Also signed as 232 Mrs Jane Hosking
Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Mrs Jane Hosking was born Jane Thomas on 19 November 1835 to William Thomas and his wife Jane Wilkin, at Illogan, Cornwall, England.
At the time of the 1851 census, Jane was living at home in Broad Lane, Illogan, Cornwall, England with her parents; older brother Henry, a Copper Miner and younger sister Ann. Jane was a Dressmaker.
In July 1852 Jane married John Hosking in Redruth, Cornwall, England.
Jane and John had eight children, however only two reached adulthood.
John died in March 1866 in Illogan, Cornwall, England. John was a Copper Miner.
Following the death of her husband Jane took in sewing and 'would paper a room for the modest sum of sixpence a day'.
The 1871 census for Illogan, Cornwall records Jane Hosking aged 35 years, a Widow living with her daughter; Elizabeth at 5 Robartes Terrace.
Jane Hosking, her two daughters, Emily J Hosking, Mrs Elizabeth Ann Thomas Johns and son-in-law Frederick Johns left Plymouth, England on 1 July 1875 and arrived in Timaru on 24 September 1875 on the ship Merope. They travelled by bullock wagon to Waimate.
The 1911 and 1914 electoral rolls record Jane Hosking at Maytown, Waimate. The Maytown Settlement was a property of 157 hectares and was opened for lease in perpetuity in April 1902. It was bounded by Shears Road, Main North Road and Champions Road. It was divided into eleven sections.
Jane died on 25 October 1919, age 83 years in Waimate and is buried in the Waimate Old cemetery, Methodist section, Plot 000199.
Jane’s two daughters Emily Hosking (see 233 Mrs E. J. Hosking) and Elizabeth Johns (see 233 Mrs E. A. T. Johns) also signed the petition.
Sources
Ancestry Family Trees
Ancestry – UK Census Records
Greenwood, William Te Waimatemate – History of Waimate County and Borough, pg 36
Ashburton Guardian 29 October 1919 pg 1
Waimate District Council online cemetery database
NZ DIA Death Index 1919/8728 – Jane Hosking