Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Ann Shaw was born on 27 January 1857 in Ballantrae in Ayrshire, Scotland – the daughter of Agnes Shaw.
In the 1861 census return Ann is shown as Ann Hogue which may give an indication of who her father was.
Her mother married David Carswell in 1863 and soon after they emigrated to Otago on the “Paria” - Ann’s half-brother William was born on the voyage.
The family lived at Earnscleugh Station, Conroys Gully and Kaitangata before settling in South Otago.
Ann married Adam King, a butcher, on July 18th1873 in the Balclutha parish - they had four children, one who died in infancy.
Adam died in 1882 – he is buried in the Gore Cemetery.
Ann re-married in 1884 to John Stevenson, also a butcher. They had five children and when Ann signed the suffrage petition they were living in Gore.
She died on 18 October 1925 and John died in 1939 – they are buried together in the Gore Cemetery.
Ann’s obituary said she “was one of the founders of the Gore Congregational Church and also interested herself in many works of charity. She was held in high esteem by all who knew her and her passing will be deeply regretted”.
Sources:
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Presbyterian Research Centre https://www.presbyterian.org.nz/archives/
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/
Scotlands Peoplehttps://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk