Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Jane Gilchrist was born about 1833 in Carluke, Lanarkshire, Scotland – the daughter of Archibald Gilchrist, a cotton weaver, and Janet.
She married William Morton on 12 March 1855 in Carluke and they had four children before they emigrated to Otago in 1860 on the Gala.
William first worked on road works on the Otago Peninsula before trying his luck for a few months at Gabriels Gully.
They then went to the Taieri before finally settling in the Clutha district in 1863.
Jane and William had a total of 12 children and moved to their farm at 'Underwood' near Puerua in 1874 where Jane signed the suffrage petition.
William died in 1907 and Jane died on 8 May 1913 at Romahapa, they are buried in the Romahapa Cemetery.
Her obituary said she 'experienced the hardships of the early arrivals. The only accommodation available at first was a leaky barn, which necessitated the beds being moved every time it rained.' She 'was of a very hospitable character, and took special delight in entertaining those who took an interest in spreading the Gospel in the district.'
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/