Mary Anne Harriett (Polly) Fryett
Mary Anne Harriett (Polly) Fryett
Date of Birth 16 March 1871
Place of Residence 'Harden' Distillery Creek Tasmania Australia
Spouses Name Did not marry
Childrens Names No children

Mary Anne Harriett Fryett, known as Polly, was born on 16 Mar 1871 at Hagley. Her parents were Richard William Ingle Fryett (1827-1872) and Margaret Mary Sydes (1851-1898) who were married on 15 Sep 1870 at the home of Mrs Sydes in the district of Westbury, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Catholic Church. Her father was the manager of a sheep property. Her younger brother Richard was born in Sep 1872, about six months after their father died of influenza at the age of 45. Polly's mother married Samuel Hardman in 1875 and had four sons and a daughter between 1878 and 1890.

It is believed that Polly was engaged to Roland Philip Pitt, the son of Francis Pitt and Marianne Rooke. Roland was born at Hagley on 14 Sep 1874 and worked as a miner on the west coast of Tasmania. He was a member of the Deloraine and later Ulverstone Volunteers. When the South African War broke out he volunteered for active service. Roland left Launceston with the 2nd Contingent on 18 Jan 1900, but died of enteric fever five months later, on 11 Jun 1900. After this tragic loss, Polly never married.

In 1903 Polly was living at 'Harden', Distillery Creek, with her brother Richard, uncle Charles Daniel Fryett (1836-1922) and aunt Jane Isabel Fryett (1846-1935). Jane is also in the Family Album. Richard married Margaret Teresa Caswell on 25 Apr 1906 at the Church of the Apostles, Launceston. They had six children. Richard died on 16 May 1955 at 'Looseleigh' near Hagley. Polly died aged 86 at the Esk Memorial Home, Perth, on 5 Dec 1957 and was privately interred at Carr Villa in Section E 134.

Pam Lidl & Marion Sargent Oct 2008 & Richard Fryett Jan 2009