It appears that Mary signed the petition twice, on sheet 79 as well as sheet 90. Her daughter, Jane Jolly, also signed the petition.
Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Mary Forsyth Smith was born on 5 January 1826 at Fettercairn, Kincardine, Scotland – the daughter of David Smith & Elisabeth Wallace.
She married John Jolly on 28 May 1849 in Brechin, Angus. They had at least six children before they emigrated to Otago about 1863. A daughter was born at sea and died in Dunedin in 1863, and another two sons were born in Dunedin.
John Jolly frequently abused and assaulted Mary while he was intoxicated. She left him several times but returned when he promised to treat her better in the future.
Mary finally left John in 1887 and did not return. In January of 1888 Mary petitioned the courts for a judicial separation, which was granted.
In 1893 Mary and her unmarried daughters were living in Stafford St, Dunedin and John was living in Moray Place. John died in 1905, and in his will dated 1889 he left everything to Mary.
Mary died on 28 February 1906. John and Mary are buried in the Jolly family grave in the Southern Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
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.
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