Mrs Geo Lindsay

Signed family name

Lindsay

Signed given name

Mrs Geo

Given address

Tokomairiro

Sheet number

104

Town/Suburb

Tokomairiro

City/Region

Otago

Notes

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Margaret Morrison was born about 1825 in Campsie, Stirlingshire, Scotland – the daughter of James Morrison.

She married George Lindsay, a victualler, on 11 June 1847 in Glasgow and they had two children before they emigrated to Otago in 1852 on the Royal Albert.

Their third child was born on board the ship and, after a short stay in Dunedin, the family travelled to the Tokomairiro district on foot.

After they had built their house they transported their household effects by sea from Dunedin to Taieri Mouth. They were then brought up the river to the head of Lake Waihola before a bullock dray was used to bring the goods to their home.

Their farm was called 'Birkenshaw' and they had a further 11 children, one who died in infancy.

Margaret signed the suffrage petition in Tokomairiro and a few years later, in 1897, they celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary.

Margaret died at 'Birkenshaw' on 4 February 1907, her obituary said she 'was a true type of the early settler, – a class of wife and mother of whom all may be proud, – and deservedly so...During her long residence in the district she made many friends, who ever esteemed her for her sterling, upright, and withal kindly character.'

George died in 1913, they are buried in the Fairfax Cemetery, Milton.