Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Mrs Jas Brown was born Jane McKell on 5 September 1840 in Glasgow, Scotland to John McKell and his wife Margaret McKell nee Binning.
On 6 June 1862 Jane married James Brown in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. James was a Blacksmith.
Between April 1871 and early October 1875, the family migrated to New Zealand.
Jane and James had five daughters and two sons.
Jane Brown signed the 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition in Aratapu, Kaipara.
Jane and James lived in Aratapu until their respective deaths.
James Brown died on 25 December 1916 age 79 in Aratapu, Kaipara and is buried in the Old Mt Wesley cemetery, Dargaville , Block 3 Plot 415.
Jane Brown died on 28 May 1918 in Auckland and is buried in the Old Mt Wesley cemetery, Dargaville in Block 3, Plot 441.
Jane Brown’s Obituary said she 'was widely-known throughout the Northern Wairoa district where her innumerable kindness had endeared her to the whole community'.
In Jane’s Will she left land at Heawa Road, Aratapu, part Allotment No 9, Parish of Te Kopuru to her unmarried daughter, Frances Brown.
Sources
NZ DIA Death Index 1916/9726 James Brown
NZ DIA Death Index 1918/1132 Jane Brown
Northern Advocate 3 June 1918, pg 2 – Personal
The Collections Archives NZ Will/Probate Record Jane Brown R21442694 Online IE40075993
Ancestry – Family Trees and New Zealand Electoral Rolls
Findagrave – Old Mt Wesley cemetery, Dargaville