Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Janet McEwan was born about 1849 in North Knapdale, Argyllshire, Scotland – the daughter of Peter McEwan, a merchant seaman, and Ann Sinclair.
She emigrated to New Zealand with her family in the early 1860s and when Janet signed the suffrage petition she was living in Smith St, Dunedin with her siblings and widowed father working as a dressmaker.
In 1897 Janet and her sister Jeannie (See 151 Jeannie McEwan) were advertising in the paper 'Misses McEwan, Dressmaker, Smith street – Terms cash. Cutting and Fitting Classes will be Resumed on the 8th.'
Janet died on 30 August 1932, she is buried in the family grave in the Southern Cemetery.
Sources
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
