Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Janet Rae Miller was born about 1836 in Glasgow, Scotland – the daughter of Thomas Miller, a tobacco spinner, and Mary Ann Rae.
She married Robert Algie, a stationer and bookseller, in Victoria, Australia in 1858 and their daughter Mary Ann was born there in 1859. (See 52 Mary Rosevear)
The family travelled back to Scotland about 1861 where John and Janet were born before emigrating to Otago about 1864.
Robert died at their home in November 1865 and their last child, Rubina, was born two weeks later.
Janet appears to have supported herself by running a fancy goods shop and working as a dressmaker and machinist.
In January 1873 Janet’s shop in George St was destroyed in a large fire which razed many buildings.
After the fire she 'removed to a private house in Great King street, fifth house north of the Caledonian Grounds, where she will continue to carry on business as formerly.'
In March 1875 Janet advertised a sewing machine for sale and the availability of the lease of a shop in Great King St.
She married Daniel West, a widower and gardener, on 16 April the same year in Oamaru.
Janet and Daniel had two daughters and when Janet signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Great King St.
Daniel died at their home in 1897, he is buried with his daughter in the Southern Cemetery.
Janet died on 28 July 1901, she is buried in the Algie family grave in the Southern Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
BDM Victoria https://online.justice.vic.gov.au
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