| Birth | Iris Seymour was born 24 January 1861 in India. |
| INFO | SHIP PASSENGER LIST INDEX. Index for unassisted immigration to Victoria. Ship Geelong, arriving Nov 1870. 39 passengers in index, including Mrs. Seymour, Mrs. Seymour. Miss Seymour (2 listings), Seymour child (3 listings) -- total seven in family. (PROVPassInw) Note: Iris is probably a "Seymour child" in this listing. |
| INFO | ARRIVAL IN INDIA as a Baptist missionary. 1888 -- Iris Seymour of Victoria, Australia, came to Mymensingh as a missionary. Also Amy Parsons of South Australia. (FiveBarley pp.7-8.) |
| INFO | DAUGHTER Iris age 51 listed on mother's death registration, 20 Nov 1912. (VicDeaCert 1912:12949.) |
| INFO | CONVENTION PHOTO. A group photo from the Australian Baptist Missionary Convention held at Comilla, East Bengal, 6-9 Dec 1918, appeared on the first page of the missionary magazine Our Bond, Jan 1919. Iris Seymour is second from the left in the middle row. (GlobIntFiles 15nOct 2009.)  |
| INFO | RETIREMENT. Article from "Our Bond". "Miss Seymour's Retirement. During last month word was received from Miss Seymour and the Victorian Committee that Miss Seymour had decided to retire from the work on our field. Coming to the field in 1888, she has been identified almost all her missionary service, with the work of the Memensingh Boarding School and Orphanage, though she did some relieving work in time of need in Comilla and Orkandi. Her knowledge of Bengali character was exceptional and was of immense help in her work amongst the people. Her constant optimism and cheery counsels were assets in the Mymensingh Zenana House all her fellow-workers will miss. She has retired for reasons we all can agree with. She will live with her two sisters at the little home in Benson St, Belgrave, Victoria. She will be with us field workers in her daily thoughs and prayers. She has asked for news from the field. At the recent meeting of the Victorian District Committee the following resolution was passed -- 'On the retirement of Miss Seymour from our Indian field, we as a Victorian District Committee wish to put on record our sincere gratitute to God for her long years of loyal service and for the many who have been helped and won to God by her. We shall miss her loving comradeship and wise counsels. We are assured that she, though settled in the homeland, is still with us in heart. We pary that she may be richly blest there and may continue to be a blessing.'" (GlobIntFiles 15 oct 2009.) |
| INFO | REPORT OF FAREWELL. Reported in "Our Bond" October 1919. "Miss Seymur's Farewell to Orakandi -- and India. Iris Seymour was known as "Pisima" (father's sister) to those she worked with in India for 30 years. She continued her missionary work in Orakandi after she had retired from her primary mission post in Mymensingh. When she departed India for the last time, the church community in Orakandi held gatherings to thank her for her service in their community. (OurBond Oct1919, p.6.) |
| Death | She died 31 August 1937 in Belgrave, Victoria, Australia, at age 76. |
| INFO | FUNERAL NOTICE. The Age [Melbourne]. 1 Sep 1937. SEYMOUR --Friends of the late Miss Iris Seymour are respectfully informed that her remains will be interred in the Scoresby General Cemetery, Fern Tree Gully. The funeral is appointed to leave the Baptist Church House, Albert-street, East Melbourne, THIS DAY (Wednesday), September 1, after a short service commencing at 1.30, arriving at cemetery about 3 p.m. Henry J.R. Lewis, Funeral Director, 154 Johnston-street, Fitzroy. Phone J1068. (AgeMelbourne 1 Sep 1937, page 1.) |
| INFO | DEATH NOTICES. The Age [Melbourne] Wed. 1 Sep 1937, page 1. Two notices: SEYMOUR -- On August 31, at private hospital, Cheltenham, Iris, the dearly loved daughter of the late Samuel Francis and Sarah Jane Seymour, of Kew, loving sister of Ellen (W.A.), also the late Francis, Eliza, Alick, Maria, Percy, Mary, Edward, Grace, Frances and Margaret. Late of Belgrave. Resting. SEYMOUR --On August 31, Iris Seymour, after 31 years of devoted service to the Kingdom of Christ in East Bengal. - A grateful and loving tribute from the members and friends of the Australian Baptist Mission. (AgeMelbourne 1Sep 1937 p.1.) |
| INFO | OBITUARY. The Age [Melbourne, Victoria, Australia]. 2 Sep 1937. "Former Woman Missionary. Miss Iris Seymour, who spent many years as a Baptist missionary in India, died on Tuesday at a private hospial at Cheltenham. Miss Seymour was associated with the Zenana mission and also had charge of the Mymensing girls' orphanage in India. Yesterday a funeral service was held at Baptist Church House, East Melbourne, and was attended by members of the Baptist Australian Council, who temporarily adjourned their conference. The burial took place in Fern Tree Gully Cemetery." (AgeMelbGoo 2 Sep 1937.) |
| INFO | CEMETERY INFO. date: 9 Sep 1937 [sic] Iris Seymour. burial, plot PRS B 2 02 [with half-sister Eliza Jane, no headstone]. d. age 76. Father Samuel Francis Seymour. Mother Sarah Jane Eaton. Reg: Cheltenham: 7970. (FernGullyCem.) |
| INFO | PROBATE APPL INDEX Victoria Australia. Iris Seymour, late of Belgrave, spinster, d.31 Aug 1937. Probate granted 28 Oct 1937. 291:664. (VicProbAppl LDS209305 291:664.) |
| INFO | CIV REG INDEX AUST Death. Seymour Iris. Father Seymour Saml Fran. Mother Sarah Jane Eaton. d. age 76 at CHAM. Reg 1937 #7970. (VicDeaInd85.) |
| INFO | BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. Summary of file for missionary Iris Seymour received Dec. 2009 from Global Interaction (formerly the Australian Baptist Missionary Society). The file consists of summary notes from various Baptist missionary publications that mention Iris Seymour and her work. ---- Iris Seymour was born in India (Jan 24 – year not given). She entered the mission field while a member of Crimea Street Church, St. Kilda [Victoria, Australia]. She was accepted to become a member of the Australian Baptist Foreign Mission in East Bengal, India, in 1888. She left Melbourne 19 Oct 1888, landed in Calclutta 17 Nov 1888 and arrived in Mymensingh by the end of November. She worked primarily in Mymensingh for more than 30 years until her retirement in 1919. She learned the Bengali language (first exam passed in Feb 1890) in order to effectively communicate the Christian message among the local people. She worked with Indian women in their homes (Zenana visiting), in a boarding school for poor children in Mymensingh, in village schools and in the Orphanage and the Girls’ school at Mymensingh. It was also noted that she taught language and sewing in the girls’ school and introduced the manufacture of pillow lace into the schools and community. Over the years, Iris served other Baptist missions in East Bengal as a substitute for missionaries on furlough. She returned home to Australia for several furlough periods during her servicel. At the end of her career, she served the Orakandi mission for several months after leaving Mymensingh. She left India in 1919 and died in Australia in 1937. (GlobIntFiles 15Oct2009.) |
Iris Seymour