Elizabeth SCHUMACK

Born around 1806 if her age at death is correct, I have at last found the origins of this ancestor. Her obituary tells us that she came to Van Diemen's Land with Captain Langdon in about1837. She was born at Martock, not far north of Montacute in Somerset. She married Samuel GEARD in 1837 in Bothwell, the witnesses being George and Martha CHIVERS. Samuel died in 1841, leaving her with a small son. She remarried John STEVENS in 1842 and had three more children.

Launceston Examiner Thursday 6 July 1893 page 4

A VERY old colonist has recently joined the majority in the person of Mrs John Stevens, of Bothwell, who passed away in her sleep on the 27th ult., at the age of 87. The deceased lady arrived in the colony with Captain Langdon and family 55 years ago, and at once took up her residence in Bothwell. The best years of her life she devoted to the sick and suffering, and any hour, day or night, in good, bad, or in different health, the call upon the " Good Samaritan" was never once in vain. Wonderfully gifted by nature with skill in the treatment of many ailments, in a district where medical aid was difficult to obtain, many trying times had been her lot. During her later years she had been a martyr to rheumatism, no doubt contracted by exposure to all weathers on her missions of mercy. But now her reward has come, for the Master hae said, " Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord, thou good and faithful servant." The deceased lady was a native of Martock, England, and was of a long- lived family. Her father died at the age of 87, her mother 98, her brother (accidentally killed) 72, her sister 68, making their united ages 412 years.