Half Jewish maid-servant who came to Australia on the 19th Feb 1833 on the ship the "Prince Regent". Mary came out as a servant to an Indian Officer and Royal Navy Surgeon, Dr William Bell Carlisle. Dr Carlisle took up land in the Scone area of NSW. She tendered with great care her employers Prickly Pear (Opuntia inerermis) on the journey to Australia which began the spread of prickly pear in Australia. While the Prickily Pear had been brought out by Phillip with the First Fleet It was this variety which became the least liked but best known. Unluckily for Queenslanders, Scone was on the pioneers route to Queensland and as this variety flourished in the area Dr Carlisle became very generous in passing on cuttings to the travelers passing through so that they could use it for fencing on their properties. Her own family took cuttings with them as they moved along the route to Bundarra where they settled for several years passing on cuttings of the plant to friends and neighbors in the area. Her home at the time of her death was was a small house made of slabs with a shingle roof. She was burnt to death when her home caught alight.

Extract from "The Bulletin" May 13th, 1899.

PRICKLY CHARACTER

"Granny" Sutton, burnt to death at Scone (N.S.W.), the other day,enjoyed the doubtful honor of being the first to introduce prickly-pear to that region. Between 60 & 70 years ago she took with her to the Scone district a prickly-pear plant, and nursed the pest with such care that she was soon able to supply her neighbors with settings. The thousands of pounds sterling it has cost local pastoralists to eradicate the plant never appeared to diminish her satisfaction in having been its nurse. Apart from this, she ranked as the kindest of old souls, and had many interesting anecdotes to tell of the desperadoes known as the Jew Boys gang.

• Married: 22 APR 1836 in Invermein, Via Scone, NSW BDM V1836/422 Vol 20/1836

1. Mary Elizabeth SUTTON b: 19 SEP 1835 in Scone, NSW
2. Charles Henry SUTTON b: 03 JUN 1837 in Scone, NSW