Annie R. Yorston

Surname:

Yorston

Given names:

Annie R.

Given address:

King St

Sheet No: 142

Town/Suburb:

Central Dunedin

City/Region:

Dunedin

Notes:

Originally transcribed as Annie R Horsten

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley.

Ann Rendall Fea was born on 4 September 1859 in Rendall, Orkney, Scotland – the daughter of John Fea, a fisherman, and Eliza Tough.

She married carpenter, David Leask Yorston in 1876 and they had a son the following year.

In 1878 the family emigrated to Otago on the “Oamaru” and they settled in Dunedin.

They had a further three children after their arrival, one who died in early childhood.

David was declared bankrupt in 1889 and he died in 1893 at the age of 36.

When Ann signed the suffrage petition they were living in Great King Street and she was running a grocery and fancy goods business.

In 1894 Ann advertised her business for sale as she was “leaving for Scotland”.

She had returned to Dunedin by 1896 and was again working as a grocer.

Ann died at her daughter’s home in Southland on 3 June 1922 – she is buried with David in the Northern Cemetery.

Her obituary said “took a keen interest in temperance, politics, and religion, and in all departments of her life she worked with sound judgment, and her sympathies were always with the right. She was a lady of distinct Christian character; she was always ready to champion the cause of right, even though she were alone in the conflict; and her influence for good was far-reaching and permanent.”