Biography contributed to Katherine Blakeley
Rachel Nichol was born about 1843 in Latheron, Caithness in Scotland – the eldest daughter of William Nichol, a shepherd, and Jane Irvine.
She emigrated to Otago in 1856 with her parents and six siblings on the Strathmore.
Rachel married farmer Archibald McShannon in 1859 – they had six children, one who died in infancy, before Archibald died in 1868 when he was thrown from his horse.
He is buried with their young son in the West Taieri Cemetery.
Rachel re-married in 1874 to farmer George Henry McDonald – they had five sons.
When Rachel signed the suffrage petition they were living at Knapdale, north of Gore.
When they retired they moved to Gore where Rachel died on 11 June 1916 and George died in 1920 – they are buried together in the Gore Cemetery.
Rachel’s obituary said she “was well-known for her kindly disposition and her demise is greatly regretted by a large number of friends”.
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
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/
