Biography contributed by Nicola Francis
Jane ‘Jeannie’ Bryce was born at Fairfax, Tokomairiro (Milton) on 27 January 1864, the first of eight children born to Janet Bryce neé Allan and James Millar Bryce, Blacksmith, both originally from Scotland.
Jeannie was 29 years old when she signed the petition for women’s suffrage with her mother Janet Bryce in 1893. The Bryce family enjoyed music and literature. Her father was a well-known poet who wrote under the pen name ‘Hamish.’ Jeannie sang and played the piano in her family band, her five brothers played in the Milton band, and the youngest brother Andrew Bryce played in the New Zealand Brass Band that toured Great Britain in 1903.
On 21 April 1897, Jeannie married Scottish-born Robert Jackson, a farmer from Weston near Oamaru, at her parents’ home in Milton. Her occupation is listed as 'domestic duties' on the marriage certificate. Robert was a widower with 11 children aged from 29 to 10, his first wife Mary Ann Clunie having died in 1887. The younger children of Robert’s first family were still at home at the time of the marriage and Jeannie helped the elder Jackson children to care for them.
Jeannie and Robert added to the family: Jeannie gave birth to 2 daughters and 2 sons: Helena Alice (1898-1923), James Bryce (1900-1973), Catherine Clara (1901-1984) and Andrew Allan (1903-1982).
Involved in the Presbyterian Church, the family kept 'the blinds drawn on a Sunday so the family could pray.' Jeannie loved to garden. She grew hollyhocks and gooseberries at the family home Scotlandwell, Ure Street Oamaru. Her gooseberry bushes live on in her step-great-granddaughter’s Christchurch garden. Jeannie and Robert both loved music and played with their children. Jeannie organised garden parties where she and her family performed music.
In 1913 Robert and Jeannie travelled to Scotland where they visited family. Both kept diaries of their 8½ months away.
Robert Jackson died in 1917.
Jane died in 1953, aged 89, in Oamaru.
Thanks to Beverley Hentschel, Peter Hentschel, and Graeme Martyn for access to the Jackson family archives.
Thanks to Dr Allen Bryce for the Bryce family archives.
Photographs from the Jackson family archives courtesy of Beverley Hentschel and Graeme Martyn.
Sources
Bryce, Jane. Birth record printout, ref. 1864/20607. Wellington, New Zealand: Births, Deaths and Marriages office, Department of Internal Affairs.
Bryce, Jane. Marriage record printout, ref. 1897/1309. Wellington, New Zealand: Births, Deaths and Marriages office, Department of Internal Affair
Beverley Hentschel personal communication, 5 Sep 2019
Beverley Hentschel personal communication, 9 Sep 2019
Images
Jane ‘Jeannie’ Jackson, Robert Jackson with Jane’s four children Alice, James, Clara, Andrew and Florence, her youngest stepchild. Undated, circa 1913, possibly before Jeannie and Robert made their trip to Scotland.
Jane ‘Jeannie’ Jackson nee Bryce and daughter Clara Geddes nee Jackson, St Pauls Church, Oamaru. Undated.
Jane ‘Jeannie’ Bryce on the right, at Scotlandwell, 17 Ure Street, Oamaru with her stepdaughter Mary Ann Milligan nee Jackson, and step-granddaughter Mildred ‘Millie’ Jackson.
Photo courtesy of Beverley Hentschel, daughter of Millie Jackson later McGregor.