Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Clara Novella Firth was born in the December Quarter of 1870, Bradford, Yorkshire, England, to John Hanson Firth and his wife Sarah Mosley.
At the time of the 1871 census the family was living at 114 Gorlington Road, Manningham, Bradford, Yorkshire. Surname is recorded as ‘Ferth’.
The Firth family came to New Zealand circa 1880.
From 1888 to 1894 Clara was a Female Pupil Teacher and from 1895 to 1902 she was an Assistant Teacher at Te Aro School, Wellington.
The 1893 and 1896 electoral rolls record Clara Firth living at 45 Courtenay Place, Wellington.
In 1903 to 1904 Clara was Mistress at Wadestown School, Wellington.
On 16 December 1904 Clara married John Dalziel Hay in the Presbyterian Church, Wadestown, Wellington. Clara was 33 years of age and a school teacher and John was 32 years of age and a Civil Servant.
They had one daughter.
Around 1908 they moved to 148 Eglington Road, Mornington, Dunedin. By 1922 they had moved to Pendares street, New Plymouth. In 1931 they were living at 65 Tyne street, Invercargill and in 1935 had moved to 210 Tweed street Invercargill. In 1954 they were living at 268 Bay View Road, St Kilda, Otago.
Clara died on 10 October 1955, age 85 years at Dunedin. She is buried in the Andersons Bay cemetery, Block 209, Plot 67.
John died on 2 July 1959 age 86 years and is buried with his wife Clara in the Andersons Bay cemetery.
Clara’s Mother, Sarah Firth also signed the 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition, Sheet 413.
Sources
Free UK BMD December 1870 Quarter, 9b, 150 Bradford, Yorkshire – Clara N Firth
Ancestry – England 1871 census records
New Zealand Gazette Notices
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1904/6927 – Clara Firth/John Dalziel Hay
NZ DIA Death Index 1955/30018 – Clara Hay
NZ DIA Death Index 1959/31036 – John Dalziel Hay
Archives New Zealand The Collections – Will/Probate John D Hay – R14693825