Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Mary Steel was born in about 1848 in Scotland - she married James Pattison, a joiner, on 29 December 1871 in Smailholm, Roxburghshire.
They had two children before they emigrated to Otago in 1874 on the Mairi Bhan.
Shortly after their arrival their infant son died – another five children were born in the next six years, including twins, one of whom died in infancy.
The family settled in Kirkland Hill, Dunedin where Mary signed the suffrage petition.
In 1923 Mary and James celebrated their golden wedding at their home 'Tikouka', 6 Gibson St, Roslyn.
James died in July 1926 and Mary died at her home on 21 December the same year. They are buried in the family grave in the Southern Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz