Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Annie Loper was born Annie Butler on 28 February 1854 at Fritwell, Oxfordshire, England to Joseph Butler and his wife Catherine Stockford.
Annie (Housemaid) along with her sister Emily (Servant age 17), arrived on 23 July 1874 in Canterbury on the ship Peeress. All immigrants were transported by steamer to Timaru.
On 10 May 1877 Annie Butler married John [Roper Tiake] Loper, a widower, at St Augustine’s church, Waimate, South Canterbury.
The Waitaki electoral rolls for 1880–81 and 1911 record them living in a freehold property, ¼ acre, four-room house, Waimate. From 1914 they were living at Coronation street, Waimate. John was a Labourer.
Annie and John had three sons and three daughters.
John died on 28 May 1919 age 79 years in Timaru and is buried in the Waimate Old cemetery, Free Ground, Plot 000308.
Annie died in Waimate on 31 May 1923 age 69 years and is also buried in the Waimate Old cemetery, Free Ground, Plot 000309.
Sources
Geni – Annie Loper (Butler)
FamilySearch – New Zealand Archives, New Zealand Passenger Lists 1839–1973
Ancestry Family Trees
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1877/1145 Annie Butler/John Loper
Waimate Daily Advertiser 1 June 1923, Pg 4
Waimate Daily Advertiser 28 May 1924, Pg 4
Findagrave – John Loper
Waimate District Council online cemetery database
NZ DIA Death Index 1919/3216 John Loper
NZ DIA Death Index 1923/1003 Annie Loper