Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Fanny Smith was born in 1852 in Kenton, Devon – the daughter of John Smith and Ann Packer.
She married labourer Thomas Goodwin in 1876 and they had five children, one who died in infancy.
In 1886 Thomas sailed for New Zealand followed by Fanny and the children in 1890 on the Tongariro.
They settled in Dunedin where their last child was born and where Thomas worked as a gardener.
When Fanny signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Water St, Maori Hill.
In 1903 they bought a farm at Pukerau where they lived until 1921.
They moved to Gore where Thomas died in 1929 and Fanny died on 4 July the following year – they are buried together in the Gore Cemetery
Fanny’s obituary said 'in addition to giving willing and sympathetic service to the community, Mrs Goodwin earned the respect and esteem of all who made her acquaintance.'
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Free BDM https://www.freebmd.org.uk
GRO England https://www.gro.gov.uk
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz