Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
O M Manchester was born Ophelia Mary Pain in 1850 to James Thomas Pain. She was baptised on the 4 September 1850 in Andover, Hampshire, England.
At the time of the 1861 census the Pain family was living at 7 Fort Street, Old Artillery Ground, Whitechapel, London, England. Her father was a Silk Manufacturer.
Ophelia Pain came to New Zealand with her Mother Matilda Pain, her father James T[Thomas] Pain and four siblings along with step-sisters Matilda and Martha Chapple, arriving in Lyttelton on 20 October 1862 on the ship Queen of the Mersey.
On 15 November 1866 Ophelia married John Manchester (Storekeeper) with the Rev Geo Barclay officiating, in Waimate, South Canterbury.
'Belvoir' 169 McNamaras Road, Waimate was built for John Manchester about 1867 and remained in the family until about 42 years ago.
Ophelia and John had four children; Arthur James Manchester born in 1870, Alice Matilda Manchester born in 1872, John William Manchester born in 1878 and Ophelia Mary Manchester born in 1880.
John Manchester was the first Mayor of Waimate in 1878–1881 and again in 1901–1908.
He was one of five candidates for Parliament in 1884 but came second to Mr William Jukes Steward.
John died on 12 March 1911. Ophelia died on 6 January 1921. Both are buried in the Waimate Old Cemetery, Methodist section, Plot 000032.
Ophelia Manchester’s step-sister Matilda Manchester also signed the 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition.
Sources
FreeUK BMD 1850 June Quarter, Andover, Vol 7, Page 40 – Ophelia Mary Pain
Findmypast English Births & Baptisms 1538 - 1975
Ancestry – 1861 census, RGO 9, Piece 264, Folio 111, Page 4 – Pain Family
Timaru Herald 17 November 1866 – Marriages
Greenwood, William Te Waimatemate – History of Waimate County and Borough, The Timaru Herald Company Limited, Pages 45
Waimate District Council cemetery online database