Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
S Evans was born Sarah Elizabeth Evans on 23 November 1872 in Dunedin. She was the second daughter of Thomas Evans and his wife Elizabeth Wainwright.
Sarah’s parents had arrived in New Zealand on the Adjmere in 1868. In 1870 Thomas and family were living in Great King street, Dunedin. At an early age the family moved to South Canterbury.
On 4 December 1900 Sarah married John Charles Scott in St Augustine’s Church, Waimate. John was a dentist living in Timaru.
In 1906 the family moved to the Hawke's Bay.
Sarah and John separated in March 1920 and subsequently divorced. Sarah moved to Wellington in 1921 and resided there until her death.
Sarah and John had two children; Charles Evans Scott [aka Evans-Scott] born 1902 and Ostara [Tara] Seggie Elizabeth Scott [aka Evans-Scott] born 1903. Charles was a lawyer and served on the Commission of Enquiry into the Japanese Prisoner of War Riot [1945], Featherston and the Commission of Enquiry into Police Conduct [1954]. He also, in WW2 had a role in the Security Intelligence Bureau.
John Scott age 54 years died on 3 May 1927 in Wellington, as the result of an accident in Lower Hutt. He is buried in the Karori cemetery, Plot CH Eng 2/1/1.
On 17 March 1945 Sarah Scott died in Wellington age 74 years and is buried with her former husband John Scott in Karori cemetery. Her last address was 66 Barnard street, Wadestown, Wellington.
In her obituary she was described as 'an active assistant with patriotic work in Hastings during the last war. She readily gave her help to many charitable causes. Her bright and engaging personality endeared her to all who knew her'.
Sarah also signed the 1892 Women’s Suffrage Petition.
Sources
NZ DIA Birth Index 1872/34501 Sarah Elizabeth Evans
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1900/5142 Sarah Elizabeth Evans/John Charles Scott
South Canterbury Times 5 December 1900, pg 2
Dominion newspaper 20 August 1923, pg 9
NZ DIA Death Index 1927/4046 John Charles Scott
Dominion newspaper 6 May 1927, pg 8 – John Scott
NZ DIA Death Index 1945/29283 Sarah Elizabeth Scott
Dominion newspaper 22 March 1945, pg 4 – Obituary
Archives New Zealand Probate Record – Sarah Scott 1945
National Library of New Zealand, Interview Charles Evans-Scott with Judith Fyfe, 27 February 1986, Ref OHInt-0082/11