Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Mrs Leen was born Bridget O’Connor born in 1865 at Rossbeigh, County Kerry, Ireland to Richard O’Connor and his wife Johannah Roche.
In 1889 she married Jeremiah Leen in Waimate.
The 1893 electoral roll records Jeremiah and Bridget living in Waimate. In 1896 they were living at Nukuroa [near Studholme]. Jeremiah was a farmer.
In 1909 Jeremiah transferred his 40 acres at Nukuroa to William Duncan and moved to Oamaru.
The 1911 and 1925 electoral rolls record them living at All Day Bay, Kakanui, Oamaru. Jeremiah was a farmer.
Jeremiah and Bridget has three daughters and two sons.
In 1943 Bridget was living at Caledonian Road, Oamaru.
Jeremiah died on 18 October 1934, age 80 years in Oamaru and is buried in the Oamaru Old cemetery, Catholic Section, Block 169 Plot 6,7.
Bridget died on 22 August 1949, age 84 years in Oamaru. She is buried in the Oamaru Old cemetery, Catholic section, Block 169, Plot 6, 7.
Sources
Ancestry – Family Trees
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1889/517 Bridget O’Connor/Jeremiah Leen
Waimate Daily Advertiser 7 July 1909, pg 4
Ancestry – New Zealand Electoral Rolls
NZ DIA Death Index 1934/2509 Jeremiah Leen
Otago Daily Times 23 August 1949, pg1 – Deaths
NZ DIA Death Index 1949/29065 Bridget Leen
Waitaki District Council cemetery online database