Mrs Gore

Surname:

Gore

Given names:

Mrs

Given address:

Froderick St

Sheet No: 45

Town/Suburb:

Central Dunedin

City/Region:

Dunedin

Notes:

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Elizabeth Shelton was born in 1847 in Napton, Warwickshire – the daughter of Samuel Shelton, a farm labourer, and Elizabeth Willoughby.

She married Alfred Gore, a gardener, in 1867 and they had two daughters before they emigrated to Canterbury in 1874 on the Mongol.

They settled in Dunedin and had three sons, one who died in infancy.

Alfred worked as a coal merchant - he was declared bankrupt in 1881.

In 1889 Elizabeth applied to the court for a prohibition order (prohibiting him from buying alcohol) against Alfred which was granted for one year.

The following year Alfred was charged with using provoking and insulting language to Elizabeth, he did not appear in court. Elizabeth said that 'she had come to an arrangement with him that if he would sign a paper to separate from her altogether she would do her best to maintain the children.'

She then put an advertisement in the paper letting the public know that they had separated and that she was still carrying on their business and all accounts were to be paid to her.

When Elizabeth signed the suffrage petition she was living in Frederick Street.

Alfred’s drinking problems continued with numerous court appearances and a further prohibition order was awarded in 1895.

Elizabeth died at her home on 7 December 1899 and Alfred died at the Benevolent Institute in 1908, they are buried in the family grave in the Northern Cemetery.