Born in 1849 Mary Ann Tiernan but known as Marion, she was raised in Quebec city, Canada by her Irish born parents. At age 16, she married Evan Davies. They went to India and spent 10 years in Bombay where he was now Colonel Davies, 7th Royal Fusiliers. There were no children of the marriage. During their married life, Marion served as head school mistress of the regiment.
Evan died in June 1875 in Bombay and in October the same year Marion married James Frances Clapshaw (a native of Somerset, England). James was a warrant officer in the Second Battalion Royal Fusiliers. Their eight children were born in India, six survived to adulthood.
From 1890, the family were living in Australia while James served as warrant office on the Australian staff.
In 1902 the family came on to Wellington. It was at this point that Marion appears to have become a breadwinner. She opened a school from her home in 1903 specifically for adults:
“Adults of both sexes desirous of improving neglected and backward education are invited to join my Culture Classes. All English subjects thoroughly taught. The beautiful arts of reading and speaking quotations from the best poets and writers. Teacher and student brought together under the most pleasing and refined circumstances. Correspondence taught and letters written” (Evening Post 22 Oct 1904)
Special attention was offered to “nervous and dull pupils”.
In 1905, Marion was made bankrupt. She stated that her earnings had only been about £5 a month and her husband, who was a church verger, had been receiving about £6 a month and that she had a family of six. She attributed her present position to sickness and accidents in her family.
Her school continued from her home “Quebec House” with her daughters joining her as assistant teachers. At her daughter’s wedding in 1911, Marion was described to be wearing a dress of black crepe de chine relieved with oriental insertion, and a black hat with jet and chiffon trimming.
Marion died quite suddenly at her residence 27 Wilson Street, Newtown, from heart failure, aged 67. James died in Christchurch in 1927. Marion is the only interment in this plot.
Plot: Ch Eng 2/D/133
