Leonard I'anson

Leonard and Maria nee Plested with their one year old son sailed from the Port of London three days into the new year of 1839.  It took seven months for the 75 immigrants aboard to arrive at Port Adelaide.  Leonard was appointed constable for the voyage.

Maria was born in London on September 21, 1816, within the sound of the Bow Bells.   Leonard was born in 1809 and the couple married in St Luke’s church London in September 1837.

She and her husband arrived in the new colony when the Governor was living in a thatched cottage on North Terrace and most of the city site was still dense scrub.

In an interview given when she was 86, she reported that in the early days, ‘provisions were very scarce.  Our first Sunday dinner was a sheep’s head and pluck’.

The family lived in Currie Street for two and a half years.  Here Leonard worked as a bootmaker before moving to Dry Creek where Leonard took up small scale farming.  They resided her for nine years before moving to One Tree Hill in 1850.    The family had grown to ten by that time, this with a sick husband and the gold rush frenzy made life hard.  Leonard prospered as a farmer and with each move their holding s grew.

Three children were born at One Tree Hill, Henry North, Frederick James and Thomas.  The family owned land near the Sampson’s through which land was appropriated for a road.

Leonard junior married Emma Nourse.  Emma was the daughter of Richard Nourse who was publican at the One tree Hill Inn from 1855.  They married in 1864, after the family had left the area.

Maria and Leonard would move to Steelton, to the east of Saddleworth.  This was around 1858 when Leonard became the mail contractor.  Maria was a midwife, and is thought never to have lost a baby.

Leonard had been colonist for 36 years when he died at the age of 65 in 1875.

Maria possessed of a very active mind, a bright and cheery disposition, a kindly heart, and was loved by everybody.    King George III reigned when she was born, so that it was her privilege to live in the reign of five British sovereigns.

Mrs. I'Anson was a devout member of the Methodist Church for more than half a century. The family  joined the Primitive Methodists when that Church was opened at Pancharpoo in 1858; the land for which was given by My Joseph Kinsey of Salisbury, whose daughter Martha later married John I'Anson.   John, Frederick and Thomas become local preachers.  Matilda, Thomas and Emily led the singing in the days before an organ was introduced into the church.

Maria passed away at her son's residence, Prospect Hill Farm, Steelton, on March 21 1907, at the ripe age of 91 years and six months.

She has left a family of five sons and three daughters, all devout Christians, 25 grandchildren, and 25 great-grand-children, to mourn their loss.

Leonard and Maria are buried together in Panchapoo Cemetery.  The grave also contains Henry North their 12 year old son. North is reference to Leonards mother’s maiden name.

Children            

Leonard                            1838 – 1923 (85)

Eliza Maria                       1840 – 1913
George John                    1842 – 1934 (92)
Matilda                             1844 – 1925 (81)
Edwin                                1846 – 1925 (79)
William Henry                   1848 – 1912 (64)
Henry North                     1850 – 1862
Frederick James               1852 – 1898
Thomas Plested              1855 – 1947 (92)
Emily Anne                       1857 - 1919