Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley.
Betsy Brothwood was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, England in 1848, the daughter of John Brothwood, a nailer, and Sarah Astley.
She married Benjamin Vanes in 1874. They had two children before they emigrated to Victoria, Australia on the Whampoa. Benjamin’s occupation was given as “farmer”, and he was also a Wesleyan preacher.
Very shortly after their arrival in Australia the family boarded the Alahambra bound for Otago.
They settled in Waikouaiti, north of Dunedin, where they had a further three children and Benjamin was a Wesleyan minister.
After five years Benjamin left the Wesleyan church and “commenced services in a mission hall on an independent basis”.
Betsy signed the suffrage petition in Waikouaiti, where Benjamin died in 1902.
Betsy died on November 13th 1907. She is buried with Benjamin in the family grave in the Waikouaiti Cemetery.
Her obituary said she “was of a very retiring disposition, and was much respected”.