Mary Ann Allen

Mary Ann Allen wearing a brooch with a painting of her father George Allen on it.

Mary Ann was born 16 September 1841 in Wellington. She was the daughter of George and Jane Ellizabeth Allen. In 1860 she married William Seed.

Thursday Morning
October 13th 1859

Dear Miss Allen,

I intended last night to have asked you to accept one of the enclosed rings but had not an opportunity to speak to you alone. Perhaps you will now be good enough to select the one you like the best, and let me have the others back, as I have to return them tomorrow. I shall most likely be up at Cook’s tonight so perhaps you could manage to run up there, or if not you could at any rate send them up in an envelope for me. The three tied together with a piece of silk are the best, so I hope one of them may fit you and suit your taste.
You will think it a strange freak of mine to send you three baubles, but I observe that both Miss Davies and Miss Annie Brown have ornaments of this kind and why should not you?
Believe me very faithfully yours
William Seed
P.S. If you can come up to Cooks we may manage to have some music.

Mary Ann Allen married on 19th February 1860 in Wellington to William Seed. Mary Ann was William’s second wife and had the care of 3 children (from William’s marriage to Elizabeth Ellen Cook), Lizzie, Kitty and Frank.

Mary Ann was 19 when William Seed courted her, only ten years older than her oldest stepchild. However, as the eldest child of a family prominently involved in the life of the new Colony, she presumably was experienced in social and housewifely matters. Family tradition has it that William Seed saw her at the window of “Lasswade” as he walked along the Quay, arranged an interview and married her shortly after on 19th February 1860.

Mary Ann and William had 9 children, John George, Harry Hadlow, Lucy Jane, Sidney Franklin, Frederick Edward, Charles, Jessie Gertrude, Mary Frances and Arthur James.
Harry, Jessie, Fredrick, Lucy, Mary (all standing), Arthur, Mary Ann and John Seed (seated).

William Seed with his parents came to New Zealand on the ship “Martha Ridgeway’ in November 1840. William started work in 1841 for the Hon. W. B. Rhodes, general merchant. In the course of a few years he joined the service of the New Zealand Company, but after a short period left to enter the Government Employment, in which he had a long and honourable career. He was first attached to the Governor (Sir George Grey’s) staff in 1853. While Sir George was absent from the Colony, Mr Seed served as a clerk and warehouse keeper to the Customs Department in Ahuriri (Napier) and Wellington.

Upon Sir George’s return he joined his staff and acted as his private secretary till 1863. William became Under-Secretary to the Defence Department, and held this position during the Waikato wars. In 1865 he became Collector of Customs, and was appointed permanent head of the department in May 1866. During the absence of the Auditor-General in 1868, he filled that office. He was a member of the committee that drafted the “Civil Service Act of 1866,” and in 1868 he served on the Royal Commission, appointed to inquire into the system of keeping the Treasury accounts. In 1870, William was sent to visit to report on the Samoan group. He acted along with Mr Batkin, in 1871 in making the celebrated confidential report to Ministers with a view to reform the Civil Service Departments. On many occasions he visited the Australian colonies on diplomatic missions. On visiting Britain in 1875, William made a report on the lighthouse systems and when the commercial treaty was arranged with Fiji in 1886, he acted for New Zealand with Mr Moss and Shirley Baker in arranging the terms. Another inquiry was made into the working of Government departments in 1884. His services were again required on the board of investigation. William Seed retired as second officer in the service and Secretary and Inspector of the Customs and Marine Departments in 1888, having worked his way upwards from the post of junior clerk. After such a distinguished life of service William spent the remainder of his days in the quiet retirement of his home 151 Abel Smith Street, Wellington, to enjoy a liberal though well earned pension

He married twice: his first wife was Elizabeth Ellen Cook and his second wife Mary Ann Allen.

Over the years Mary Ann must have frequently been on her own, managing the home and the growing family. That she was capable and reliable is obvious; she was often referred to in letters from William’s business friends, but always in general terms, as was the custom.William and Mary built a large wooden house at 151 Abel Smith Street, Wellington, on a parcel of land granted to William as Under Secretary of Colonial Defence. It sheltered the Seed family and their friends and relations for many more years.
Mary Ann with her son John George Seed in 1861.

The children played on the balcony off the dinning room and if they were careful, in the greenhouse. The greatest fun on a fine day was climbing the big trees or riding and running in the donkey’s paddock above the house. Every Saturday morning the donkey was readied with a packsaddle and led down Abel Smith Street, taking such things as boots to the cobbler and collecting items for household use. There were always some of Mary Ann and William’s children at home. As well, Lizzie William’s daughter of his first marriage lived with them and helped Mary Ann keep house.

William died 6 February 1890, in Wellington, New Zealand.

Mary Ann continued to live at 151 Abel Smith Street until her death in April 1920. On her death she bequeathed the Dominion Museum a China Punch Bowl and Pot. This bequest has a history sometime in the early part of the last century, between 1814 and 1826. The old-established firm of Mr Ratcliff and Mr Allen of Deal, Kent, England, boat builders, built for the then Governor of China a boat named the Gipsy. She won every race she was in. The Governor was so pleased and proud of her victory that he sent to each of the partners a Punch Bowl, which was made in the Emperor of China’s own royal factory at Peking, to commemorate the event. For several years the boat carried everything before her, and after every win more valuable china was sent – other bowls and pots, and a pair of large vases. Finally, when gipsy was beaten, the Governor sent her back to the firm and after repairs she raced for several years in the Deal Regattas, and was always successful. The partners divided the china, and in time the Punch Bowl and pot came to New Zealand, to George Allen, the eldest son of one of the partners and then to Mary Ann Seed, his eldest child.