Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Mrs Ruben Ottley was born Ellen Mary Nunn around 1837 in Colchester, England to George Nunn and his wife Matilda.
On 9 November 1861 in Tolsbury, Essex, Angland she married Ruben Ottley.
Ruben, his wife Ellen [Mary E on passenger list], and children, Ruben (16-years-old) , Alfred (11-years-old), Matthew (three-years-old) and Lily (one-year-old) departed London on 12 July 1879 on the ship Rangitiki and arrived in Lyttelton on 24 October 1879.
Ellen and Ruben had seven children.
From 1911 the electoral roll records Ellen Mary Ottley [Mary Ellen] living at King street, Waimate.
Ruben Ottley died on 6 August 1918 in Waimate, age 81 years.
Ellen Ottley died in Waimate on 19 May 1924, age 87 years and is buried in the Waimate Old cemetery, Methodist section, Plot 000201.
Ellen’s daughter-in-law, Louisa Ann Ottley nee Hoare also signed the Women’s Suffrage Petition – Sheet 233
Sources
Waimate Daily Advertiser 6 August 1918, page 2 – Death
Waimate District Council online cemetery database
NZ DIA Death Index 1918/3700 Ruben Ottley
NZ DIA Death Index 1924/4282 Ellen Ottley
Ancestry – New Zealand electoral rolls