Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Ann Fenten was born about 1826 in Derbyshire, England – the daughter of William Fenten, a labourer, and Jemima.
She had a son in 1854 and soon after appears to have married John Joseph Gadsby.
They emigrated to Victoria, Australia in March 1857 on the Sardinian and their daughter Jemima was born later that year.
The family sailed for Otago in 1862 on the Samuel Appleton and settled in Dunedin.
John worked as a miner or 'digger' and Ann kept a store in Stafford St.
Ann appeared before the courts several times for being drunk and was described as 'an old offender.'
John died in 1888, he is buried in the Northern Cemetery, Dunedin with his granddaughter.
When Ann signed the suffrage petition her address was given as Grange St, Dunedin.
She later moved to Kaitangata in South Otago where her children were living.
She died in October 1906 and is buried in the Kaitangata Lawn Cemetery.
Sources
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Clutha District Council https://www.cluthadc.govt.nz/your-services
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