Margaret A Todd

Surname:

Todd

Given names:

Margaret A

Given address:

Owaka

Sheet No: 136

Town/Suburb:

Owaka

City/Region:

Otago

Notes:

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Margaret Shand was born about 1828 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland – the daughter of George Shand, a farmer, and Margaret Gibb.

Her daughter Jane was born about 1852, either before the family emigrated to Otago in 1852 on the Maori, or shortly after.

They settled in East Taieri where Margaret married Charles Todd, a storekeeper, on 9 April 1857 in the East Taieri parish - they had five children.

Charles was declared insolvent in 1864 and he died in 1865, he is buried in the East Taieri Cemetery.

After Charles’ death the family spent some time at Lovells Flat before moving to Owaka in the late 1870s.

Margaret signed the suffrage petition in Owaka – four of her daughters also signed (See 137 Anne Clapperton, 126 Jane Ford, 137 L Moncur and 136 M S Young).

Margaret died at her daughter Anne’s home in Owaka on 31 December 1912, she is buried in the Owaka Cemetery.

Her obituary said that 'right throughout her life she earned respect as a devout supporter of the Presbyterian church, living the sincere Christian life; she was loved for her hospitality and kindness, and admired for the unusually keen interest she took in public affairs'.