M. J. Mayes

Ngirene, lovely to see your comment.

Hello Paula I am Great Grandaughter of Mary Jane Tranter. Grandaughter of Ivy Mayes. Your information is indeed correct. My Mother was Nola Frances Tinsley born in Wanganui NZ. They were both midwives but my Mother Nola had no time for illness ironically (only daughter of 3 brothers like myself. My parents were indeed very genteel. Very devout and religious. Mother but she had inherited a strong sense of self and only small in stature too.

Mary Jane Mayes nee Tranter, born 17th Dec 1851. Emigrated to New Zealand in 1878 from her home in Barrow in Furness, England, with her husband James and, at that time, 3 children aboard the Hermione. James and Mary went on to have 10 children in total, born over 20 years between 1870- 1890. My grandmother, who was Mary's granddaughter, told me Mary was a midwife which I cannot confirm, although she obviously had ample personal experience. She also said she was a small lady with a huge spirit and her family had been Huguenot in origin, again unconfirmed. Her husband James died in 1891, two years before this petition was presented. Forty years old, a widow and with mouths to feed. She was remarried in 1896 to Henry Wray. Mary Jane passed away on the 2nd of June 1927 aged 75 in Whanganui, where she had spent the majority of her life.