Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Maria Josephine Corcoran was born about 1857 in Galway, Ireland – the daughter of Walter Corcoran, a farmer, and Bridget Connolly.
Her father died in 1871 and Maria emigrated to Otago with her mother and siblings in 1876 on the Corona.
She married Denis Kean in 1878 and they had nine children, one who died in infancy.
When Maria signed the suffrage petition the family were living at Otaraia near Gore.
She died at her home on 30 July 1896 and Denis died in 1910 at Waikaka.
They are buried together in the Clinton Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Balclutha Geneaology Society http://www.balcluthagenealogy.org.nz/
Irish Genealogy https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/