Spong, Mary (née Lawrence) (c.1834 - 1891)

Born, c.1834; died 2 November 1891.

The eldest daughter of William Lawrence of 'Kirkby House', 'Bruni'. In 1860, Mary married a master mariner, Edward Nash Spong (1818-1907), and they had at least five children. The Spongs lived at Cape Wickham, King Island between 1861/1862-1882 where Mary's husband was lighthouse keeper.

Mary collected MEL specimens at King Island, 1881.

Her husband also collected MEL specimens.

Mary died in her 57th year in 1891 leaving 10 pounds to her husband.

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