Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Margaret Jane Sparrow was born in 1866 in Stockton, Durham, England – the daughter of Joseph Sparrow, a boilermaker, and Robina Mackay. (See 122 Mrs Joseph Sparrow)
The family emigrated to Otago on the William Davie in 1869 and settled in Dunedin.
When Margaret signed the suffrage petition she was living with her family in Havelock St, Mornington.
In October 1896 Margaret sailed for England to marry her New Zealand born fiancée William John Sawers, a plumber.
They were married on 28 November 1896 at St James’s Church, Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk.
They had two sons and settled in Bury St Edmonds.
About 1906 the family returned to Dunedin where William died in 1942.
Margaret died on 30 December 1943, she is buried with William 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
GRO England https://www.gro.gov.uk
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz