Mary Ferguson

Originally transcribed as Mary Ferguson

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Mary Ann Ferguson was born in 1864 in Dunedin – the daughter of William Clark Ferguson and Elizabeth Pringle.

In 1883 Mary was appointed to the role of schoolmistress at Owake school.

When Mary signed the suffrage petition she was teaching at Fairfax school.

She resigned from her position in 1898 prior to her marriage. A 'pleasing little function'  was held at the Fairfax school – the parents and children presented Mary with 'a handsome marble clock, while on behalf of the committee' she was presented with 'a beautiful tea service.'

Mary married John Martin, a farmer, on 9 November 1898 at her parents’ home in Dunedin.

A few weeks later 'the members of the Tokomairiro Presbyterian choir, Sunday school, and Mutual Improvement Society tendered a social' for Mary to celebrate her marriage. She was presented with 'a handsome drawing room table and writing desk, on behalf of the choir.'

Mary and John had three sons and farmed at 'Riverside', Tokoiti near Milton before retiring to Milton in later life.

Mary died at her home in Milton on 18 September 1934 and John died in 1936, they are buried together in the Fairfax Cemetery, Milton.

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

Presbyterian Research Centre https://www.presbyterian.org.nz/archives/