suffrage_petition
Surname: 
Crabb
Given names: 
Mary
Given address: 
Bulls
Sheet No: 496
Town/Suburb: 
Bulls
City/Region: 
Manawatu / Horowhenua
Notes: 

Biographical information provided by Lynette Buchanan for the He Tohu exhibition:

Mary Crabb was born in New Zealand, probably in the Hutt in 1865 to Elizabeth and Eli Crabb, who had emigrated from England to New Zealand in 1855 on the Surge. Mary was one of 11 siblings, 7 sisters and 4 brothers, at least 8 born in NZ. Her known siblings’ names are Priscilla, Henry Thomas, Martha, William Mabb, Emily, Elizabeth Ann, and Alfred Richard.

The family moved to Rangitikei about 1867. Emily is also profiled in this collection of signatories. Their father Eli died in 1919 aged 86 and their mother Elizabeth in 1927 aged 94 years.

Mary signed the 1893 Petition in Bulls and in 1895 married Thomas Kilsby, a farmer.  Four children were born: George Raymond in 1896, Bertram Alfred in 1899, Keith Colin in 1905, and Rona Bowry in 1909.

Mary was widowed in 1914 when Thomas died in Tiritea aged 52 years leaving her a family to continue raising. Mary, an Anglican, died on 12 November 1955 aged 89 years. She was 41 years a widow. Her last address was 164 Russell Street Palmerston North and she was buried alongside her husband at the Terrace End Cemetery in Palmerston North. 

Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.

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