Jessie Chisholm

Signed family name

Chisholm

Signed given name

Jessie

Given address

Milton

Sheet number

118

Town/Suburb

Milton

City/Region

Otago

Notes

Originally transcribed as Jessie Chisolm

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Jessie Park was born about 1848 in Midlothian, Scotland – the daughter of John Brown Park, a school teacher, and Christina Alexander. (See 46 Mrs J B Park)

In 1856 the family emigrated to Tasmania before, sailing again, for Otago, about 1863.

Jessie’s father was the headmaster of the William St School which became known as Park’s School.

She married Rev. James Chisholm on 19 December 1871 at her parent’s home in Dunedin – they lived in Milton, where Jessie signed the suffrage petition, and had five children.

After James resigned his position at Milton in 1899 they spent a short time in Palmerston North before returning to Dunedin.

James retired in 1910 – he died at their home in 1916.

Jessie died at her daughter’s home in Dunedin on 24 January 1931, she is buried with James in the family grave in the Andersons Bay Cemetery.

Her obituary said she was 'a woman of many intellectual gifts, widely read, and interested to the last, she was greatly esteemed and loved for her personal worth, and for helpful service in all good movements connected with her church and district. She was especially interested in all activities for the benefit of women and girls. For many years she was member of the Board of Governors of the Young Women’s Christian Association, and latterly a life member. She was vice-president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. She took a keen interest in the missionary organisations of the Presbyterian Church.'