Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Mary Kirkwood was born about 1841 in Glasgow, Scotland.
On 31 January 1859, in Glasgow, she married John Simpson, a tailor.
John and Mary had eight children in Glasgow before Mary emigrated to New Zealand about 1877.
Mary’s family doesn't appear to be on a passenger list so it's unknown if John came with the family. At least two of Mary’s children came with her as in 1893 she was living in Josephine St with daughter Agnes, and when she died on 29 January 1937 it was at her daughter’s residence Timaru.
Mary is buried in the Southern Cemetery, Dunedin next to her daughter Agnes Roberts.
Sources
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
BDM online NZ https://www.bdmhisoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
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