Thomas Nevin’s parents

Thomas Nevin’s portraits of his parents before 1875 …

Mary Nevin, mother of Thomas Nevin early 1870s
From © The Nevin Family and Shelverton Collections 2007-2009 Arr

Mary Nevin (nee -? 1810-1875), mother of Tasmanian photographer Thomas Nevin, was born in England in 1810. She married Belfast-born John Nevin (1808-1887) in northern Ireland ca. 1830s, and migrated to Hobart, Tasmania in 1852 with her husband who worked their passage as a warden on board the convict transport Fairlie. They accompanied 30 or so boys from the Parkhurst prison on the Isle of Wight.

John Nevin, father of Thomas Nevin early 1870s
From © The Nevin Family and Shelverton Collections 2007-2009 Arr

This pioneer Tasmanian family brought their three children, all under 12 years of age – Thomas (born 1842), Mary Ann (born 1846), and William John (called Jack, born 1851, babe in arms on the voyage out). They settled on a farm and orchard at Kangaroo Valley, known as Lenah Valley since 1922. Soon after settling at Kangaroo Valley, John Nevin became the keeper and school master on the property owned by the Trustees of the Wesleyan Chapel (1 acre), and established a farm and orchard in a garden (1 acre) on an adjoining property owned by Mary Nairn.

John wrote and published poetry. Two pamphlets are held in public collections: “My Cottage in the Wilderness”, published in April 1868, is held at the Mitchell Library NSW; and “Lines written on the sudden and much lamented death of Mr William Genge who died at the Wesleyan Chapel, Melville-street, Hobart on the morning of 17th January 1881, in the 73rd year of his age” as a ten stanza lament, is held at the State Library of Tasmania. See the original of the latter here on this site:

These particular images of Mary Nevin (mother) and John Nevin (father), were scanned from prints on sepia newspaper of cartes which had been pasted into the scrapbook of Thomas’ son George Nevin, held by a great grandson.

Parents Mary & John Nevin.
© The Nevin Family and Shelverton Collections 2006-2009 Arr

The studio decor of these standard portraits by Nevin of his family, and of other clientele during these years, consistently featured a diamond-patterned carpet, a shiny-backed low easy chair, a table with griffin-shaped legs, a curtain draped down one side of the frame, and a river-scene wall-hanging (not visible here).

They were taken in Thomas Nevin’s studio, The City Photographic Establishment, 140 Elizabeth Street, Hobart Town, ca. 1870, and no later than 1875, the year his mother Mary died.

The Tasmanian Pioneer Index lists a second marriage for the father, John Nevin. At the age of 71 yrs old, he married Martha Salter, aged 46 yrs, in Hobart, on the 23rd October, 1879.

Source: Tasmanian Pioneer Index: 711/1879/RGD:37

RELATED POSTS at main weblog

• On board the Fairlie 1852 with the Parkhurst boys
• Nevins on sick list during voyage out on Fairlie 1852
• The Medical Officer’s report of the Fairlie passengers 1852
• Mary and John Nevin, Thomas Nevin’s parents
• Kangaroo Valley and the New Town stereos
• John Nevin’s Wesleyan Lament for William Genge