Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Margaret McCrea was born about 1825 in Ireland.
She married William McNutt, a farmer, and they had seven children before they emigrated to Otago in 1874 on the Mairi Bhan.
The family farmed in the Catlins at Tahatika near Owaka.
In 1892 William died by suicide – he had been in low spirits and health for the weeks before his death.
Margaret signed the suffrage petition at Tahatika as did two of her daughters. (See 137 Elizabeth McNutt and 137 Mary Friend)
Margaret died in December 1903 and is buried with William in the Owaka Cemetery.
Her obituary said she 'will not soon be forgotten. Her kindly ways and upright honest life endeared her to all those with whom she came in contact. Her hand and heart were always ready to render assistance to any in need of it'.
Sources
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Irish Genealogy https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/
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