From Aalders auction catalogue: Born in London in 1796, Atkinson was a remarkable figure, carrying her family's interest in art and science to act as governess for Hannibal Macarthur in 1826, meeting James Atkinson on ship (The Cumberland) to Sydney and marrying soon after, moving to his home at Oldbury, near Sutton Forest. Her husband died not long after giving birth of their fourth child, (Caroline)Louisa. She married their homestead's overseer, George Barton who proved to be a violent drunkard, and she fled with her four children in 1839, settling in Sydney in 1840 and continued to fight for the rights of her children to benefit from Atkinson's will, and to keep custody of her children. Her legal battles are chronicled by Historian Patricia Clarke in her book "Pioneer Writer" (1990).