Biographical information provided by Bridget Gerrie for the He Tohu exhibition:
Anna Woods Ballard was born about 1830 in Ireland. In 1857 she married Edward Best, a Wesleyan Methodist Minister. Anna’s father and some of her brothers and uncles were also ministers of this faith. Anna and Edward had 14 children, all of whom were born in Ireland. Eight of their daughters and one son travelled with them to New Zealand, arriving on the Wanganui into Port Chalmers on 7 December 1879. Anna and her family led a mobile life, travelling around the country to support her husband’s work.
Anna died in 1910, aged 80.
Further information
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
Community contributions