Martha Willis

Surname:

Willis

Given names:

Martha

Given address:

Rothesay

Sheet No: 61

Town/Suburb:

Ravensbourne

City/Region:

Dunedin

Notes:

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Martha Pearce was born in England about 1845, she married Benjamin Willis, a tailor, in 1868 in London.

They had four children, two who died in infancy, before they emigrated to Otago in 1874 on the Corona.

They had a further four children in New Zealand, one who died in infancy.

In 1888 Benjamin was charged with failing to contribute towards the support of his wife and children, he offered to take care of the children but refused to give his wife a home.

He was ordered to pay for the children’s support.

The following year he was charged with disobeying the maintenance order, he said he had no money and was sentenced to seven days prison with hard labour.

Apart from a court appearance for disorderly behaviour the next year Benjamin seems to disappear.

When Martha signed the suffrage petition she was living in Rothesay, West Harbour, Dunedin.

She married William Winton in 1900, Martha died on 3 February 1908 in Dunedin. William died in 1944, they are buried together in the Northern Cemetery.