Ann Shute

It's interesting to note that at the time of their marriage on 22 August 1830 in Woolborough, Devon, England Ann Pote and John Pearse were shown to be sojourners. Their daughters Mary Ann and Jemima (born in 1830 and 1832 respectively) were baptised in Starcross, Devon on 19 September 1834 and at that time the family were residing in Cockwood, Devon. John's occupation was recorded as a mason. By 1841 Ann and her daughters were back in Stoke Damerel, Devon (where Ann had close family connections). Acording to the 1841 census they were residing in Marlborough Street, Stoke Damerel and there is no mention of John Pearse. Their surname has been spelt Pearce (possibly a transcription error) and Ann is shown to be a "Wid" [sic]. Whether Ann really was a widow or not is hard to determine as there are many John Pearse/Pearce deaths recorded in that area around that time. It's possible he may still have been alive and for reasons known only to Ann, she felt compelled to revert to her maiden surname of Pote when she and her daughters emigrated to New Zealand in 1841. This could explain why she stated she was a spinster on her marriage to Thomas William Shute in 1842 because maybe her first husband was still alive?

It's worth noting that a report written in 1843 by J Wicksteed, Resident Agent, New Plymouth to Colonel William Wakefield, Prime Agent, New Zealand Company, Wellington mentions that as Thomas Shute's wife was a widow Wicksteed feels they are not entitled to receive a labourers' section of Townland.

Also of note is that on the birth entry of Amelia Boyd in 1856 (daughter of Mary Ann Pote and John Boyd) Mary Ann's husband has recorded her maiden name as Pearce rather than Pote.

By Lynette Bonham (4th great granddaughter of Ann Pote)

Emigration 22 June 1841 • Sailed from Plymouth, England. Arrived in New Plymouth, New Zealand on 7 November 1841 on board the "Oriental". The Captain was William Wilson and the Surgeon Superintendent was Arthur Kemball.

Also on the Oriental was Thomas William Shute, the man Ann would later marry in 1842.