Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Mrs E Wilson was born Emma Jane Walters Petit, the daughter of William Petit and his wife Emma Adams.
At the time of the 1871 census Emma was living with her parents, William and Emma Petit, East Stonehouse, Devon, England.
The family migrated to New Zealand, arriving in Waimate in 1873.
On 30 October 1878, Emma’s parents William and Emma Petit were appointed to the Warden and Matron positions at the Waimate Cottage Hospital. Emma was first pupil/nurse.
In 1887 Emma married Robert Gavin Wilson. He was an Engineer. Emma and Robert had two children; William Petit Wilson born 1888 and Violet Sheriff Adams Petit born 1889.
Robert Wilson died on 6 May 1892, age 42 years and is buried in Waimate Old cemetery, Methodist section, Plot 480.
The 1893 and 1896 electoral rolls record Emma Wilson, widow, living in Waimate.
Emma Wilson remarried in 1899 in Geraldine to John Edwin Wilce, coal merchant.
The 1911 electoral roll records Emma living in Harris street and in 1925 Shearman street, Waimate.
Emma Wilce died on 8 January 1951, age 84 years. She is buried in the Waimate Old cemetery, Methodist section, Plot 000235.
Emma’s Probate/Will record shows that she left a Freehold property, Lot 45, DP6 part rural section 997 – Shearman street, Waimate to her son, Edwin Wilce. She also left Freehold property Lot 109 DP Plan 164, part of rural section 431, situated in Harris Street to grandsons; Edward John Wilce and John Edward Wilce.
John Wilce died in 1963, age 86 years.
Emma’s Mother, Mrs E Petit signed the Women’s Suffrage Petition – Sheet 230.
Sources
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1887/3580 Emma Jane Petit/Robert Gavin Wilson
NZ DIA Death Index 1892/6090 Robert Gavin Wilson
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1899/4979 Emma Jane Wilson/John Edwin Wilce
NZ DIA Death Index 1951/20329 Emma Jane Walters Wilce
Archives New Zealand Emma Jane Walters Wilce Probate Record
NZ DIA Death Index 1963/27760 John Edwin Wilce
Ancestry Family Trees
Ancestry New Zealand Electoral Rolls