Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Bridget Mary Devery was born around 1842 in Queens County, Ireland. She married James Edward McKelvey, a soldier, on 28 April 1863 in Hobart, Tasmania. They had at least three children in Tasmania before they came to New Zealand in about 1877. One more child was born after their arrival.
James worked as a warder at the Dunedin Gaol but was discharged due to the lack of prisoners. He then worked as a commission agent and a bailiff.
When she signed the suffrage petition Bridget was living with her family in Maitland St, Dunedin.
James died in 1896 and Bridget then moved to Careys Bay near Port Chalmers where she lived with her unmarried sister Margaret. Bridget died on 15 May 1926 and she is buried in the family grave in the Northern Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Libraries Tasmania https://librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au