Originally transcribed as S. Clara Hamer
Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Susannah Clara Berry was born in 1865 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire – the daughter of James Berry, a woollen weaver, and Elizabeth Walshaw.
She emigrated to Otago with her family in 1874 on the Invercargill and they settled in Dunedin.
Sarah married John Henry Franzis Hamel, a hatter, on 4 July 1878 at Susannah’s home in Roslyn.
Before their marriage 'a pleasing ceremony took place...at the New Zealand Clothing Factory.' Susannah and John 'were the recipients of a beautiful cake basket and butter cooler.'
They had four children and when Susannah signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Maori Hill.
Susannah died at her home on 6 February 1938 and John died in 1950 – they were both cremated.
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
Free BDM https://www.freebmd.org.uk
GRO England https://www.gro.gov.uk
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz