Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Mary Ann Goodson was born on 26 January 1853, Tasmania, Australia to James Goodson and Betsy Kerrison, the eldest of eleven children. James was a Farmer.
The Goodson family left Launceston, Tasmania arriving in Melbourne on the ss Derwent on 12 August 1873. They then departed Melbourne on 28 August for Port Chalmers, New Zealand, arriving on the ss Albion II on 3 September 1873 – name on passenger list is 'Goodman'. From there they travelled north to Oamaru. Shortly after arriving in New Zealand, James Goodson died on 19 September.
Mary Ann Goodson married Sampson Carlyon on 26 March 1879 in a private residence in Ribble Street, Oamaru. Mr and Mrs Richmond were witnesses. This was Sampson’s second marriage – his first wife Elizabeth died in 1875.
Mary Ann and Sampson had six children; Elizabeth 1880, Sampson 1882, Eliza 1883, Mary Ann 1885, Jane 1889 and John 1892.
Mary Ann Carlyon is spoken of as being a wonderful Christian lady and she and Sampson were very happy together.
The 1893 Electoral Roll records Mary Ann Carlyon living at South Oamaru.
Mary Ann died on 25 November 1909 at South Oamaru and is buried in the Oamaru Old cemetery – Wesleyan section, Block 11, Plots 27, 28.
Sampson Carlyon remarried to Mary Ann’s sister, Emma Rusbatch nee Goodson in 1912.
Mary Ann’s sister Emma Rusbatch (298) also signed the Petition.
Sources
Goodson Family Record 1880-1990, compiled by Betty Lindsay and Mary Allington
Victoria Coastal Passenger Lists 1852-1924, Year 1873-74
Public Record Office, Victoria, Australia, Outward Passenger Lists, Record Series No (VPRS): 948
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1879/695 Mary Ann Goodson/Sampson Carlyon
NZ DIA Death Index 1909/8092 Mary Ann Carlyon
1893 Electoral Roll for Oamaru
NZ DIA Birth Index
Oamaru cemetery records online