Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Annie McDowall was born on 26 April 1869 in Lingan, County Down, Ireland – the daughter of Richard McDowall and Martha Jane Emerson.
Annie emigrated to Canterbury with her family in 1870 on the Siberia. She lived in Templeton, south of Christchurch, and attended Templeton School.
Annie married William Bowden, a grocer’s assistant, on 17 February 1898 in the Wesleyan Church, Weedons. They had four children and the family lived in Sydenham, Christchurch. Tragedy struck in 1899 when the family were on a train excursion; the train was run into by another train and Annie’s 6 month old son was killed.
Annie died on 19 July 1930 and William died in 1934. They are buried in the Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, with their son.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
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