Frances [Southwell] Shayle George 1828 - 1890
Frances was born in Bristol, England, and migrated with husband and baby to Auckland, New Zealand where she had five children and a career. She is listed in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography for her pioneering work in girls’ education in New Zealand (her full entry here.
She wrote From a Settler's Wife, a very detailed and literate account of her first couple of years in Auckland. This was first published in Charles Dickens' magazine Household Words. She was said to be a friend of Dickens, who is on record as expressing a desire to go to New Zealand. This was undoubtedly influenced by Frances' words, which are very bright and persuasive.
She was the daughter of John Southwell (accountant), wife of Thomas Shayle George, and mother of Charles Southwell Shayle George (both solicitors) - see entries at left for each of them.
Her granddaughter Hinemoa Shayle George [Simmonds] said many things about her, including that she “was educated by her father and became literate in Greek and Latin from an early age”. Frances described herself as "brought up an idle English lady, accustomed to pass my time as I pleased, to divide it between books and amusements, but giving much more of it to pleasure than to study" (although there may be a little tongue-in-cheek to this; see her essay listed above).
In any case, she was obviously very hard working in her years as a settler. Some of that may be due to inclination; much to necessity. Although her husband died in 1868, Frances was supporting her family well before that, having started her first school in 1852.
Her father’s background is mysterious, as is the fate of her husband and her son. Frances herself is well-documented in the DNZB article, however I will make mention of whatever (apocryphal) notes I can find from her grand-daughter Hinemoa (Shayle George) Simmonds.
Work
For more details of her writings and her work, see the DNZB entry under George. Suffice to say she wrote a number of poems and essays, opened several schools, and was active in education administration. She wanted girls to be educated so that they could, if necessary, support themselves and family. Yet she couldn’t be considered an early feminist, given her overall conservative views. For example, she accepted a faddish view that long hours of study were ‘detrimental to female growth’. She apparently had some political influence, and her obituary recognised her significant contributions despite her apparent lack of activity in later years.
Mystery
The main mystery is the fate of her husband. Her mother arrived in the same year her last child was born. Was this coincidence, or did she come to help with the children. Did her arrival precipitate Thomas’ departure, or was it due to his already having left? Were her views on girls’ education shaped by her own experience with an unsupportive husband?
Chronology
1828-Sep-20 born in Clifton, a very well-to-do suburb of Bristol (just south of Wales)
1841 Father dies.
1848-Oct-20 Married Thomas Shayle George from Monmouth, in Boyton Wiltshire (somewhat east of Bristol), officiated by her half-brother George
1849-Sep-25 Son Charles born in Newport (now part of Wales)
1850-Dec-18 Arrived in Auckland on the Sir Edward Paget, with husband and son
1851-Sep-21 Son William born
1852-Oct Opened Wye Cottage Seminary, a co-educational primary school
1855 Collection of her poetry published in aid of Crimean war soldiers
1858-Oct-5 Daughter Frances Marion born in Avonleigh [=house name?], Remuera, Auckland
1861-May-19 Daughter Helena Grace born in Remuera
1863 Daughter Evelyne Mary born
1863-Jul-22 mother Martha arrived from England on Portland
1867-Jan-30 Opened school ‘for young ladies’
1868-Apr Husband Thomas died in Rock Island, Illinois
1890-Sep-8 Died.
Other references
Apart from some birth notices, I have no more detail than the following terse entries, sourced from Raewyn Dalziel's work for DNZB:
Elphick: "What's wrong with Emma", NZJH 9/2, Oct 1975, p136
Elphick: "A social history of Auckland", 1870-74, pp141, 151, 153, 211
Brookes: "Girls' secondary education in Auckland", p977
Cummings, I: "Glorious enterprise", p69
JAHS, no 2, Apr 1963, p40 (article on Wye Cottage)
Provincial Index, APL
New Zealand Herald 6/10/1890 (obituary)
The New Zealander, 21/12/1850 (ship arrival notice).
