Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Annie Bennett was born about 1850 in Scotland.
She married Richard Portis on 11 July 1872 in Govan, Lanarkshire and they emigrated to Otago in 1875 on the Aldergrove.
They settled in North Otago and had five children before Richard died in 1885.
'The Teaneraki amateur Christy minstrels made their debut last night...the entertainment being given for the benefit of the widow and family of the later Richard Portis....The takings were about L8 or L10.'
Annie signed the suffrage petition in Enfield although family were living in, nearby, Whitstone.
In 1910 Annie put her property up for sale as she was 'leaving the district.'
She moved to Oamaru where she lived until her death on 27 September 1934.
She is buried with Richard in the Old Oamaru Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Waitaki District Council https://www.waitaki.govt.nz/our-services
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