Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Eliza Gammons was born on 7 June 1884, London, England 1844 to Charles Gammons and Mary Glidewell.
Eliza came to New Zealand c 1862 as a Housemaid. After arriving she changed her name to Emma Elizabeth Gammon.
Emma Elizabeth Gammon married Alfred Allfrey on 15 November 1867 in Christchurch. Alfred was a Blacksmith.
Emma and Alfred had eight children; James Charles born 1868, Margaret Mary Elizabeth born 1870, Alice Maud born 1873, Emma Elizabeth born 1876, Reuben born 1877, George Alexander born 1879, Jessie Ruth born 1881 and Mary Ann born 1882.
Alfred died on 17 November 1883 at the age of 41 years from rheumatic fever leaving Emma to bring up eight children under the age of 15 years. Alfred is buried in the Waimate Old cemetery – Anglican Section, Plot 0015AN000488.
In the 1905-06 and 1911 electoral rolls for Otago, Waitaki Emma Allfrey was living in Shearman Street, Waimate.
Emma died in Waimate on 2 August 1922 aged 79 years. She is buried in the same plot as her husband Alfred.
Emma’s daughter Emma Allfrey (233) also signed the Petition.
Sources
Ancestry – Public Family Trees – Alfred Allfrey
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1867/7666 Emma Elizabeth Gammon/Alfred Allfrey
NZ DIA Birth Index – Allfrey children
Family information from Christine Allan-Johns 5 May 2018
Waimate District Council cemetery records online
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
Community contributions