Mary Charlotte Smith

Mary Charlotte Smith She was born 8th July 1817 and was a talented and spirited girl who loved horse riding.  She married William Henry Dobell, the youngest son of John Dobell, on November 22nd 1843, and had five children, a boy who died aged 2 weeks and then four girls of whom your great grandmother, Alice Rose Dobell, born on 17th June 1851, was the youngest. Mary Charlotte wrote a little book of verse for her children which was printed in October 1853 and called “Dew-Drops for the Opening Bud”.  This is one of her verses:- Gently upon the opening bud The crystal dew-drops lay; Reflecting in their varied hues, The beams of heavenly day. Deem them not wasted, if unseen at noon’s advancing hour; Nourished by them, behold the bud, A full expanded flower.

Sadly Mary Charlotte died aged 49 on 6th August 1866.  She was injured in a fall from a horse and spent the last years of her life as an invalid - picture below

A portrait, painted about 1835 of Mary Charlotte and her parents, Seth Smith and Elizabeth Rose and her sisters and brothers.  In age order they were Elizabeth Rose, Mary Charlotte,Martha Medlicott, Sarah, Charles Edward, William Seth and Basil Wood.

Mary Charlotte