Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Elizabeth was born about 1837 in Nottinghamshire, England.
She married William Bilzan/Bilzon and their son John was born about 1869.
The family emigrated to Canterbury on the Waitara, arriving on Christmas Day, in 1875.
They lived in Invercargill then Riverton before moving to Clinton about 1880 where they ran the Royal Mail Hotel and where Elizabeth signed the suffrage petition.
William died in 1907 and Elizabeth died on 21 February 1928 - they are buried with their son in the Clinton Cemetery.
Elizabeth’s obituary said she was 'one of the oldest residents of Clinton' and 'she had the distinction of being the oldest member of the Clinton Anglican Church'.
Sources
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Balclutha Geneaology Society http://www.balcluthagenealogy.org.nz/