BARNETT, Mary Abigail

Mary Aigail Barnett

Mary Abigail “Polly” Barnett (nee Goldsmith) was born on 26th September 1847, at Brighton East Sussex England, to James Herbert Goldsmith and his first wife Jane Barber.  Jane Goldsmith died in 1848.  She came to Victoria on the Dutch Ship the Six Sisters in January 1853 with her father James, his second wife Ann, and her two brothers Samuel and James.  After a short stay in Geelong they travelled to Ballarat, living on Bakery Hill, Ballarat East.  During the brief battle of Eureka, Mary was hidden down a mine shaft by her father.

Mary married Thomas Henry Barnett (from Tetbury, Gloucestershire) in 1868 at St Marks Church, Fitzroy. Thomas gave the art gallery the sword carried by Captain Wise when he was shot dead in the fight. It was a souvenir at the time by George Bentley, a soldier, who handed it to Mr Barnett. The eldest son of Mr Tom Barnett, who manages a business and daughter is the wife of Mr J. Keith, President of Ballarat Benevolent Home Committee and Secretary of the Caledonian Society.

Mary died on the 7th November 1930.  She is buried in the Ballarat New Cemetery Church of England A, Row 11, Grave 44.