Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Janet Anne MacDonald was born in Dunedin in about 185 — the daughter of Archibald MacDonald, a teacher, and Janet MacGregor.
They family lived in Halfway Bush, Dunedin.
On 14 December 1869 at her home 'Hawthorn Glen', Waikari Janet married Joseph Freeman, a painter.
Their first child was born in April 1871 at Daisy Cottage, The Glen, Dunedin — a further eight children were born to the couple, one who died in infancy.
Joseph was declared bankrupt in 1885. When Janet signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Ann St, Roslyn running a shop.
Joseph died at Dunedin Hosptial in 1914 and Janet died at her daughter’s home on 11 May 1934.
They are buried in the family grave in the Northern Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
Community contributions