Mary Ann Baber (née Simmons)

'Natural and reputed colored daughter' of Henry Peter Simmons, owner of Vaucluse estate in Barbados. When her father wrote his will in 1839 she was 'the wife of James Baber Junior Esquire of Leelands in England' and '(late Mary Ann Simmons Spinster).' Bequeathed an annuity of £50 p.a. in the will of her father.

Mary Ann Simmons, daughter of Henry Peter Simmons, married James Baber 20/06/1839 in Hailsham, Sussex. "At Hellingby, Sussex, James, second son of James Baber, esq., of Leelands, to Mary Anne, dau. of H. P. Simmons, esq., of Barbados.' They are possibly the James Baber age 25 of independent means and the Mary Baber age 30 living at Chichester Place, Lambeth, Surrey, in the census of 1841. In the same census, a James Baber age 55 of independent means and a Mary Baber age 45 were living in Hailsham, Sussex, presumably the parents of James Baber junior.

Mary Ann Baber of Albany Road, Lambeth, age 34, was buried 08/04/1844 in St Giles, Camberwell, Surrey. On 28/10/1847, James Baber, widower, of Clyst Honiton, son of James Baber, married Elizabeth Smith, spinster, daughter of Abraham Smith.

PROB 11/1990/244. Familysearch.org batch no. M02528-3. Gentleman's Magazine Vol. XII p. 196 (August 1839). 1841 census online. Ancestry.com, London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980 [database online]. Findmypast, Devon Marriages, 4023A/PR/1/6.