Originally transcribed as Margaret Thorn
Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley.
Margaret Gibson was born about 1854 in Scotland.
She arrived in New Zealand in the late 1870’s where she married confectioner John Thom in 1878.
They had five children before John died in 1888 when their youngest child was only three weeks old.
At the time John was running the Grand Hotel Refreshment Rooms. “Tea and Coffee can always be obtained at any hour. Pastry of the best quality. Country People will find the Refreshment Rooms handy and close to Railway station”.
Margaret appears to have continued the business until 1892 when it was sold.
When Margaret signed the suffrage petition she was living in George St, Dunedin & gave her occupation as confectioner.
Margaret died on 29 September 1931 – she is buried with John 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
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz