Elizabeth Barr

Biographical information provided by Jenny Robertson for the He Tohu exhibition:

Elizabeth Barr née Seay (1865 - 1933)

Elizabeth was the first child born in New Zealand to Ellen née Nixon and Thomas Seay of Kilmore, County Down, Ireland who migrated in 1863 aboard the Akerton (according to the Press of 6 July 1911).  She lived on the family farm at Springfield, Canterbury. Her older siblings, Ellen and Margaret, who had come from Ireland with their parents, died in 1872 as did a brother in 1873, Thomas Robert Seay.

Elizabeth attended Halkett, Christchurch Normal, and Kowai Pass Schools and also West Christchurch Girls and in 1886 married James Barr from a local family.  They started married life on a farm in Annat and raised 10 of their eleven children to adulthood.  James experienced bankruptcy in the same year Elizabeth signed the suffrage petition and shortly after their daughter Agnes died on 3 August just before her third birthday.

James turned to stock dealing in Islington before later returning to farming to support his growing family.  Although married as a Presbyterian, Elizabeth and many of her daughters later belonged to the Assembly of God and were devoutly religious.

Elizabeth died of cancer in Christchurch in 1933 and is buried in the Linwood cemetery.