Jane Williams

Jane Williams, born Jane Nelson (c.1801? – 6 October 1896), was a pioneering educator in New Zealand. Together with her sister-in-law Marianne Williams she established schools for Māori children and adults. She also educated the children of the Church Missionary Society in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Early life Jane was baptised in Nottingham on 29 April 1801. She was the daughter of James Nelson and his wife, Anna Maria Dale of Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. In 1817 Jane became a teacher at the school for girls in Southwell, Nottinghamshire run by Mary Williams, mother of Henry and William Williams who were both members of the Church Missionary Society (CMS). In 1822 Henry Williams and his wife Marianne Williams sailed to New Zealand, to join the CMS mission in the Bay of Islands. William Williams intended to follow his brother after completing his training. On 11 July 1825, Jane married William Williams. On 12 August William and Jane embarked on to sail to Sydney, Australia, then on to Paihia, Bay of Islands, where they arrived on 25 March 1826. Jane and her husband had nine children: Mary, born 12 April 1826; married Samuel Williams Jane Elizabeth, born 23 October 1827; married Henry (Harry) Williams William Leonard, born 22 July 1829; married Sarah Wanklyn. Thomas Sydney, born 9 February 1831 James Nelson, born 22 August 1837; married Mary Beetham. Anna Maria, born 25 February 1839 Lydia Catherine, born 7 April 1841 Marianna, born 22 August 1843 Emma Caroline, born 20 February 1846; married William Nelson.