Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Maria Sarah Heaps was born in 1872 in New Zealand – the daughter of George Henry Heaps, a publican & carrier, and Jemima Hay.
Maria’s father died in 1878 when he fell from a dray and a wheel ran over his chest.
When Maria signed the suffrage petition she was living in Duncan St, Dunedin.
In 1901 she was admitted to the Southland Hospital suffering from paralysis.
She died on 16 July 1912. She was 'unable to move hand or foot, quite helpless, and for the past three years blind as well, she has borne her great burden patiently and kept up an unselfish interest in those around her.' 'She remains as an inspiring memory and an example of how it is possible to be bright and uncomplaining under almost overwhelming odds'.
Maria is buried with her family in the Invercargill Eastern Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Invercargill City Council https://icc.govt.nz
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
Community contributions