Biographical information provided by Raewyn Vogel for the He Tohu exhibition:
Lizzie (Elizabeth) was born in Tingwall, Shetland, Scotland on 21 August 1870.
She emigrated on the ship Invercargill ex Glasgow and arrived in Dunedin on 2 October 1878 (listed as being 7-years-old at the time). She was accompanied by her mother Mary (nee Leask) 37, father John [Jno] 38, sister Jessie 15, brother Geo (2). Her father was listed as a Farm Labourer from Shetland.
An account of the ship’s voyage provided to the Daily Times by the ship’s surgeon, Dr Eadson, reveals that her mother Mary had a confinement whilst on board the Invercargill en route to New Zealand. Unfortunately the baby girl was born prematurely and only survived a short time after birth.
Lizzie was 23 years old when she signed the petition and she died unmarried at the age of 63 in 1933.