Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley.
Bridget Teresa Fitzpatrick was born about 1848 in Ireland – the daughter of Michael Fitzpatrick.
She married James King on August 3rd 1868 in Ennistimon, County Clare and shortly after they emigrated to New Zealand.
They settled in Dunedin where they had 12 children, 4 who died in infancy and 2 in childhood.
In 1875 James was charged with assaulting Bridget – he was bound over for 6 months.
In 1877 he was charged with wife desertion and was fined and ordered to pay 20s per week maintenance.
He must have returned as several of their children were born after this date.
When Bridget signed the suffrage petition she was living in Castle Street. She died on August 3rd 1904 and is buried with 4 of their children in the Northern Cemetery.
James died in 1916, he is buried with their son in the Andersons Bay Cemetery.
Sources
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
Community contributions