Originally transcribed as Mary E Barton
Biography contributed by Heather Maloney
Mary Amelia Ann Barton was born 29 Sept 1877, daughter of Amelia Ann Barton and an undisclosed father.
Mary and her mother signed the 1893 petition in Waimate when Mary would have only been 17. Her signature was transcribed as Mary E, when it should have been Mary A Barton.
When Mary married George Mear on 10 Nov 1897, the Intention to Marry stated that she had lived at Mangatera (near Dannevirke) for three years and her mother was then living with James Coppell near Waikanae. James, who went by the name Barton, presumably to give Mary a father figure, gave his consent to the marriage as Mary was underage.
Mary and George appeared on the electoral rolls living in the Dannevirke area until 1906 but on the 1911 roll they were living at Rangataua where George worked as a bushman. By 1919 they were farming at Okahukura, where they lived until their deaths. George died in 1931 and Mary lived on until 19 Sept 1947. They are both buried at Taumarunui cemetery. George left his estate to Mary and Mary left hers to her five children in equal shares
Mary and George had five children – two sons and three daughters born between 1898 and 1907.
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Mary Amelia Ann Barton (Mear Family)
