The Story of Thomas Mazlin and Ann Wing

A New Beginning: The Marriage of Thomas Mazlin and Ann Wing

Following the death of his first wife, Catherine Cook, in 1856, Sarah Cook took on the care of her grandchildren. Thomas Mazlin, aged 10, remained with his father to learn the timber trade. After seven years, Thomas remarried on 1 September 1863 to Ann Wing. This marriage brought much-needed stability, allowing Thomas to firmly establish his life in the Lane Cove and Gordon areas of New South Wales.

Ann Wing, born in 1846, was significantly younger than Thomas. At the time of their marriage, she was only 17 years old, while Thomas was 44. Marriages with such age differences were not uncommon during the 19th century, especially in colonial Australia, where practical considerations often influenced marriage decisions. Ann was the daughter of William Wing, a printer and compositor at the Sydney Morning Herald, and Esther Carr. The Wing family had roots in Sydney, and William Wing's work in the print industry had likely established them as a family of modest but stable means. Ann's youth and energy, combined with Thomas's experience, provided a solid foundation for the family they would build together.

With Ann now at his side, Thomas embraced a new future. Their union quickly grew into a full family, as Thomas and Ann began to establish their household and welcome children.

The Growing Mazlin Family: Children, Joy, and Loss

Between 1864 and 1881, Thomas and Ann Mazlin had nine children, all born in the Lane Cove area, reflecting the growth and stability that their union had brought. Their eldest, David, was born in 1864, followed by Joseph Samuel in 1865, and Arthur Albert in 1869. Charles Wesley was born in 1871, and Donald Edwin joined the family in 1873. Sadly, Alfred Ernest, born in 1875, and Esther Amy, born in 1877, both died in infancy—a heartbreak that many families of the time shared. Despite these losses, Eliza Jane, born in 1879, and Annie Louisa, born in 1881, rounded out the Mazlin family, which remained strong and resilient despite the hardships of colonial life.

Such losses, while tragically common, must have cast a long shadow over their home. Yet, the Mazlins pressed on, driven by the demands of survival in colonial Australia. These early deaths highlighted the difficulties of raising children in a time when medical care was limited. Rural families often faced challenges like inadequate access to doctors, a lack of effective treatments for common diseases such as measles and diphtheria, and an absence of proper prenatal care. Despite these hardships, the Mazlins remained a large and active family, and their surviving children would go on to play significant roles in both the local community and the family’s growing agricultural and timber businesses.

The expansion of the Mazlin family through the 1860s and 1870s embodied the hope and perseverance of many settler families, navigating hardship and finding purpose amidst uncertainty. Their story is one of resilience and adaptation, capturing the spirit of the colonial era in Australia.

Life and Livelihood: From Sawyer to Orchardist

With a growing family to support, Thomas’s livelihood began to evolve as he adapted to the changing needs of the colony. Throughout much of his life, Thomas Mazlin was known for his work as a sawyer, a profession he had been involved in since his early years. The timber industry was crucial to the expansion of Sydney, as settlers needed timber for building homes, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. Thomas’s skills in timber cutting, along with his connections within the timber community, made him a valuable contributor to the economic development of New South Wales.

Thomas Mazlin’s timber operations were likely integral to various major projects during Sydney’s growth. Timber was in high demand for building homes and bridges that allowed Sydney to expand, and it also played a crucial role in maintaining Sydney Harbour's wharves, essential for trade and the movement of goods. Additionally, timber was used extensively for constructing public infrastructure like schools, courthouses, and government buildings, which were vital to the colony's growth. Such projects underpinned the rapid development of the settlement, with Thomas’s contributions supporting both infrastructure and economic progress.

However, as the colony expanded, Thomas gradually shifted his focus from timber to orchard farming, becoming an orchardist in the Lane Cove district. He cultivated oranges and other fruits, contributing to the agricultural development of the region. This transition from timber to agriculture mirrored a broader trend in colonial Australia, as settlers began to diversify their activities to meet the growing demand for food and agricultural produce. Thomas’s work in cultivating fruit became an essential part of the local trade, helping to sustain both his family and the wider community.

The Wing family’s land in the Gordon area, a parcel of 13.5 acres on Stony Creek Road, became central to the Mazlins’ farming activities. This land was used not only for growing fruit but also for other agricultural pursuits that provided a steady income and a measure of self-sufficiency for the family. Owning land provided the Mazlins with both security and the opportunity to diversify their income through agriculture. Thomas’s shift from timber to orchard farming reflected his ability to adapt to changing economic circumstances and a smart investment in the future. By cultivating oranges and other fruits, the Mazlins were able to participate in the growing agricultural trade that was becoming essential to the colony’s economy. The family’s land holdings, therefore, were not just a means of subsistence but a key part of their long-term strategy for financial stability and growth. Thomas had come a long way from his difficult beginnings. Born illegitimately to Hannah Brown, a convicted felon transported to Australia, and orphaned at just 16, he had faced significant challenges early in his early life. Yet, through grit, hard work and the support of his two wives and their families, Thomas built a stable future for his family. 

Religious and Community Life: Wesleyan and Methodist Connections

The Mazlin family's religious commitment was not only a cornerstone of their personal life but also a key influence on their community standing and values. The Wesleyan faith, and later the Methodist Church, provided a moral framework that emphasized hard work, discipline, and compassion for others. These values influenced how the Mazlins treated their workers fairly and ensured ethical practices in their business dealings. In particular, the Wesleyan tradition’s focus on social justice and community service shaped their interactions with neighbors and workers, inspiring them to assist those in need and lead community initiatives.

