Originally transcribed as I Raburn
Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Isabella Edwards was born about 1846, possibly in Scotland.
She emigrated to New Zealand in the early 1860s where she met William George Coburn.
They had nine children, one who died in infancy, and they did not marry until 1876.
When Isabella signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Greymouth.
William died in 1912 and in later years Isabella lived with her daughter and family.
In 1930 she celebrated her 86th birthday. A newspaper article said 'she is very active, and employs her time reading, knitting and sewing. Yesterday she went to the Town Hall to see the pictures, walking both ways'.
Isabella died on 12 October 1932 – she is buried with William in the Karoro Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/