Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Margaret Welsh was born about 1842, probably in England.
She had two daughters in the 1870s before they emigrated to Otago in 1877 on the Marlborough.
They appear to have lived for a time in Arrowtown before moving to Dunedin.
When Margaret signed the suffrage petition they were living in Grosvenor St, Kensington.
She married William Barrell, a retired gold miner, in 1896.
Margaret’s daughter Laura (See 43 Laura Welsh) died the following year from consumption and her other daughter Emily (See 158 E Welsh) died at their home in March 1905.
Margaret died later that year on 20 October and William died in 1914 – they are buried in the family grave in the Southern Cemetery.
Margaret’s obituary said she 'many years ago was a resident of Arrowtown, where she made many friends by her kindly disposition.'
Sources
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
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