Caroline Chisholm - Early Life

Early Life

She was born Caroline Jones in Wootton, close to Northampton. Her well-to-do father, William Jones, was a land owner and pig farmer. She was the youngest of a large family and was educated by a governess, excelling in mathematics and French. When still a child, her father took into his house a poor maimed soldier. Her father pointed out the children's obligations to the man who had fought for them. There is little doubt this led to was the developed the sense of responsibility that was the basis of Mrs Chisholm's life work. At the age of 22, Caroline married Captain Archibald Chisholm, of the East India Company, thirteen years her senior. The Chisholms were married in the Church of England, but Caroline converted to her husband's religion, Roman Catholicism, at about this time.

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