Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Catherine Barrie Duff/Kate was born about 1836 in Lanarkshire, Scotland – the daughter of Robert Duff and Jean Barrie.
Both her parents died when she was young and Catherine grew up with the Gray family and her Uncle, John Barrie’s, family in Lanarkshire.
Catherine and her sister Davina (See 104 D Paton) emigrated to Otago in 1862 on the Sevilla to join their married sister (See 104 Margaret Johnstone) who was farming near Milton – the two sisters started a dressmaking business.
After Catherine’s marriage to Edward Stewart, a draper, on 25 April 1866 at the Waihola Manse the business of Stewart’s Manchester House was established.
Catherine and Edward had six children, two who died in infancy, and when Catherine signed the suffrage petition she was living in Milton.
After Edward’s death in 1892 Catherine continued to run the business with the help of her family.
She died at her home 'Stewartholme', Milton on 19 August 1931 – she is buried with Edward in the family grave in the Fairfax Cemetery, Milton.
Her obituary said she 'was a staunch supporter of Toko Presbyterian Church in its missionary and other activities.'
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Presbyterian Research Centre https://www.presbyterian.org.nz/archives/