M. Trotter

Surname:

Trotter

Given names:

Given address:

Wangaloa

Sheet No: 87

Town/Suburb:

Wangaloa

City/Region:

Otago

Notes:

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Margaret Young Wilson was born on 29 July 1830 in Edinkillie, Morayshire, Scotland – the daughter of Alexander Wilson, a farmer, and Anne Waddel.

She married John Trotter, a farmer, on 5 April 1850 in Knockbain, Ross and Cromarty – they had eight children, two who died in infancy.

The family emigrated to New Zealand in 1866 on the Melita and they settled at Inch Valley Farm near Palmerston where John worked as a shepherd.

He was declared insolvent in 1870 and their last child was born in 1871. (See 87 M W Trotter)

Margaret worked as a school teacher at Papakaio and Palmerston before the family moved to Hyde in Central Otago where John died in 1879.

Margaret continued teaching, holding the position of head teacher at Shag Valley near Palmerston until 1890 when she transferred to Wangaloa near Kaitangata.

Margaret signed the suffrage petition at Wangaloa – when her son’s wife died in 1894 leaving three young children Margaret resigned from teaching and went live with them at Hyde.

She died at her son’s home on 7 May 1896 - she is buried with John in the Palmerston Cemetery.