Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Caroline was born about 1851, she was married to William Burrell, a bandsman in No. 1 Battalion Otago Rifle Volunteers, possibly the William Burrell who joined the 2nd Waikato Militia Regiment in Sydney in 1863. Caroline and William do not appear to have had any children.
In 1880 they were living in St Leonards near Dunedin and William played in the No. 1 Battalion Otago Volunteers Artillery Band, when he drowned in the Otago Harbour while searching for a missing boat.
His remains were found some weeks later. A 'Grand Benefit Concert and Ball' was held in aid of the widow of the late bandsman at the Dunedin Garrison Hall and he was given a military funeral.
The following year Caroline married Humphrey Sydney Thomson, a cab proprietor and when Caroline signed the suffrage petition they were living in Smith St, Caversham.
Caroline died at her home in St Leonards on 26 February 1909.
Humphrey was, at the time in hospital, and the inquest found that she died of heart disease and was of 'intemperate habits'.
Humphrey died in 1910, they are buried with William Burrell in the Southern Cemetery.
Sources
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
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