Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Margaret Watson Armstrong was born about 1840 in Far, Sutherlandshire, Scotland – the daughter of James Armstrong, an agricultural labourer, and Margaret.
She emigrated to Otago with her sister Johan on the Jura in 1862.
Margaret was visiting her parents in Victoria, Australia in 1866 when she married James Elder Brown.
They returned to New Zealand and settled in Milton – they had no children.
When Margaret signed the suffrage petition they were living at 'Elderlee', Milton.
James was active in public life and 'in all her husband’s public and private activities' Margaret 'took an active interest. She was highly esteemed by a large circle of friends.'
James died in 1900 and Margaret died at her home on 27 December 1917, they are buried in the family grave in the Fairfax Cemetery, Milton.
Sources
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/
BDM Victoria https://online.justice.vic.gov.au