See also Caversham research databases
Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Jessie Duncan was born on October 18th 1855 in Uphall in Linlithgowshire, Scotland – the daughter of John Duncan and Ann Hunter.
She married Thomas Garland, a farm labourer, on June 4th 1875 in Kirkliston, Linlithgowshire and they had 2 children, one who died in infancy.
In 1879 they boarded the Timaru, with their 3 month old daughter Annie, bound for Otago.
They settled in Dunedin where they had a further 6 children and Thomas worked as a platelayer for the NZ Railways.
When Jessie signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Goodall St, Caversham.
She died at her home on September 12th 1930 and Thomas died in 1937 – they are buried together in the Andersons Bay Cemetery.