Mary's signature was witnessed by E. Exell.
Biography and photo contributed by Vivienne Morrell, great-grandaughter of Mary Jones:
Mary Sophia Jones (nee Ralph) was born on 21 September 1859 in Breage, Cornwall, England and died on 15 September 1920 in Masterton, New Zealand. Her parents were James Ralph and Eliza (nee Burge) and the family arrived in New Zealand (via Australia) in about 1880. They were Methodists and it was at the church that she met Edward Jones (1854-1935) whom she married on 16 November 1882 in Masterton. They had six children; five surviving into adulthood. The Ralph family were known as good singers at the church and at family gatherings. Mary and Edward lived and worked on the Jones family farm on the outskirts of Masterton – Edward eventually buying the farm after his father Henry Jones died in 1902, but also taking on other work to supplement their income.
Mary was a member of the Methodist church choir and “in her young days … possessed a very fine alto voice” and was also one of the “most valued of the church’s Sunday School teachers” (Obituary, Mrs Edward Jones, Wairarapa Age, 16 September 1920.)
Mary Jones was a sister-in-law to Charlotte Shute (who also signed sheet 489), Elizabeth Deadman and Mary Anne Jones.
Mary Sophia Jones (c. 1880s) – personal collection Vivienne Morrell.
Sources
Obituary, Mrs Edward Jones, Wairarapa Age, 16 September 1920
Death certificate
Family Bible of Edward and Mary Jones
Family genealogy, including memories of her daughter Amy Rogers
Obituary, The New Zealand Methodist Times, 23 October 1920 (PDF)
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
Community contributions