Margaret Ann REED was the sixth child born to John REED and Mary Ann CHAPMAN [2]. She was commonly known as Mary. This may have been because she was named for an older sister who had died early.
The REED family lived in Bishopwearmouth, County Durham prior to migrating to Australia. John and Mary Ann had six children prior to migrating in 1854 on the Dirigo to South Australia [3]. On the voyage with them were, John Henry born 7 May 1845 [4] and Margaret Ann born 13 March 1854 [5].
Snippet of the Passenger from the Dirgio [6]
They had the following children who had died early.
- Jane REED 16 August 1842 – 21 August 1845 [7]
- Thomas REED 1849 – 15 October 1852 [8]
- Margaret REED 4 Dec 1850 – 8 Oct 1853 [9]
- Frank REED 24 October 1852 – 17 Apr 1853 [10]
One can only imagine he heartbreak of having some many children who died young. Added to this was the moving across the world with your two remaining children.
Shops in Gawler where the family settled [11]
On arrival in South Australia the family moved to South Gawler and settled there. John and Mary Ann were to have several more children before she died at the age of 43 [12].
Death Notice Mary Ann REED [13]
[1] Old Bishopwearmouth Sunderland Public Libraries accessed on https://www.flickr.com/photos/sunderlandpubliclibraries/4194911610
[2] Bishopwearmouth Saint Michael Parish Register Microfiche REED, Margaret Ann 1854
[3] State Records SA, Shipping Records GRG35/48/11854 Dirigo accessed at https://www.archives.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/documentstore/passengerlists/1854/GRG35_48_1_54-26_Dirigo.pdf
[4] Bishopwearmouth Saint Michael Parish Register Microfiche REED, John Henry 1845
[5] Bishopwearmouth Saint Michael Parish Register Microfiche REED, Margaret Ann 1854
[6] State Records SA, Shipping Records GRG35/48/11854 Dirigo accessed at https://www.archives.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/documentstore/passengerlists/1854/GRG35_48_1_54-26_Dirigo.pdf
[7] Bishopwearmouth Saint Michael Parish Register Microfiche REED, Jane 1842 and 1845
[8] Bishopwearmouth Saint Michael Parish Register Microfiche REED, Thomas 1849 and 1852
[9] Bishopwearmouth Saint Michael Parish Register Microfiche REED, Margaret 1850 and 1853
[10] Bishopwearmouth Saint Michael Parish Register Microfiche REED, Margaret Ann 1852 – 1853
[11] State Library of SA Shops in Gawler PRG 1717/16/2. Accessed online at https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1717/16/2
[12] Family Notices (1867, January 5). South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 – 1867), p. 1 (Supplement to the South Australian Chronicle and Mail). Retrieved December 11, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91261061
[13] ibid
loades of branches 
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