Margaret W. Hocking

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Margaret William Oats was born in 1853 in St Just, Cornwall – the daughter of Richard Oats, a miner, and his second wife Jane nee Williams.

Margaret married miner John Hocking in Cornwall in 1878 and shortly after their marriage they emigrated to New Zealand on the Edwin Fox.

They had 10 children, one who died in infancy, and when Margaret signed the suffrage petition they were living at Blacks Point, near Reefton.

Margaret’s half-sister also signed at Blacks Point. (See 251 Louisa Hill)

John died in 1898 when their youngest child was two-years-old.

Margaret re-married in 1903 to John Harvey McClymont, a farmer.

John McClymont died in 1925 and Margaret died at her daughter’s home on 17 April 1939 – she is buried with John McClymont in the Reefton Cemetery.

Margaret’s obituary said she 'was a most lovable personage and was greatly respected by all who knew her.' She 'was a life long as well as a devoted member of the Methodist Church and President of the Black’s Point Ladies’ Guild. She was also a member of the first Benevolent Society in Reefton, and of the W.C.T.U. and was loved by all who knew her. Her passing removes the oldest member of the Methodist Church in Reefton.'

Sources

BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/

Free BDM https://www.freebmd.org.uk

GRO England https://www.gro.gov.uk

Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz       

Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/