Mary Colton
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Mary Colton (née Cutting; from 1891, Lady Colton; 6 December 1822, was an Australian philanthropist and
suffragist Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise is the right to vote in public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally in English, the right to vo ...
.


Early life and family

Colton was born in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, the eldest of three children of Samuel Cutting, bootmaker, and his wife Hannah. In 1839 she emigrated with her widowed father, her brother Alfred and sister Hannah to
Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...
,
South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...
aboard ''Orleana'', arriving in June 1840. In 1844 Colton married (later Sir) John Colton saddler, hardware merchant and politician. Colton had nine children, several of whom died in infancy with her last child being born in 1865.


Philanthropy

Colton worked tirelessly for the poor and vulnerable, especially women and children. A committed
Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...
, Mary began her philanthropy with the church's Dorcas Society, the South Adelaide Wesleyan Ladies' Working Society and the Nursing Sisters' Association. In the 1860s she served on the ladies' committee that managed the practical affairs of the Servant's Home, a facility for newly arrived female immigrants and servants awaiting employment. In 1867 she joined the ladies' committee of the Female Refuge, which sheltered single pregnant girls, reformed sex workers, deserted wives and victims of violence. In 1876 she was a founder of the Adelaide Children's Hospital and remained on the board of management for the rest of her life. Colton actively contributed to 22 causes in her public work as well as contributing to the lives of many in a private capacity including the Home for Incurables; the Maternity Relief Association; and the Strangers' Friend Society. In the 1880s and 1890s, as president of the Adelaide Female Reformatory, she visited women prisoners and assisted them on discharge.


Social activism

In 1870 and in 1872 Colton joined deputations pressing the South Australian government to end institutional care and to introduce boarding-out for state children. After they succeeded in 1872, Colton worked on the Boarding-out Society's committee, then on the pioneering State Children's Council which was responsible for children cared for by licensed
foster parents Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home (residential child care community or treatment centre), or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent", or with a family member ...
, in reformatories or in industrial schools ( reform schools, mostly for neglected children). In 1883 she became treasurer and then president of the new ladies' division of the Social Purity Society, which successfully campaigned to have the age of consent raised from the age of 12.


Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)

Colton worked with young women all her life and was particularly concerned for the welfare of girls with no family home. In 1884 she co-founded a club with a Christian focus for working girls which in December that year became a branch of the
Young Women's Christian Association The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swit ...
. Colton remained president of the YWCA for the remainder of her life opening city residential premises and suburban branches and successfully extending religious meetings, clubs and classes to supplement work of the churches.


Women's Suffrage League

In May 1892 Colton succeeded Edward Stirling as the President of the Women's Suffrage League where she guided it 'through all difficulties and discouragements'. The magnitude of her efforts for others had made her widely known and respected and this undoubtedly influenced some opinion to support the women's suffrage platform. Colton was applauded warmly when the league met to dissolve itself after the suffrage legislation was gazetted in March 1895.


Later life

After her husband was
knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...
ed in 1891, she became Mary, Lady Colton. She died at her home on 30 July 1898 and is buried in
West Terrace cemetery The West Terrace Cemetery, formerly Adelaide Public Cemetery is a cemetery in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the state's oldest cemetery, first appearing on Colonel William Light's 1837 plan of the Adelaide city centre, to the south-west of ...
, and was survived by her husband, one daughter and four of her sons. The Colton Ward at the
Women's and Children's Hospital The Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH) is a hospital dedicated to the care of women and children in Adelaide, South Australia. It was established in March 1989, when the Queen Victoria Hospital and Adelaide Children's Hospital were amalgamate ...
and ''Lady Colton Hall'' in the 1900 YWCA building on
Hindmarsh Square Hindmarsh Square/Mukata (formerly Mogata) is one of five public squares in the Adelaide city centre, South Australia. It is located in the centre of the north-eastern quarter of the city, and surrounds the intersection of Grenfell and Pulten ...
were named in her honour.


References


External links


SA Memory

Office for Women
*
YWCA of Adelaide
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colton, Mary 1822 births 1898 deaths Australian suffragists English emigrants to colonial Australia People from South Australia Burials at West Terrace Cemetery