Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Originally transcribed as J B McNee
Isabella Barron was born on 22 March 1858 in Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire – the daughter of John Barron, a farmer, and Mary Fraser Mennie.
She emigrated to New Zealand with her family in the 1860’s and they settled at Wright’s Bush in Southland.
Isabella married William McNee, a grocer, on 26 November 1889 at her family home.
They had a son the following year and when Isabella signed the suffrage petition they were living in Gore.
In 1896 William deserted the family, he “disappeared from Gore, and a married woman disappeared at the same time.”
Isabella was granted a divorce in 1902 and was granted custody of their son.
William died in Sydney in 1926 – he is buried in the Rookwood General Cemetery.
Isabella re-married in 1905 to Alexander Roy, a farmer and widower. They had an adopted daughter who was born in 1904 and lived in Riverton.
Alexander died in 1927 and Isabella died on 9 September 1953 – they are buried together in the Riverton Cemetery.