Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Mary Emma Duff was born in 1870 at Waitahuna Gully, Otago – the daughter of William Duff, a storekeeper, and Margaret Shepherd.
In her teens Mary joined the Salvation Army. She became Adjutant Duff and was in charge of Salvation Army homes in Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington and Tasmania. After resigning from the Army she worked as a private nurse.
Mary married James Drummond, a farmer, in 1915. They had no children and lived in Balclutha and Glenomaru.
She always took an active part in public activities in the district. She was passionately fond of her flower garden, which was an inspiration to all, and her home was generally the headquarters of many of the women’s movements in the district.
Mary died on 14 February 1938 at her brother’s house in Milburn, Otago and is buried in the Milton/Fairfax Cemetery.
James’s place and date of death could not be found.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
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