Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Elizabeth Rosina Kropp was born in 1871 in Dunedin – the daughter of Ernest Frederick Kropp, a carpenter, and Winifred O’Malley and sister of Ernestine. (See 155 Ernestine W Kropp)
Elizabeth had a difficult life. Between 1888 and 1898 she had six illegitimate children.
The eldest lived with Elizabeth’s mother, one was adopted and the remaining four were residents of the Caversham Industrial School and may also have been eventually adopted.
When Elizabeth signed the suffrage petition she was living in Great King Street.
When the last child was born in the Benevolent Institution the Trustees recommended that Elizabeth be 'sent to the Mount Magdala Asylum'.
Whether this occurred or not is not known.
In May 1902, at Cheviot, Elizabeth married James Charles Burbery, a tinsmith and widower, with several children.
Elizabeth was James’ fourth wife and he was 64-years-old. They had a further three children, the youngest who died in infancy, before Elizabeth died on 16 October 1909 – her burial place is unknown.
James was to marry a further two times before he died in 1923 – he is buried in the Homeview Cemetery, Cheviot.