Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Jane Cattan was born about 1853 in Scotland – the eldest child of Bryce Cattan, an engine driver, and Catherine Marchbank.
Her family moved to Carslisle in Cumberland where her father died in 1862.
Sometime after this the family emigrated to Otago where Jane’s grandparents had a farm south of Dunedin at Maungatua.
Jane married, coachbuilder, William Stewart on 30September 1874 – they had one son.
In 1887 they purchased a farm at Benio in the Waikaka Valley where Jane signed the suffrage petition.
A few years later they moved to Croydon Siding.
Jane died at her sister’s home in Dunedin on 6 February 1909 and William died at their home Washpool in 1915 – they are buried together in the Gore 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
Presbyterian Research Centre https://www.presbyterian.org.nz/archives/
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/