A YEAR'S HOUSEKEEPING IN SOUTH AFRICA

Mary Anne Stewart was the eldest daughter of a family from the upper middle class. She was born on January 29, 1831, in Jamaica, where her father served as Island Secretary. Her first husband, George Barker (1817–1861), was awarded a title for his military service shortly before his death. She subsequently married Frederick Napier Broome (1842–1896), a man 11 years her junior; he was knighted in 1884. Mary Anne Barker wrote under the name Lady Barker until 1884, when she changed to Lady Broome. Her life crisscrossed the world, from Jamaica to England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Mauritius, and Trinidad.

Mary Anne’s books and articles hit all the right notes in the latter half of the nineteenth century.  "Initially, Mary Anne Barker turned to writing as a means of support after her first husband died unexpectedly leaving her with two young boys. When she remarried in 1865, she and her second husband (a reputed but minor poet) headed for New Zealand to establish a sheep station. After this venture failed, Frederick served in colonial administrative posts for the British government. Mary Anne accompanied him and wrote books or essays about each of his residencies."

Source: Twists & Turns: The Extraordinary Adventures of Lady Mary Anne Barker  https://pieceworkmagazine.com/adventures-mary-anne-barker/