Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Rhoda Emily Rainton was born in New Zealand in 1872 – the daughter of Joseph Rainton, a baker, and Jane Bruton.
When she signed the suffrage petition she was living with her family in Castle St, Dunedin.
She married Gustaf Holmes, a seaman, in 1895.
Rhoda & Gustaf lived in Auckland and had five children including triplets. None of these children lived past two-years-old.
Rhoda died at the Auckland Hospital on 9 October 1908, aged 35, she is buried in the Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland with her children.
Gustaf’s history is unknown.
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
Auckland Council https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/cemeteries
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