Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley.
Rebekah Sarah Thomas was born in 1856 in Victoria, Australia – the daughter of Joseph Thomas and Sarah Baker.
The family had moved to New Zealand by the 1870’s and settled at Green Island near Dunedin.
Rebekah married George Gregory, a platelayer, in 1874 and they had 11 children. (see 105 M Gregory)
When she signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Rutherglen St, Kaikorai in Dunedin.
Rebekah died on 8 September 1897 in childbirth – her son Percy survived.
A memorial service was held for her in the Roslyn Wesleyan Church.
George died in 1924 – they are buried in the family grave in the Green Island Cemetery.
Sources:
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
BDM Victoria https://online.justice.vic.gov.au
