Originally transcribed as 'Anne Davidson'.
Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Ann Baillie was born about 1829 in Stirlingshire, Scotland – the daughter of Thomas Baillie, a cow feeder, and Robina Ralston.
She arrived in New Zealand in the early 1860’s – 3 of her siblings also made the journey.
Ann married, mason, William Davidson on February 26th 1864 in Dunedin. They had 3 sons, one who was stillborn and they lived, at first, at the Nonpariel Dining Rooms in Stafford Street.
It does not appear to have been a happy marriage. In 1878 William was arrested ‘on a charge of lunacy at the instance of his wife’,
A few hours afterwards he was conveyed to the Lunatic Asylum, where he underwent a medical examination. The result of the examination was that Mr Davidson was immediately set at liberty.
In 1879 William was charged with assaulting and beating Ann – he was bound over to keep the peace for 3 months.
The following year brought another court case. Ann and William had been living apart for ‘some time’, William lived across the street from Ann with their sons and she claimed that William had assaulted her. Ann was found to have started the altercation and the judge ‘cautioned her not to interfere with her husband or children under their present relations.’
Shortly after this Ann sued for divorce ‘on the grounds of cruelty and adultery’ the outcome is unclear as the judgement was reserved.
William died in 1888 – he is buried in the Southern Cemetery.
When Ann signed the suffrage petition, she was living in Andersons Bay.
After her sister’s death in 1898 her brother Archibald came to live with her. She soon was back before the court charging Archibald with assault. There was an argument of a newspaper which escalated into violence. Ann produced in court,
some cumbersome evidences of defendant’s violence, in the shape of the greater portions of broken door panels etc., all of which she had carefully carried into the witness-box with her, and she also held high above her head, ‘several pieces of broken china’.
The trial concluded with the Judge saying ‘it is a family quarrel. Both of you had better shake hands and make it up’ Ann replied with ‘not in this world’, the case was dismissed.
Ann died on August 19th 1909 – she is buried in the family grave in the Southern Cemetery.