Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Edith Maude Gilder was born in 1866 in Yorkshire, England – the daughter of John Gilder, a farmer, and Amelia Beverley.
She emigrated to New Zealand with her family about 1878, they settled at Edendale and Woodlands before moving to the Charlton district, near Gore.
She married George Bigwood in 1892 and they had six children, one who died in infancy.
Edith signed the suffrage petition in Mataura where she lived for the rest of her life.
She was 'an ardent worker for the Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Sunday School teaching staff for over 25 years'.
'During the war she was an enthusiastic member of patriotic societies, and was always willing to give her time and help for a good cause. For many years she took an active interest in the Mataura Horticultural and Industrial Exhibit Society, being a keen exhibitor at its shows'.
Edith died at Gore on 20 March 1939 and George died in 1941 – they are buried together in the Mataura Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
GRO England https://www.gro.gov.uk
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/