioneers who faced the dangers, privations, and hardships of the bush, she resolutely, bravely, and uncomplainingly met all discomforts and surmounted all difficulties proving a true and loving helpmeet to her husband. Early in their married life, in 1850, Mr Glanville had a fine store residence erected at Wogamia, the finest building of its kind, then in the district, and which now stands as a monument to his enterprise. The timber for the house was brought from Berry (then Broughton Creek, where the Messrs Berry carried on a sawmill); while the lime was hand burnt in a kiln on the beach near the River heads. So well and faithfully was the work in the house done that, though it has now stood for 53 years, there has never been, a break in the ceilings. In the great flood of 1860, the swollen waters of the River, bursting the banks in many places, covering miles of low-lying country, and spreading desolation far and wide, came over the three steps forming the entrance to Wogamia House and into the hall. Many of the small farmers then on the estate and neighboring properties who were flooded out, came there for shelter, and were hospitably provided for during that trying period, as also at the time of the 1870 flood. Both Mr. and Mrs Glanville were large-hearted and generous. The deceased was especially kind to the poor, and never was a case of distress brought under her notice in vain. She also took a deep interest in the aborigines, of whom in the early days there were a great many. As showing how the blacks loved her and her household for their many kindnesses extended to them, it needs only to be mentioned that when on one of their periodical trips inland, they heard of a death having occurred in her family, they immediately returned to Wogamia and conducted an aborigines’ “lament,”— an imposing ceremony only indulged in as a mark of special regard.
Communication with the outside world was very unreliable in those early days. Qn one occasion Mr Glanville went to Sydney on business, the round trip occupying a month. On another occasion, when Mrs Glanville accompanied her husband in the city, they were ten days at sea on the up journey, stress of weather being responsible for the long trip. This is in striking contrast with the present day experience, when one can leave by rail in the morning, have five or six hours in the metropolis to transact business, and return the same eveing. When she wished to attend religious services, which were few and far between in her young days (but more appreciated by the people then than now, perhaps because of their rarity) she rode through the bush to the “cleared” ground (Numba), where visiting clergymen from Wollongong preached the Word of God under the willow trees (there being no churches at that time). Wheat was also conveyed on horseback or punted down the River to be ground into flour at Berry's mill at the “cleared ground.” Supplies were obtained at the same place, on the arrival of the small traders with goods. The Glanvilles took an active part, in endeavouring to establish better shipping facilities between Shoalhaven and Sydney, one of them (Mr Richard) owning, several vessels. Mr John Glanville invested £500 in a shipping company, but the venture proved unsuccessful, and he and the other shareholders lost their capital.
But despite the difficulties and drawbacks of the old days, times were good, prices of wheat and maize were high, and like others of the early, settlers, the family prospered, as they deserved, to such an extent that in 1876 they felt justified in retiring from active farm pursuits, and made their home in Nowra, where, till three years ago, they enjoyed the evening of life together in well-earned repose. After 57 years of married life, Mrs Glanville, towards the end of 1900, saw her husband “fall on sleep.” Since then she had been in anything but robust health herself, the infirmities of advancing age undermining an otherwise vigorous constitution. The heat wave of a fortnight ago tried her greatly, and on Sunday, November 29th, she calmly and peacefully passed away, having reached the venerable age of 80 years, less three months.
Deceased was a devout and consistent member of the Church of England, of which she and her late husband were generous supporters. On the day before her death she received the Sacrament of Holy Communion, most of the members of her family being then present. She died in full possession of all her faculties, in perfect trust and Christian faith. She leaves behind her a family of nine surviving children— Messrs Richard (Bamarang), John, James, Henry (Wogamia), and Sam (Berry) and Mrs J. J. Emery (Barrellan), Mrs Willie Glanville (Sydney), Mrs Drummond (Parramatta), and Miss Glanville (Nowra, who had been in constant attendance on her mother); — besides many grandchildren, and a large circle of relatives and friends.
The funeral took place on Tuesday last. The first part of the service was held in All Saints' Church, Nowra, where a considerable number of relatives arid friends assembled. At the conclusion, and before the body was removed from the sacred edifice, the “Dead March in Saul” was played. The cortege then moved on to Woprrigee cemetery, where the interment took place, Rev. W. Newby Fraser conducting the last sad rites. On Sunday morning reference was made, to the deceased lady from the pulpit. The preacher's text was taken, from Isaiah 55— a chapter which had been a great help and comfort to the old lady a few days before her death. The rev. gentleman referred to the great interest the late Mrs Glanville had shown when the scriptures were read to her. Hers had been a long and quietly useful life, and as she passed into the presence of her Divine Master she would experience to the full the fulfilment of the text-“Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree.”.
     She was buried on 1 December 1903 at Worragee Cemetery, Nowra, NSW, AUS, by W Newby Fraser, Church of England, Undertaker: William Bryce. With Monumental Inscription "Also Mary Stevens, wife of the above who entered her rest Advent Sunday 29th Nov 1903."

Other information

     Mary Stevens and John Glanville J.P. immigrated on 10 August 1843 to AUS arriving at Sydney on the "Euphrates", having left for Australia on the day of their wedding.