Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Alice Ann Susan Spencer was born in Southwark, Surrey – the daughter of William Edward Spencer, a dock constable, and Elizabeth Sarah Brooks.
Alice married Frederick Watling in London in 1874. The following year Alice emigrated to Otago on the Wellington. Presumably Frederick worked his passage and met Alice on her arrival. They had eight children and at first lived in Oamaru. Frederick worked as a coal dealer.
In November 1884 their three year old son Willie died, and in September of the following year their eight year old son Frank/Frederick Spencer Watling died after eating green rhubarb tops. They are both buried in the Oamaru Cemetery.
Frederick was declared bankrupt in 1887 – he owed £118 pounds, 13 shillings and 2 pence. Later in the year Frederick spoke at a public meeting asking for a petition to be drawn up and sent to the Minister of Public Works asking for employment to be provided for those in need. The family moved to Dunedin and when Alice signed the suffrage petition they were living in Bradshaw St, South Dunedin.
Frederick died in 1915 when he stepped off a moving tram. He spent six weeks in hospital before his death.
Alice died on 17 January 1950, at the age of 96. They are buried in the family grave in the Southern Cemetery.
Sources
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Free BDM https://www.freebmd.org.uk
GRO England https://www.gro.gov.uk
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Waitaki District Council https://www.waitaki.govt.nz