Originally transcribed as Mrs Sarah Masters
Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Isabella Elliott was born in 1857 in New South Wales – the daughter of Robert Elliott, a mine manager, and Mary.
She came to New Zealand with her family as a young child and they settled on the West Coast.
Isabella married miner, Josiah Masters in 1879 and they had six daughters.
When Isabella signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Taylorville.
On 26 March 1896 the Brunner coal mine exploded killing 65 men including Josiah.
Isabella remained in the area moving to Greymouth in later years.
She died at her home on 3 October 1915 and is buried with Josiah in the Karoro Cemetery.
Her obituary said she 'was very well known throughout the district, and was highly respected.'
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Presbyterian Research Centre https://www.presbyterian.org.nz/archives/
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/
NSW Government https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/