Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Clara Emma Western, born in 1869 in New Zealand to Joseph Western and his wife Faith Sheard Western nee Barker.
At the time of signing the 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition, Clara gave her address as Te Kopuru, which was a sawmilling town.
The 1896 electoral roll for Waitemata records Clara Western, Wharehine, domestic duties.
In 1898 Clara married Richard Alexander Partington on 8 November 1898 in St Peters church, Great North Road, Auckland.
Clara and Richard had two daughters.
Richard Partington died on 26 June 1956.
Clara Partington died on 5 March 1957 and is buried with her husband in the Taruheru cemetery, Gisborne in Block 22, Plot 445.
Sources
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1898/5155 Clara Emma Western/Richard Alexander Partington
Ancestry Family Trees and New Zealand electoral rolls
Gisborne District Council online cemetery database
NZ DIA Death Index 1956/36847 Richard Alexander Partington
NZ DIA Death Index 1957/23353 Clara Emma Partington