Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Charlotte McDonald was born about 1831 – the daughter of Charles McDonald and Margaret. She came to New Zealand with her parents and married John Paisley, a carter, in 1873.
They had a daughter in 1875 but John seemed to, unfortunately, have had problems with alcohol.
In 1876 he was committed to the 'Lunatic Asylum' due to his behaviour on a train and his use of a pistol, he was again committed in 1877 for 'keeping the inhabitants of Mosgiel in a state of dread for a couple of days' due to drinking spirits.
When he was released he met Charlotte in Dunedin and insisted on picking up a revolver and pistol he had previously purchased. He was denied the firearms and Charlotte refused to get them for him so he pulled her out of the buggy and drove away. He was later arrested for violet behaviour towards his neighbours and, once again, committed to the Asylum.
He was declared bankrupt in 1878 and his leasehold property in Mosgiel was sold.
When Charlotte signed the suffrage petition she was living in Castle St, Dunedin.
She died on 8 April 1905 and John died at Seacliff in 1916, they are buried together in the Northern Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
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