Annie Balsille

Surname:

Balsille

Given names:

Annie

Given address:

Sandymount

Sheet No: 143

Town/Suburb:

Otago peninsula

City/Region:

Otago

Notes:

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Annie Jane McKay was born about 1854, probably in Scotland.

She married George Balsille, a school teacher, in Dunedin on 19 December 1877. They had two children and when Annie signed the suffrage petition they were living at Sandymount on the Otago Peninsula.

In 1903 they left Sandymount to live in Dunedin. A farewell social was held in the Sandymount Hall with entertainment by the young people of the district and a presentation.

About 1907 Annie and George parted company, Annie and their son went to Wellington where she worked doing artistic wool work.

In 1917 George re-married and later that year he was charged with bigamy. (See 42 Mrs Strang)

A sensational court case followed in which George claimed that he thought Annie had died and Annie said that 'it had been quite hopeless for her to live with her husband, as he had behaved very cruelly, threatening violence and murder...he knocked her down and actually struck her; he was not responsible for any of his actions'.

At the end of the case a separation order was made Annie was awarded maintenance of 1 per week.

Annie died on 21 July 1926 in Wellington - she is buried in the Karori Cemetery.

George married Barbara Lawson, for the second time, after Annie’s death, he died in 1929 and is buried with Barbara in the Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.