Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley.
Janet Wallace Pringle was born about 1834 in Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland – the daughter of Robert Pringle, a woolen hand loom weaver, and Elizabeth Foyer.
She married James Oliver White on April 21st 1854 in Hawick and soon after their marriage they emigrated to Australia.
James worked as a photographer and they had 4 children. In 1872 they sailed for New Zealand where they had at least a further 4 children.
James worked as a travelling photographer in Central Otago and Southland.
When James retired from business they settled in Dunedin. When Janet signed the suffrage petition they were living on the corner of Castle St and Lambeth Rd where she was working as a grocer.
James died at their daughter’s home in Dunedin in 1901. He is buried in the Northern Cemetery.
After James’ death Janet went to live with family at Te Araroa, where she died on May 22nd 1902. Her burial place is unknown.
Sources
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