Barker, Mary Ann (née Elvidge)   (1790 - 1872)

Born London, England, 13 May 1790; died Emerald Hill, County of Bourke, NSW, 13 Sept. 1872. [Hunt gives 9 Mar.1876]

Arrived Melbourne, Vic, Nov. 1845. Lived on son's property at Cape Schanck, collecting seaweeds there for W.H.Harvey, 1850s.

Specimens at NSW (2).

Commemorated in Rhodophyllis, Gloiophyllis.

Source: George, A.S. (2009) Australian Botanist's Companion, Four Gables Press, WA. [consult for source references]

BARKER, MARY ANNE NEE ELRIDGE, 1790-1872, coll. Vic. Born in England. Married John Barker (1799-1833), a gentleman, and they had three sons. In 1842, Mary migrated to Vic. where her sons were already pastoralists near Melbourne. She collected MEL specimens at Port Phillip Heads, n.d., and also collected algal specimens for William Harvey at Cape Schanck in the 1850s. Mueller forwarded the specimens to Harvey. Mary collected the type of Rhodophyllis barkeriae Harv. (1863), which was named for her. Mary's daughter-inlaw, SUSANNAH BARKER may also have collected MEL specimens. There are also Mary Barker specimens at NSW. In 1872, Mary died in Melbourne aged 83.

Source: Maroske, Sara and Vaughan, Alison (2014) 'Ferdinand Mueller's female plant collectors: a biographical register', Muelleria Vol.32 [consult for source references]