Annie Hitchcock was born in 1869 in Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk, England – the daughter of Clarke Duchesne Hitchcock, an agent to a tanner, and Sarah Fieldwick.
Annie’s family emigrated to New Zealand about 1875 and settled in Dunedin.
She attended the Normal School in Dunedin and Otago Girls High School, she did not marry.
In April 1913 Annie was living in Akaroa when she was visited by her brother John. John was worried about his business & was suffering from insomnia. They went for a walk and John attacked Annie, first with a stone tied in a handkerchief, then a razor. Annie defended herself with her hands while John tried to cut her throat, she was not seriously injured.
She ran to find help, John then cut his own throat with the razor - he survived and was tried for attempted murder.
He was found not guilty by reason of insanity & was committed to a 'mental hospital'.
Annie died on 27 August 1932, she is buried in the family grave in the Northern Cemetery.
Sources:
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
PapersPast: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
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