Mary Ann Colclough facts for kids

Mary Ann Colclough (born Barnes; 20 February 1836 – 7 March 1885) was an important New Zealand feminist and social reformer. A feminist is someone who believes in equal rights for women. A social reformer works to improve society. Mary Ann was born in London, England. She wrote for many newspapers in New Zealand using the pen name (or pseudonym) Polly Plum.

Who Was Mary Ann Colclough?

Mary Ann Colclough was a strong voice for women's rights in New Zealand. She used her writing and speeches to challenge unfair laws and ideas about women. Even though her work was forgotten for a while, she was one of the first and most talented leaders for women's equality in the country.

Early Life and Family

Mary Ann Barnes was born in London in 1836. Her parents were Susan and John Thomas Barnes. She trained to be a teacher. In 1859, she moved to New Zealand and settled in Auckland.

On 9 May 1861, she married Thomas Caesar Colclough in Onehunga. They had two children: a daughter named Mary Louise (born 1862) and a son named William Caesar Sarsfield (born 1864). Thomas died in July 1867.

Fighting for Women's Rights

Mary Ann Colclough became well-known for her activism in the late 1860s and early 1870s. She wrote many articles for newspapers under the name "Polly Plum." Her articles covered different topics, from home life to strongly supporting "women's rights."

Speaking Out as "Polly Plum"

Mary Ann wrote very well. At first, her articles were formal, but later she focused on issues that affected women in their homes and communities. She believed in high ideals and principles. She saw many social problems that needed to be fixed quickly. She kept her campaign going by sending letters to newspapers, sometimes even to big papers like The Melbourne Argus and London Times.

Mary Ann Colclough became most famous as a lecturer. She could attract large crowds, even before public meetings were common. She once spoke in front of the Governor, Sir G. F. Bowen.

Her Ideas for Change

As a champion for women's rights, she strongly criticized the idea that women were "legally controlled" by men. She made fun of the idea that women should only be educated for home duties. She argued that all jobs, including professions like medicine, should be open to women.

She also challenged the law that gave fathers sole control over their children. She pointed out how unfair the law was regarding married women's property rights. At the same time, she pushed for better working conditions for women like seamstresses, shop assistants, and housemaids. She wanted them to have protection against poverty and problems in old age. People at the time said she was a very convincing speaker.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1875, Mary Colclough started a campaign in Melbourne, Australia. However, she didn't have much success there. Like many reformers of her time, her ideas were ahead of what most people thought. A newspaper called The Argus made fun of her efforts.

Even though she faced challenges, Mary Ann continued to teach. She taught in Auckland and later in Canterbury. From about 1876 to 1878, she was the head teacher of the girls' school in Rangiora. In 1881, she was an infant teacher in Papanui.

Death

Mary Ann Colclough died in Picton on 7 March 1885. She had an accident where she broke her arm and a leg. She was buried in the Picton Cemetery. When news of her death reached Auckland, it didn't get much attention, but many who knew her from earlier times regretted her passing.