Biography

ABBOTT, Mary Ellen (Minnie) (1863 - 1901)

Mary Abbott, often known as Minnie, was born on 14^th April 1863, at Ballarat, Victoria. She was the eldest child of William Henry Abbott and Mary Elizabeth Searle. William was born on 23^rd June 1839 at Anaghadoo, County Monaghan, Ireland, and Mary was born on 27^th November 1844 at Torquay, in Devon. William and Mary came to Australia as early settlers and married at Ballarat.

William was a baker, of Ballarat, and family legend has it that the famous "Welcome" nugget of gold was brought into his bakery to be weighed. One of the finders is reputed to have said to William's wife Mary, "If you can lift it, lady, you can have it." Unfortunately, that was quite beyond Mary's ability.

Besides Mary Ellen, six other children were born to William and Mary at Ballarat. One of these was Ada Jane,' who after the family had been in Tasmania for some time, married Carl Eberhard, chemist, of Launceston, who built and lived in 122 Elphin Road.

William and Mary and their family moved to Melbourne, where two more children were born.

The family came to Tasmania in 1880 and settled in Launceston where William became a brewer at the Cornwall Brewery. This establishment was owned by the Fawns family and headed by the Revd J. A. Fawns. William Abbott eventually became a partner. When Mr Fawns died in 1887, William Abbott set up his own Phoenix Brewery and operated as a brewer, soft drink maker, sauce maker, tea and coffee merchant.

The soft drink factory was in Paterson Street from 1879, next door to The Examiner newspaper building, but was demolished not many years ago to make way for a car park. This business was run under the name of M. E.  Abbott, (Mary Elizabeth), and eventually became "Abbott's Pty. Ltd.". Mary Ellen kept the books for this concern until her death on 28^th February 1901.

Mary Ellen was a keen stamp collector and corresponded with many other collectors all over Australia and New Zealand. She was a member of St. John's choir, and she and most of her brothers and sisters were confirmed there.

It is interesting to note that three of Mary Ellen's uncles became Anglican clergymen, one of them as archdeacon. The Revd Joseph Abbott was connected with the Sidmouth parish.

After the death of Mary Ellen, the family had a brass plaque erected in St. John's Church. It was first placed on the back of one of the old cedar choir stalls, but when the present stalls were introduced the plaque was repositioned by the choir vestry door. The inscription reads:
IN REMEMBRANCE OF
M. E. (MINNIE) ABBOTT
DIED FEBRUARY 28 1901
A MEMBER OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH CHOIR
FOR 15 YEARS
PEACE, PERFECT PEACE

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