Margaret Barnes

Surname:

Barnes

Given names:

Margaret

Given address:

Forth Street

Sheet No: 85

Town/Suburb:

North Dunedin

City/Region:

Dunedin

Notes:

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Margaret Graham Black was born on 25 November 1840 in Oxnam, Roxburghshire, Scotland – the daughter of Thomas Black, a blacksmith, and Janet Smith.

She emigrated to Otago in 1860 on the Storm Cloud accompanied by four of her brothers and later that year she married William Barnes, a contractor.

They had 14 children, at least four who died in infancy, and when Margaret signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Forth St, Dunedin.

In January 1893, while the family were visiting their married daughter at Beaumont, William died when he was buried with gravel while loading a dray at a gravel pit.

Margaret died on 11 August 1927 at her niece’s home in Dunedin – she is buried with William in the family grave in the Northern Cemetery.

Her obituary said she had seen Dunedin 'grow from the small village it was then to the fine city it is now, and could tell many interesting stories of the early digging days.'

She 'was of a bright, cheerful and generous disposition, active and willing to help in everything that was for the good of the community, and especially took a warm personal interest in the Otago Early Settlers’ Association. She was a useful member of the Committee of Management for many years.'