State Library of South Australia

Diary of Mary Ainsley Aldersey. [PRG 1806/1/33] • Manuscript

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Summary

Small, handwritten diary, written in a housekeeping exercise book when Mary Cox (nee Aldersey) was in her 50s and 60s, and completed in 1917. It is a reflection and reminiscences of her life, written as a record for her children and descendants. The diary begins in 1857 at the family home 'Amery' in McLaren Vale, after the funeral of Mary's father, Richard Baker Aldersey. The diary describes daily life for Mary and her sisters, including: the difficulties of survival without money or the support of their father for over a year before they received money from England, an inheritance from their late mother, which enabled them to become independent and move to a house in Noarlunga; trip to Adelaide to buy essentials such as clothing and furniture and organise their finances, staying at the York Hotel; daily life in a small town, including anecdotes of neighbours; visits with their Aunt Mary Ann Aldersey who had recently moved to McLaren Vale after working in China, and had built Tsong Gyaiou which became a boarding school for girls; first meeting with Francis William Cox who became Mary's husband in 1863, including his proposal of marriage; early life as a minister's wife in Norwood; and the stressful preparations for a 13-month trip to England to visit family with her husband and youngest child, while leaving her eldest three children in Norwood, in 1871. The end of the diary includes family tree details with birth, death and marriage dates. Locations mentioned include: Amery (now Kay Brothers winery in McLaren Vale), Hope Farm, Tsong Gyiaou, Surrey Lodge, and Chigwell Lodge. Includes two photographs of Chigwell Lodge.

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Physical description

Manuscripts
handwritten
1 volume, 1 cm.

Dates / Publication details

1917

Creator

Cox (Family

Subject

Aldersey, Mary Ainsley, 1832-1922 -- Diaries.
Cox, F. W. (Francis William), 1817-1904 -- Diaries.
Cox, Sarah, 1791-1865
Cox (Family)
Aldersey (Family)
Tsong Gyiaou (McLaren Vale, S.A.)
Women -- South Australia -- Social life and customs 19th century.
Young women -- England -- Social life and customs 19th century.
Voyages and travels -- England.
South Australia -- Social life and customs 19th century.

Catalogue record

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General notes

See also: D 8151(L) Diaries of Rev. F.W. Cox, portrait of Rev. F.W. Cox, and family tree of the Cox and Aldersey families.

Historical information

Francis William Cox was born in London in 1817, eldest son of William Cox (1769-1841) by his second wife Sarah Dawson (1791-1865). After a good education he became master of a boys' school in Gloucester. After experience as a schoolmaster he trained for the Congregational ministry and came to South Australia in 1857. His wife was Mary Ainsley Aldersey, daughter of Richard Baker Aldersey (1794-1857) and Rachel Ainsley (died 1832); Mary's aunt Mary Ann Aldersey (1797-1868) founded the girls' school 'Tsong Gyiaou' at McLaren Vale. F.W. Cox was the first minister of the Hindmarsh Square Church in 1862 and remained there until his retirement in 1897. Mary Ainsley Cox arrived in South Australia with her father and sisters in 1849, living at 'Amery' in McLaren Vale. She met Rev. Francis William Cox in 1857, shortly after he had arrived in Adelaide with his mother to work as a Congregational minister. They were married in 1863 and had five children, living in Norwood, South Australia with Sarah Cox, Rev. Cox's mother. Mary Ainsley Cox died in 1922 and was buried in the family ground at West Terrace Cemetery.

Digitisation information

Date

05/07/2023

Format

image/tiff

Resolution

5,107 x 5,863 pixels (29.9 MP)

Size

89.85 MB

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