Born

23 October 1810
Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Died

19 February 1880
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Occupation

Prison matron

Alternative Names

• Oakes, Mary (maiden name)

Summary

The daughter of missionaries Francis and Rebecca Oakes, Mary Hutchinson attempted to establish a Christian mission in Tonga with her husband John Hutchinson, but the pair were forced to retreat. In 1832, John Hutchinson was appointed superintendent of the Female House of Correction (the female factory), with his wife as matron. Of their twelve children, six died in infancy. John Hutchinson's recurring illness meant that Mary was often charged with running the institution. On her husband's retirement, she became matron-in-charge of the smaller 'factory' at Launceston. She retired in 1854.

Sources used to compile this entry: Black, David, 'Hutchison, Ruby Florence (1892-1974)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography Online, Australian National University, 2006, http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140600b.htm.