Martha Ottaway

Signed family name

Ottaway

Signed given name

Martha

Given address

Nuggets Port Molyneux

Sheet number

Town/Suburb

Kaka Point

City/Region

Otago

Notes

Biographical information provided by Stefanie Lash, Archives New Zealand, for the He Tohu exhibition:

The Ottaway family is well-known in Otago, and lived at Nuggets, Port Molyneux, for many years. Martha was the family matriarch of the late 19th century.

The Ottaway family hold a place in one of New Zealand history’s more colourful episodes. Agnes Ottaway, daughter of Martha, had a whirlwind romance with one of the lodgers at the boarding house her mother ran at Nuggets. After a quick engagement, Agnes married her groom Percival Redwood at home in front of a large group of family, friends and local dignitaries.

Agnes’ family had their suspicions about their new son-in-law, which were borne out when he was arrested for male impersonation and fraud several days after the wedding – Agnes had been swindled by notorious confidence trickster Amy Bock, who was after Agnes’ money. The subsequent trial was a scandal and reported internationally.

Further biographical information provided by Katherine Blakeley

Martha Hinton was born in 1845 in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England – the daughter of Whyant Hinton, an agricultural labourer, and Hannah Mager.

She married George Ottaway, a labourer, in London in 1869.

They had a son in 1870 and twins in 1873, one who died in infancy, before the family emigrated to Otago in 1874 on the Sussex.

They had a further four children after their arrival and settled, at first, in Waimate.

George was declared insolvent in 1879 and a few years later the family were living in Romahapa in South Otago when George was working as a contractor and was again declared insolvent. After this the family moved to Nugget Bay in the Catlins where Martha ran a Temperance Hotel and boarding house and George worked as a fisherman.

Martha signed the suffrage petition at Nugget Point – in 1905 they were charged with supplying liquor for sale and George was fined.

In 1909 their daughter Agnes’ infamous wedding took place at their home which was followed by a court case.

Martha and George celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1919, a large gathering was held in the Port Molyneux Hall which included dancing and vocal solos and recitations.

They spent some time in Port Chalmers before returning to Nugget Bay.

Martha died at her home on 28 September 1933 and George died two weeks later, they are buried together in the Balclutha Old Cemetery.