Cumming, I. Glorious enterprise. Christchurch, 1959
She wrote From a Settler's Wife, a very detailed and literate account of her first couple of years in Auckland. This was first published in Charles Dickens' magazine Household Words. She was said to be a friend of Dickens, who is on record as expressing a desire to go to New Zealand. This was undoubtedly influenced by Frances' words, which are very bright and persuasive.
She was the daughter of John Southwell (accountant), wife of Thomas Shayle George, and mother of Charles Southwell Shayle George (both solicitors) - see entries at left for each of them.
Her granddaughter Hinemoa Shayle George [Simmonds] said many things about her, including that she “was educated by her father and became literate in Greek and Latin from an early age”. Frances described herself as "brought up an idle English lady, accustomed to pass my time as I pleased, to divide it between books and amusements, but giving much more of it to pleasure than to study" (although there may be a little tongue-in-cheek to this; see her essay listed above).
In any case, she was obviously very hard working in her years as a settler. Some of that may be due to inclination; much to necessity. Although her husband died in 1868, Frances was supporting her family well before that, having started her first school in 1852.
Her father’s background is mysterious, as is the fate of her husband and her son. Frances herself is well-documented in the DNZB article, however I will make mention of whatever (apocryphal) notes I can find from her grand-daughter Hinemoa (Shayle George) Simmonds.
Work
For more details of her writings and her work, see the DNZB entry under George. Suffice to say she wrote a number of poems and essays, opened several schools, and was active in education administration. She wanted girls to be educated so that they could, if necessary, support themselves and family. Yet she couldn’t be considered an early feminist, given her overall conservative views. For example, she accepted a faddish view that long hours of study were ‘detrimental to female growth’. She apparently had some political influence, and her obituary recognised her significant contributions despite her apparent lack of activity in later years.
Mystery
The main mystery is the fate of her husband. Her mother arrived in the same year her last child was born. Was this coincidence, or did she come to help with the children. Did her arrival precipitate Thomas’ departure, or was it due to his already having left? Were her views on girls’ education shaped by her own experience with an unsupportive husband?
Chronology
1828-Sep-20 born in Clifton, a very well-to-do suburb of Bristol (just south of Wales)
1841 Father dies.
1848-Oct-20 Married Thomas Shayle George from Monmouth, in Boyton Wiltshire (somewhat east of Bristol), officiated by her half-brother George
1849-Sep-25 Son Charles born in Newport (now part of Wales)
1850-Dec-18 Arrived in Auckland on the Sir Edward Paget, with husband and son
1851-Sep-21 Son William born
1852-Oct Opened Wye Cottage Seminary, a co-educational primary school
1855 Collection of her poetry published in aid of Crimean war soldiers
1858-Oct-5 Daughter Frances Marion born in Avonleigh [=house name?], Remuera, Auckland
1861-May-19 Daughter Helena Grace born in Remuera
1863 Daughter Evelyne Mary born
1863-Jul-22 mother Martha arrived from England on Portland
1867-Jan-30 Opened school ‘for young ladies’
1868-Apr Husband Thomas died in Rock Island, Illinois
1890-Sep-8 Died.
Other references
Apart from some birth notices, I have no more detail than the following terse entries, sourced from Raewyn Dalziel's work for DNZB:
Elphick: "What's wrong with Emma", NZJH 9/2, Oct 1975, p136
Elphick: "A social history of Auckland", 1870-74, pp141, 151, 153, 211
Brookes: "Girls' secondary education in Auckland", p977
Cummings, I: "Glorious enterprise", p69
JAHS, no 2, Apr 1963, p40 (article on Wye Cottage)
Provincial Index, APL
New Zealand Herald 6/10/1890 (obituary)
The New Zealander, 21/12/1850 (ship arrival notice).
Cumming, I. Glorious enterprise. Christchurch, 1959
posted by S Simmonds | 9:56 am
2 Comments:
And buried in Mt Victoria cemetery - North Shore
Yes Frances is buried at Mt Victoria, Devonport, No.166, there is also another grave reference there for a Thomas Shayle George, 19hrs, who died 1885, No 489. Am not sure who this is but perhaps its a grandson & son of Charles?
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