Maria Caroline CHAPMAN was the 5th (or 6th) child of Catherine (noted as CAREY on birth entry) and Edward Samuel CHAPMAN - born in March 1852 in Hobart.

From the records of correspondence through the Colonial Secretary's Office it transpired that she and her two older sisters were placed into the Queen's Orphanage in early March 1854. This was as a result of their plight being highlighted to the authorities by Archdeacon Davies who describes the situation of these three destitute children. He states that they were "deserted" by their father who was a steward on a ship travelling to England and that the mother was of bad character (coincidentally their mother died in late March 1854).

Maria was not quite 2 years old when admitted into the Queen's Orphanage and one can only imagine how she and her two older sisters (Frances Sarah 10 years and Sarah Elizabeth 6 years) would have looked - bedraggled, dirty - perhaps even clinging to each other for warmth, safety and comfort.

Her discharge from the orphanage was 12 months later (March 1855) into the care of her father ES CHAPMAN ("free" - by birth or by servitude?) with her older sister Sarah Elizabeth. One might think that their father didn't return till this time or he left them in care which enabled him to work.

Maria married in Victoria in 1880 to William Thomas HARDESS and they produced 4 children (Albert, Alice, Henry and Charles). Maria died in 1922 in Footscrayat the age of 70 years.

Maria Caroline CHAPMAN is the sister of my great-great-grandfather and I am honoured to have the opportunity to claim and thus acknowledge her life.