Biography contributed by Nick Weijermars.
Minnie Eliza Mary Tissiman was born in Marlborough in 1870. She was the second oldest of seven children to William Tissiman, a schoolmaster in the area, and Mary Louisa Tissiman. Minnie attended Renwick school from 1876 to 1881.
In 1891 Minnie married Charles Edward Chittenden. She lived with her husband in the Hawke’s Bay at the time that she signed the suffrage petition in 1893.
The same year Minnie gave birth to her first child, Pauline Dorothy Merle Chittenden. Her husband worked as a hairdresser at the time, but by 1894 the couple had moved to Cantebury, Charles being employed in a local creamery. There they had their second child, Errol Llewellyn Chittenden, in 1898.
By 1899 they had once again left the South Island for the Waikato, Charles becoming a creamery manager.
In 1901 Minnie and her family moved to Bombay, Franklin. Her daughter, going by her middle name Dorothy, was enrolled in Bombay School in 1901, previously attending school in Ohaupo, and Errol was enrolled in school for the first time in 1903.
Both left the school in 1906 as the family moved once again, this time to Harini, Waikato. Errol died at age 8 later that year. He was buried in Saint Paul’s Churchyard Cemetery, Waipa District.
Charles appeared to be popular at his job as a creamery manager. The Waikato Argus newspaper shared an account of his farewell party as he departed his job in one factory for another.
By 1911 the couple had moved to Pakuranga, though soon after this Minnie and Charles are listed as living at separate addresses in the electoral rolls. By 1914 Charles moved to Hamilton, while Minnie instead lived in Ellerslie, Manukau, with her daughter.
Charles enrolled in the First World War in December 1916. He was discharged the year after, being unable to march due to having varicose veins, and so never served overseas. In 1921 Minnie and Charles officially went through divorce proceedings.
Minnie’s daughter lived with her in Ellerslie until Dorothy married Arthur Alfred Le Pine in 1922. Dorothy and Arthur moved to Marsden, Northland, and lived in the area for the rest of their lives. From mentions of their performances in the local newspapers it appears both her and her husband were accomplished singers.
Minnie remained in the Auckland area, and moved first to Otahuhu in 1922, then to Penrose by 1925. By 1928 Minnie had moved to Parnell, and by 1938 moved once more, this time to Remuera.
Minnie appears to have stayed closed with her daughter throughout her life, with a visit to her daughter being recorded in the Northern Advocate in 1927. By 1943 Minnie had moved to Whangarei, and was listed on the supplementary electoral roll as living only a short walk from where her daughter lived.
Minnie died in 1945 at age 75. She was buried in the Maunu cemetery, Whangarei.
Sources
Errol Chittenden – Find a Grave
- New Zealand Cemetery Records, 1800-2007
- New Zealand City & Area Directories, 1866-1954
- New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981
- New Zealand Marriage Index, 1840-1937
- New Zealand World War I Service Records, 1914-1920
Archives New Zealand
NZSG Index Members Version 5 database, New Zealand Society of Genealogists
Papers Past