Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Jane McAdam Todd was born in 1864 in New Zealand – the daughter of James Todd and Mary.
She married George 'Gleeson' Willis, a tobacconist and hairdresser, in 1887 and they had three daughters, one who died in infancy.
Jane signed the suffrage petition in Gore and the following year George died after an attack of influenza – he is buried with their daughter in the Gore Cemetery.
Jane carried on the hairdressing business for a time then she opened a fruiter’s and restaurant business – The Central Dining Rooms.
She was declared bankrupt in 1895 and one day after the creditors meeting her house burnt down – she left town soon after and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
Jane faced her creditors again later in the year and was found to owe £259 19s 5d with no assets due to the recent fire.
Jane moved to Auckland in the 1900s where she died on 10 December 1931 – she is buried in the Hillsborough Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/