Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Mary Bruce was born on 10 September 1858 in Killean and Kilchenzie, Argyllshire, Scotland. She was the daughter of Neil Bruce and Martha Sheddan. The Bruce family arrived in Otago on the Vicksburg in September 1867 and farmed in the Waitahuna area of Otago.
In 1878 Mary married Peter Barkman, a railway guard who was born in Ireland. They had seven children, losing one in infancy. In 1893 Mary and Peter were living in Bathgate St, Dunedin. Also living in Bathgate St were Mary's sisters Martha, Jeanie and Jessie Bruce.
The Barkmans moved to Wanganui about 1908 and Peter died there in 1922 followed by Mary who died on 24 June 1926.
They are buried in Old Whanganui Cemetery.
Sources
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
BDM Online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
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