Anne was the eldest daughter of Rev Samuel Marsden, who conducted her marriage to Thomas at St John’s Church on 12 August 1822. At her wedding she wore the same dress and bridal veil as her mother, Elizabeth, had worn to her marriage with Samuel Marsden on 21 April 1792. This dress is now in the safekeeping of the Royal Australian Historical Society.
Immediately after their marriage the young couple lived first at Newlands, a two-storey weatherboard house built by Marsden. It was opposite the wharf at Parramatta.
Anne Hassall was, by all accounts, a remarkable woman and able companion for her husband. She contributed to his pastoral interests by bringing to the marriage a dowry consisting of land given by her father. She was of determined character and had considerable influence on both her husband and father, especially as her husband always stood in awe of her father.
For her family she was said to have provided a warm and stimulating environment, although she was by all accounts a difficult woman (see following section on her daughter Eliza).
The family lived at Denbigh in a state of “patriarchal comfort, beyond a modern cleric’s dream of avarice”. The daughters rode well and often and enjoyed picnics to Bent Basin, Cowpastures River, Donohue’s Cave, The Oaks and the Razorback. They were skilled embroiderers and lace makers. The sons attended the King’s School.
Thomas and Anne Hassall had the following children:
- James Samuel (1823-1904)
- Catherine Elizabeth (1825-1923);
- Marianne (1827-1911);
- George Thomas (1828-1910);
- Harriet Jane (1830-1910);
- Charles Rowland (1832-1919);
- Eliza Marsden (1834-1917);
- Emily (1836-1838).
Anne Hassall died on 18 June 1885 in her 92nd year and was buried in the vault at St Paul’s graveyard with her late husband.
It reads:
The memory of
THE REVD THOMAS HASSALL M.A.
Colonial Chaplain
First incumbent of St Paul’s Narellan
Who after preaching the gospel
for 46 years,
fell asleep in Jesus
March 29th, 1868, Aged 73 years
He that winneth Souls is wise
Also
In memory of Anne,
Wife of the Revd Thomas Hassall M.A.
who died June 18th 1885
in her 92nd year
Also
Eliza Marsden
Fourth daughter of the above
Thomas and Anne Hassall,
Born at Denbigh 2nd November 1834
Died 26th December 1917
Oh happy saints for ever blest
At Jesus’ feet how safe our rest