Elizabeth Cousins

Anonymous Posted: 11 Dec 2021

It is unclear which of two Elizabeth Cousins (who were mother or daughter) signed the 1893 Suffrage Petition. (In these notes, the mother is referred to as “Elizabeth (Senior)”. The following information gives some biographical detail about both women but an assumption has been made that it was the younger Elizabeth who signed the petition. This is based on the signature on the handwritten Will signed when Elizabeth was aged about 79.
(Source: https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_…)

Elizabeth’s parents were Jean Monet and Betsy Coutanche (i.e. Elizabeth “Senior”) who were married on 7 August 1834 at St Heliers. (Source: https://www.theislandwiki.org/index.php/Descendants_of_Jacques_Monet)

Elizabeth’s father (Jean) appears to have died aged 20 and was buried in November 1834.
(Source: http://search.jerripediabmd.net/BMD_User/DeathBurial)

Elizabeth Jane COUSINS’ date of birth is not certain but there is a baptismal record for Elizabeth dated 15 February 1835 at St Heliers Church.
(Source: http://search.jerripediabmd.net/BMD_User/BirthBaptism)

The 1851 Jersey Census records Elizabeth (Senior) aged 33 and Elizabeth Jnr aged 15 living in Jersey
(Source 1851 Census).
(The name “Elizabeth” crops up again as Peter Cousins’ first wife was Elizabeth Deslandes. They were married on 6 August 1848 and had one son Edmund Ernest COUSINS born 29 October 1849. This Elizabeth COUSINS died in 1851. Edmund was therefore Elizabeth’s step-brother.)

Elizabeth (Senior) married Peter COUSINS on 22 December 1851 and had a son Alfred on 24 October 1852. Alfred was therefore Elizabeth’s half-brother.
(Source: http://search.jerripediabmd.net/BMD_User/Marriage)

In the 1871 Census, the family were listed at Sandringham Road, Hackney, London where Elizabeth (Senior)’s age is given as 53.
Three years later in 1874, the family were included on the passenger list of the ship "Conflict" to Wellington, listed as Elizabeth - Married, aged 45 (which appears to be incorrect); Peter Cousins - Married aged 48; Elizabeth Cousins - Dressmaker aged 30; and Alfred Cousins - Brass worker aged 21.
(Source: CI to NZ Database ver3-2 - 17 Mar 2010 - alpha.xls (keithspages.com)

Elizabeth (Senior) died on 11 September 1894 at Tonks Grove, Wellington. She was buried on 14 September 1894 in Karori Cemetery, Public 1 Plot 16D, Record 82135.

Elizabeth never married. She died on 13 October 1917 in Island Bay, Wellington.
(Source: https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_…). It is not known where she is buried.

Elizabeth’s half-brother Alfred COUSINS was a well known New Zealand engraver.
(Source:https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2c34/cousins-alfred-ernest)

General information about Jersey migrants to New Zealand can be accessed in the online publication: “Migration from Jersey to New Zealand in the 1870s” by Mark Boleat.

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