Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Mary Smith was born on 13 March 1855 in Whitburn, West Lothian, Scotland – the daughter of Thomas Smith, a carter, and Janet Bryce.
Mary emigrated to Otago in 1872 on the May Queen accompanied by her elder sister Lilias.
She married farmer James Barbour Martin on 22 June 1876 in St Andrew’s Parish in Balclutha.
They had eight children, the first two who died in infancy, and when Mary signed the suffrage petition they were living in Enfield in North Otago.
Mary died at her home on 20 August 1918 and James died in 1928 – they are buried together in the Old Oamaru Cemetery.
Mary’s obituary said 'another of our most respected residents has been removed from our midst. The late Mrs Martin was always a quiet unostentatious worker for good, and will be much missed.'
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/
Waitaki District Council https://www.waitaki.govt.nz/our-services
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/