C. Muirhead

Signed family name

Muirhead

Signed given name

Given address

Union Street

Sheet number

Town/Suburb

Central Dunedin

City/Region

Dunedin

Notes

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Catherine McKay Simpson was born about 1846 in Scotland – the daughter of William Simpson, a bootmaker, and Elizabeth Booth.

She emigrated to Otago with her parents and sister in 1849 on the “Mary” and they settled in Dunedin.

Catherine married William McNaught Caven on 14 June 1867 and they had two sons, one who died in infancy.

William died in 1870 and Catherine re-married the following year on 19 December to Duncan Muirhead, a carter.

Catherine and Duncan had eight children, two who died in infancy, and when Catherine signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Union St, Dunedin.

Duncan was no stranger to the police and he faced multiple charges for assault and antisocial behaviour including drunkenness.

In 1896 he was served with a prohibition order and in 1899 he was charged with 'failing to provide his wife...with adequate maintenance' – he was ordered to make a weekly payment of 5s. He was charged again in 1900 for failing to obey a maintenance order - he refused to pay and was imprisoned for one month.

Catherine died at her daughter’s home in Dunedin on 13 April 1916 and Duncan died in 1931, they are buried in the family grave in the Northern Cemetery.