On 24 April 1889 Dunedin Police issued a sinister description of suspected baby farmer Mary Cecilia Counsel.

As Police tried to hunt her down they described Mary as having “withered features” with “heavy eyelids” and added that she habitually dressed in black. In a climate where so-called baby farmers sometimes murdered their unwanted charges instead of arranging care for them, this description would have done nothing to reassure the general public. Nineteenth century New Zealand offered few options for mothers unable to keep their babies, and many turned to unofficial caregivers commonly known as baby farmers, women who took in children for money. The most infamous of these was Minnie Dean, from Winton in Southland, who having been convicted of child murder in 1895 was the only woman ever hanged in New Zealand.

Ethel and Edith Winchester, 7 month old twins, had been taken in by Mary Counsel, who had answered an advertisement from a woman from St Clair in Dunedin. Mary was paid 14 pounds for their support, and told the woman that she had a home for the twins in Wellington or Auckland. Instead she returned two months later with a terminally ill Edith who died a few days later. When asked to return Ethel she claimed that she was with a Mrs McGregor but refused to give this woman’s address. Told she had to produce the child within 10 days she instead absconded sparking a nationwide search. Police were sure Ethel must be dead but in July Mary was found in Dunedin with the child. It is not known what Mary’s intention was but at least Ethel was still alive. What became of Ethel after this was not reported but Mary escaped conviction in this instance at least.

Shown here is the Police report into Mary Counsel’s disappearance with Ethel Winchester. It was thought at the time that Mary had been working as a baby farmer ever since immigrating to New Zealand from India two years before.

R24464218 www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=24464218

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