Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Elizabeth Constance Holland was born about 1837, possibly in England.
She apparently married George Hendrick in the early 1860’s in New South Wales but no evidence can be found in the records.
They had 2 daughters in New South Wales before coming to Dunedin where they had a further 12 children.
George worked as a labourer and he was declared bankrupt in 1873.
When Elizabeth signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Maria St, South Dunedin.
In 1893 George was before the court charged with ‘attempting to commit suicide at South Dunedin by taking iodine’ Elizabeth gave evidence that,
accused had often, when in drink, threatened her life, and on Sunday night she was frightened of him. If he only knocked off drinking there would be no trouble with him, because he was a good father to his family.
A prohibition order was taken out and the charge of suicide was dropped.
In 1897 George again attempted suicide. He walked into a butcher’s shop ‘picked up a knife, and drew it across his throat as he walked to the door.’ No serious damage was done and he was admitted to the hospital. He said,
his wife was going to smother him, so he thought he would cut his throat. He was sorry that the knife was not sharper.
George was admitted to the Seacliff Asylum where he died in 1899 – he is buried with 2 of their children in the Southern Cemetery.
In 1901 and again in 1903 some of Elizabeth’s sons were in court for disobeying a maintenance order for her support.
Elizabeth died at her daughter’s home in Napier on October 17th 1922 – she is buried with one of her sons in the Park Island Cemetery.