Biography contributed by Lissa Mitchell, Curator Historical Photography
Elsie Day Cobb (23/10/1872-12/07/1957) was the eldest daughter of Joseph and Harriet Cobb. She was born in Christchurch, Hampshire, UK and immigrated to New Zealand with her parents and eight siblings in 1883 on the ship, Lady Jocelyn.
The family arrived in Wellington on 1 January 1884, Elsie was twelve at the time. Elsie married Robert Walker Ashcroft (1870-1937) on 25 January 1894 at Napier and the couple had nine children. Elsie died in Auckland on 12 July 1957, aged 85 years.
Elsie was 21 years old when she signed the petition. Her mother, Harriet Cobb also signed the petition in Napier and her sister-in-law, Laura Cobb signed the petition in Palmerston North.
Sources
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