Jessie Douglas

Biography contributed by Dr Nicola Francis

Jessie McKenzie McLENNAN was born on 17 July 1858, at Waipū, Northland, New Zealand, the sixth of eight children, to Christina McKENZIE (c.1818-1889) and John McLENNAN (c.1801-1886) of Big Harbour, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. The family migrated to New Zealand in 1852 on the Highland Lass to Adelaide, Australia and then to New Zealand on the Gazelle in 1853 as part of the double migration of Highland Scots to Nova Scotia then New Zealand via Australia.

On 1 July 1889 at Waipū, Jessie married Allan Douglas (b. Victoria Australia 1857). Jessie gave birth to three children in New Zealand: Azalia Isabella Douglas (1892-1906), Cynthia Marathon Douglas (c1895-1922) and Lilian Floral Douglas (c.1898-1981)

She was 35 years old and the mother of her first child when she signed the Women’s Suffrage petition at Waipū. Her older sister, Mary Durham née McLennan also signed at Waipū.

According to newspaper reports, Jessie enjoyed being involved in church events, and her talent at decorating tables is noted in several newspaper articles.

Allan Douglas died in Queensland on 29 July 1926.

Jessie died in Queensland Australia on 4 November 1952. She is buried at the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery.

Sources

Waipū Museum, The Centre, Waipū, Tai Tokerau Northland.

Papers Past, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand, Wellington.

Queensland Government Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Image

Jessie Douglas née McLennan (Waipū Museum)