Maria Ivanovna Smirnova
Fly, O fly, dear nightingale,
Over hundred countries fly,
Over the blue sea so far...
Russian Folk Song
We now take up Maria's story after the family's return to St Petersburg - to an uncertain future. A letter exists from Yakov Smirnov, brother to the slain envoy and chaplain to the Russian Embassy in London, to Karl Vasilyevich Nesselrode, a government official, dated July 29th 1815, pleading for assistance as "there is not a single kopek to support this unfortunate family." Thanks to the generosity of Tsar Alexander I, however, the family was well looked after.
Tsar Alexander I; St Catherine's School, later the Smolyni Institute; skating and dance lessons at the schoolMaria was not yet 9 years old. Soon she was enrolled in the Smolyni Institute, in what was known then as St Catherine's School For Noble Girls. A school certificate, presented to her when she was 16, dated February 27th 1823, commends her good conduct and diligence.
Maria's School Certificate reads: The Council of St Catherine's School hereby witnesses that their pupil, the young lady Maria Ivanovna Smirnova, by good conduct, attention and diligence in the study of sciences, languages and handwork appropriate to her sex, has made good progress; and has thereby made proper use of the care applied to her education during her sojourn at the school, for which she has been granted a public award...in witness of this she is awarded this certificate over the personal signature of the Principal of the School and members of the Council and the seal of the School. St Petersburg 27 February 1823.
Maria's school reportAs a child, Maria was betrothed to her 1st cousin, Leonard Cooper, who was born and raised in England. Like his father, he trained in law, and like his father, he decided to pursue his profession in India, now in the early days of the Raj. Thus, at age 21, Maria was put on a ship bound for India and the young couple were married in St George's Cathedral, Madras, on September 18th 1828.
Maria (above, at the time of her marriage) and Leonard presumably accepted this invitation to a Ball at Government House in Madras to celebrate the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne. She was photographed later, probably in India before her arrival in Australia
Invitation to the the dance
Leonard Cooper prospered in his profession, becoming, ultimately, Chief Magistrate of Madras. The couple had 12 children, 8 of whom survived - 7 boys and 1 girl, Sarah. One of Sarah's playmates in Madras was a young boy, Alfred Daniel Campbell Begbie, son of a British military man in charge of the local garrison.
In 1852, Leonard Cooper died suddenly and Maria decided to join her sons, who had gone to the new colony of New South Wales to make their fortunes. So the entire family (with the exception of Samuel, who stayed in India) packed their cabin trunks and set sail for Australia. Apart from a trip back to India in 1861, she was to remain here, at a property she bought called Ravenswood, in the Upper Manning at Mt George, New South Wales, for the rest of her life, relying on infrequent letters for news from home.
Maria at the time of her departure for New South WalesIn 1855, young Sarah and Alfred Begbie, who was with the merchant marine, were married in Sydney. Maria put up the security, the "surety" as it was called then, for the couple to purchase the property next door to her, which they called Norwood.
Maria's notes: "I parted with my beloved mother & family in 1826"
"My sister Ellen married Baron Theodore de Rosen in 1833 at St Petersburg"
"My sister Ellen married Baron Theodore de Rosen in 1833 at St Petersburg"
Letter from Maria to my grandfather: "My dearest Herbert: Times passes since I have seen you last and in all probability did I meet you by chance I would scarcely know my good little grandson. From all accounts you are getting to be a clever boy..." Dated April 5th, 1881, two years before her death
My grandfather, Herbert Smirnoff Begbie, son of Alfred and Sarah, was born here in 1871. He was 12 years old when Maria Ivanovna Smirnova Cooper died, in 1883. She was buried in a private cemetery close by.
Private burial ground at Woodside, Mt George, Upper Manning, New South Wales; Maria is buried here, along with many family members - although Begbies are buried elsewhere.
