Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Jessie Mollison was born on 17 June 1843 in Fettercairn, Kincardineshire, Scotland. She was the daughter of Robert Mollison and Elizabeth Lyall. In 1860, Robert Mollison, his second wife Isabella, and their five children arrived in Dunedin on the Storm Bird as cabin passengers.
On 29 October 1863, at Maitland St, Jessie married John Nevin, a blacksmith. They had nine children and lived for a time at Waihola Gorge where John ran a shop.
Around 1882 the family moved to Dunedin and lived in Frederick St where, on 29 October 1913, John and Jessie celebrated their golden wedding.
A large photo appeared in the Otago Witness of the family during the celebration.
John Niven died at 44 Frederick St in 1914, and Jessie on 8 September 1916. They are buried together in the Northern Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz