Hellen E. Dick

Signed family name

Dick

Signed given name

Hellen E.

Given address

Sandy Mount

Sheet number

143

Town/Suburb

Otago peninsula

City/Region

Otago

Notes

Originally transcribed as Helien E Dick

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Hellen/Helen Eason was born on 29 October 1837 in Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland – the daughter of Joseph Eason, a labourer, Helen Watt.

She married William Dick, a mason, on 27 April 1858 in Dunfermline and they had two children, one who died in infancy, before they emigrated to Otago in 1860 on the Robert Henderson. They settled on the Otago Peninsula and had a further eight children.

When Helen signed the suffrage petition the family were living at 'Luscar House', Sandymount.

She died there on 19 October 1903, 'in all the trials and hardships of pioneering the late Mrs Dick bravely bore her part, her bright, cheery disposition helping her over many a difficulty that would have proved too much for a less resolute woman. In all movements that were for the good of the community Mrs Dick made her influence felt. She was most hospitable, and never was happier than when doing a good turn for another'.

William died in 1921 at their daughter’s home in Pukehiki on the Peninsula, they are buried together in the Portobello Cemetery.