File:Dress, woman's (AM 1965.78.692-36).jpg

English: Dress given to Mrs. Preece (Mary Ann Williams) by Lady Jane Franklin 1841 description- delaine cotton-wool blend material in patterned stripes, predominantly red; sleeves ¾ length with wide lace frill; full skirt; note sleeves altered from original Mary Ann Preece 1802 - 1878 " - a helpmeet in domestic life (and in) Missionary work, being both willing to spend and be spent in this service of her Lord and Master." So wrote missionary James Preece shortly after his marriage to Mary Ann Williams in January 1833 at Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands. Mary Ann Williams came to Australia with her mother in 1829. They were joining her step-father William White who had arrived some years earlier. Mary Williams was a devout Christian and wanted to be involved in church work. She worked for a time as matron of the Paramatta School of Industry before coming to New Zealand as a Church Missionary Society school teacher in 1831. Following their marriage, James and Mary Preece moved to the Thames district where James served as catechist from 1833 to 1847. During this period Mary gave birth to 9 children. With such a large family, sewing was a neverending task. Yet, in addition to her chores as a mother and housewife, Mary Preece also taught some cooking, sewing and reading at the mission school. After 1847 the Preece family moved to Ahikereru (Te Whaiti) in the Ureweras. This settlement was extremely isolated and the older children were sent to Auckland for their schooling. All travel within the district was by foot and and basic provisions had to be brought in overland from Whakatane. James Preece's frequent absences on missionary work were partly compensated by the presence of a household helper and a nurse. The family returned north to Coromandel when James Preece retired in 1856. Mary Ann Preece spent the next eighteen years here until, a few years after her husband's death, she moved to Auckland to live with a married daughter. Portrait of Mary Ann Preece (nee Williams) from Carte de Visite Photograph Auckland Public Library, Old Colonists Museum Collection (12401) Paisley dress; fine wool-cotton print in red and black stripes and over-printed design. Bodice V fronted, lined fitted and boned – very wide neck line – back fastening ¾ length sleeves wide on forearm with deep decorated net flounce. All seams and neckline piped in green silk. Skirt - very full cartridge gathers (pleats) at waist, falling in straight panels to full hem line – lined.