Over time, the Methodist Church became a central hub for the family’s spiritual and social life. Thomas’s involvement in the construction of a local church was a testament to his commitment to his community and his faith. In the Gordon and Lane Cove areas, churches like the Chatswood South Methodist Church played a significant role in religious and social gatherings. This focus on community service, education, and moral guidance resonated with the Mazlins, especially as they raised a large family and contributed to local development. Both Thomas and Ann helped organize church events, contributed financially, and maintained the church grounds, demonstrating their dedication to building a cohesive community.

Thomas was known for contributing his time and resources to the church, which included providing labor, sourcing materials, and organizing fundraising efforts. His deep connection to his faith was evident in these actions, and the church became a hub for education, gatherings, and moral guidance, reflecting the long-term impact of Thomas's contributions to the community. 

Challenges and Loss: The Deaths of Ann and Thomas Mazlin

The later years of Thomas and Ann's marriage were marked by the harsh realities of pioneer life. Ann passed away in 1890 at the age of 45. Her death left Thomas, who had already lost his first wife, to care for their surviving children.. Thomas had outlived two wives. Ann’s death was a significant blow to the family, particularly as many of their children were still young and in need of care. The loss of a mother in such circumstances often had far-reaching consequences for families in rural Australia, where extended family networks were crucial for survival.

Ann Wing’s death in 1890 had a profound impact on Thomas Mazlin, both personally and professionally. As the mother of his younger children, Ann had been central to managing the household and ensuring that the family functioned smoothly. With her passing, Thomas had to not only grapple with the emotional toll of losing a second wife but also the practical challenges of maintaining his business and raising his children. It is possible that Ann’s death contributed to the gradual decline in Thomas’s health in the years that followed. Without her support, the demands of running both the timber and orchard businesses may have become increasingly difficult for Thomas to manage. His eventual passing just four years later suggests that the burden of these responsibilities, combined with the loss of his wife, took a significant toll on his well-being.”

In the wake of Ann’s death, it seems natural that her mother, Esther Wing, would have stepped in to help care for her grandchildren. Living nearby and with a strong bond to her daughter’s family, Esther was well-positioned to offer support during this difficult period. At the time of Ann’s passing, Esther was 69 years old but still in good health, as evidenced by the fact that she lived for another 19 years. Her presence would have provided the stability and continuity needed to maintain a semblance of normalcy for the children. In 19th-century Australia, it was common for grandparents to assume caregiving roles, particularly in rural communities where extended family was often essential for survival. Esther’s involvement likely played a vital role in helping the family cope with the loss, ensuring that the children’s upbringing continued smoothly while Thomas managed his business and dealt with his own grief.” 

Thomas continued to manage the family’s timber and orchard interests for several more years, but his health began to decline after Ann’s death. He passed away on 23 September 1894, aged 75, and was buried beside his wife in the Church of St. John the Evangelist Cemetery in Gordon, alongside two of their children, Alfred Ernest and Esther Amy.

Legacy and the Next Generation

 Carrying on the Legacy: The Mazlin Children

After the deaths of Thomas and Ann, their children carried on the family legacy. David, Joseph, and Arthur became actively involved in the timber and agricultural industries, playing key roles in the pioneering efforts in North Queensland during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The family's influence in these industries highlighted their adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit, traits that sustained them across generations.

The Mazlins’ involvement in these industries must also be understood within the broader context of Aboriginal dispossession. As European settlers expanded into areas traditionally held by Indigenous communities, timber extraction and agriculture contributed to the displacement of Aboriginal peoples from their lands. While Thomas and Ann focused on building a future for their family, they were part of a colonial system that marginalized Indigenous peoples. The Mazlins likely viewed the land as a resource to be developed, without fully appreciating its cultural significance to Aboriginal communities. This tension between economic progress and Indigenous dispossession was a hallmark of colonial Australia, and while the Mazlins contributed to the growth of New South Wales, it is important to acknowledge the cost of this expansion on the original inhabitants of the land.

Upon Thomas’s death in 1894, his will revealed that his estate was distributed among the children born to his second wife, Ann Wing, excluding the children from his first marriage to Catherine Cook. He appointed Ann, John Davidson (a builder from Paddington), and Jane Johnston (his sister-in-law) as executors. The estate was left to David, Joseph, Arthur, Charles, Donald, Eliza, and Annie—children from his second marriage. The exclusion of his children from the first marriage likely reflected an emotional distance that had grown over time. Raised largely under their grandmother Sarah Cook's care, they may have been seen as already independent by the time Thomas started his new family with Ann.

The Mazlin children from Thomas's second marriage played significant roles in continuing the family's legacy. David, Joseph, and Arthur in particular became involved in timber and agricultural ventures, following in their father's footsteps. Their pioneering work in North Queensland was part of a broader settlement wave opening new regions for development. The resilience and entrepreneurial spirit that defined the Mazlin family in Lane Cove carried forward into these new endeavors, contributing to both the economic growth of the regions they lived in and the ongoing Mazlin presence in Australia's developing agricultural and timber sectors.

Conclusion: A New Chapter for the Mazlins

The second marriage of Thomas Mazlin to Ann Wing was a defining period in the Mazlin early family’s history. Together, they raised a large family, contributed to the economic and social development of their community, and left a lasting legacy through their children and their involvement in the timber and agricultural industries. Their story, set against the backdrop of 19th-century Australia, reflects the broader themes of adaptation, and the challenges of pioneer life.