Mary Ann Hart, (7/11/1838-21/2/1940). "her unquenchable zeal"

OBITUARY

MRS MARY ANN HART

A RICHMOND CENTENARIAN 

After a residence of 88 years in Richmond the death occurred yesterday of Mrs Mary Ann Hart, at the age of 101 years. 

Mrs Hart was quite bright up till two weeks ago in spite of her advanced age. At the Centennial celebrations at Richmond next Saturday Mrs Hart, who was one of the longest lived residents of the borough, was to have been presented with a souvenir ribbon. 

The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon, and a memorial service will be held at the Baptist Church of which the late Mrs Hart was a lifelong member. 

The late Mrs Hart, then Mary Ann Hammond, came out to New Zealand with her parents, Mr and Mrs Joseph Hammond (Mr Hammond was a brother of Mr David Hammond) in the barque Lord William Bentinck (444 tons), commanded by Captain Edward Canney. The vessel sailed from London on 11th August 1851 and arrived at Auckland on 12th December of that year. 

The Hammond family remained for five months in Auckland and then came on to Nelson, settling in Richmond, where Mrs Hart has lived ever since. Mrs Hart married in 1863 and her husband, Mr William Hart, died some eleven years ago. They had no family. 

The centenarian lived a long and contented life of usefulness and service, and in recent years when the range of her activities had been gradually closing in, she found an outlet for her unquenchable zeal in mat-making for mission funds. In this way Mrs Hart contributed no less a sum than £258. 

Until a few years ago Mrs Hart was a keen gardener and made herself responsible for the household vegetable supply as well as flowers. The hills at the back of Richmond also claimed her attention when she had long passed the allotted span, and many a younger person was surprised at her ability. Mrs Hart used frequently to walk in to Nelson, especially for anniversary services of the Baptist Church, and walk home after the evening meetings. 

For the past ten years Mrs Hart had been living with Mr C. Glidewell and his niece, Mrs H. Hoult.   -Nelson Evening Mail, 22/2/1940. 

Richmond Cemetery.