Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Catherine/Kate Cassels was born in 1867 in Central Otago – the daughter of John Cassels, a police sergeant on the Otago Goldfields and Ellen Bleke.
The family moved to Dunedin when John retired from the police force in 1875 and when Catherine signed the suffrage petition she was living with her family in Bay View Road, South Dunedin working as a tailoress.
She married Andrew Anderson, a farmer’s son, on 9 May 1903 in Christchurch.
They had a son in 1907 before Andrew deserted his family.
In 1911 Catherine charged Andrew’s father with 'failing to maintain his grandson' – he agreed to pay 6s per week.
Catherine died on 29 January 1922 in Dunedin – she is buried with her parents in the Southern Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
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
BDM Victoria https://online.justice.vic.gov.au
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