Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Jessie Ann was born about 1835 in Ayrshire, Scotland.
She was married to John Stewart, a farmer - they do not appear to have had any children.
She came to New Zealand in the mid 1860s and they had a farm at Gummie’s Bush in Southland before moving to Orepuki in 1882.
Later that year John drowned in the Aparima River near Riverton, his body was found a few days later and buried in the Riverton Cemetery.
Jessie was still living in Orepuki when she signed the suffrage petition.
She died on 12 January 1906 at her niece’s home at nearby Pahia.
She was 'a lady who was highly respected in the district, and her numerous friends will miss her genial smile and many unostentatious acts of kindness.'
Jessie is buried in the Orepuki Cemetery.
Sources
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Southland District Council https://www.southlanddc.govt.nz/
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/