D. Gaitt

Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker

D Gait was born Donaldina McKenzie on 22 October 1841 in Ivercarron, Scotland to George McKenzie and Anne McKenzie nee Fraser.

On 30 September 1865 she married Frederick Gaitt at Timaru. The Marriage Notice states that she was the sixth daughter of Mr G McKenzie of Tain, Rosshire, Scotland.

They had nine children; Frederick James born 1866, Emma Annie born 1868, Jessie Sarah born 1869, George Weatherly born 1871, William Augustus born 1872, James Lowthorp born 1874, Edward McKenzie born 1877, Adeline Fredrica born 1880 and Charles Alexander born 1883.

Frederick Gaitt was the Noble Grand of the Loyal Heart of Friendship Lodge No 5859, Waimate for its first meeting on 18 January 1871.

Waimate was constituted a Borough on 8 September 1879 and the first election took place on 6 October 1879. Frederick Gaitt stood for Council, receiving 48 votes. He was not elected.

In 1892 Donaldina Gaitt also signed the Women’s Suffrage petition.

Donaldina Gaitt died at Kenwyn, Studholme Junction, Waimate on 16 October 1904 in her 63rd year. She is buried in the Waimate cemetery.

Frederick died on 13 June 1910 age 72 years. He is buried in the Waimate cemetery.

Sources

Ancestry Public Family Trees – Donaldina Gaitt
Greenwood, William, Te Waimatemate – History of Waimate County and Borough, The Timaru Herald Company Limited, Pages 87, 230
Timaru Herald 7 October 1865, Page 4 – Marriage Notices Gaitt – McKenzie
Timaru Herald 17 October 1904 – Death Notice – Donaldina Gaitt
NZ Cemetery Records 1800 – 2007 Donaldina Gaitt and Frederick Gaitt
Waimate District Council cemetery records online