Originally transcribed as Margaret Dyan
Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Margaret Fletcher was born about 1836 in Argyllshire, Scotland – the daughter of John Fletcher and Christy McTaggart. (See 154 Christina Fletcher)
She emigrated to Otago with her family in 1861 on the Pladda and settled in Dunedin.
On 9 January 1862 she married Matthew Dixon, a mariner.
They had 10 children, one who died in infancy and when Margaret signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Eden St.
In April 1912 they celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary with 'a very happy gathering of relatives and friends' which was concluded with 'three hearty cheers.'
Matthew died in 1921, aged 86, and Margaret died on 9 November 1930.
Her obituary said she 'was a kindly old lady and spent a very useful life, and it was always her pleasure to assist others in times of stress.'
She is buried with Matthew in the family grave in the Northern 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
Presbyterian Research Centre https://www.presbyterian.org.nz/archives/