Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Louisa Lester was born in New Zealand in 1859 – the daughter of Thomas Lester and Eliza Kennard.
Her father died shortly before her birth and her mother re-married in 1861.
Louisa married James Simpson on 23 April 1878 at Knox Church, Dunedin and they had eight children.
When Louisa signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Cumberland St, Dunedin.
James died in 1926 and Louisa died at her home on 12 March 1939 – they are buried together in the Andersons Bay Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/