Susan Mary Crompton

Susan Mary Crompton (née Clark) (1846–1932), known as Mary was a diarist and social welfare reformer. She was born in the United Kingdom but moved to Australia aged 4. She was best known for her involvement in the 'boarding out system' for destitute children and joined the committee of the State Children's Council in 1906. In World War I she was made a justice of the peace, one of the first women in South Australia chosen for this office.^[1]

Crompton's parents Francis Clark (1799-1853) and his wife Caroline (1800–77) emigrated to South Australia on the Fatima with their children Caroline Emily Clark (1825–1911), Algernon Sidney (1826–1908), John Howard (1830–78), Henry Septimus (1837–64), Ellen Rosa (1838–99), Matthew Symonds (1839–1920) and Susan Mary (1846–1932) arriving at Port Adelaide on 11 June 1850. Francis Clark was a silversmith of Birmingham, and his wife Caroline, was a sister of Rowland Hill.

She married Joseph Crompton who had emigrated to Australia in 1860, travelling on the SS Great Britain. He was a vigneron, manufacturer and exporter who founded several companies such as Crompton and Sons. Following the wedding, Mary and Joseph travelled on the SS Great Britain from Melbourne to Liverpool.^[1] She kept a diary of the voyage which was later published and titled Journal of a Honeymoon Voyage in S.S. Great Britain.^[2] In her diary she describes eating at the Captain’s table in the first-class dining saloon. The voyage quickly became very rough and Mary recorded that she was proud that she didn’t suffer from sea-sickness. There were more than 800 people on board, 700 of whom were passengers and eight stowaways. The voyage took 68 days and was captained by John Gray (master mariner).^[3] Mary enjoyed the journey and the company of most of the passengers on this two-month voyage.

On their return to Australia, the couple settled in Adelaide and had 7 sons and 5 daughters.^[1]

Crompton's sister Caroline Emily Clark known as Emily Clark was an active social reformer well known for championing the cause of children in institutions and founding the "boarding-out system" for settling orphan children with foster families in Adelaide. She began working for Emily and later joined the committee of the State Children's Council in 1906. During World War I she was made a justice of the peace, one of the first women in South Australia chosen for this office.^[1]

Crompton died at Stoneyfell aged 86, in 1932.

Documents connected to Crompton, and the rest of the Clark family are held in the State Library of South Australia.^[4]