Susan Pettigrew

Biography and images submitted by Margaret Gray

Susan was born in Hoppin, Northumberland, on 11 March 1852, the first child of Adam and Mary Ann Laybourn.  In 1864 she left England on the Portland with her parents and her eight siblings. Another child born on the voyage lived only six months.  Susan wrote a report of this voyage (now in the Turnbull Library) describing the mutiny on board.  

After a year in Auckland they moved to Komokoriki (Kaipara District) where in 1873 she married a neighbouring farmer, William Cowan Pettigrew, an immigrant from Glasgow. They moved to Auckland where William was a builder but because of insufficient work they decided to move to Opunake, Taranaki, in 1882.  Times were hard particularly as the coastal steamer which brought Susan and her six children -  aged eight years to 10 months -  took away the Armed Constabulary who would have been their customers in the store William was to own. William built their own concrete home, modelled on his parents’ home in Glasgow, and it still stands today. Three more children were born.

Susan was a homemaker, established a large garden, supervised a business for her daughters to work in, supported the Methodist church, and helped in the wider community.  William died in 1901 leaving the youngest children (twins) only 12 years old. One farm had already been bought for the family to work on, and Susan proceeded to purchase another. In 1902 she was elected to the Opunake School Committee. When her second son went to WWI she moved to Hawera. Susan died in 1942 aged 89, and was buried at Opunake cemetery.  She was survived by all of her children.

Compiled by Margaret Gray, Susan’s great granddaughter, from accounts written by family members and from references found in Papers Past. A detailed account of her life is in the Turnbull Library and the Opunake and Hawera Public Libraries.

Images

Opunake Family.  It is thought that this was probably taken to mark the occasion of the 21st birthday of the eldest son, John, in November 1894. Several of the family have discussed this and have come to the same conclusion based on the facts that 1) it was obviously an occasion and 2) the ages of the 3 youngest fit with this interpretation, and 3) a grand-daughter’s family album has it dated at 'about 1895'.   

Susan in 1901 at the time of her husband’s funeral.

Pettigrew girls – Susan's daughters at the time of their father’s death in 1901.

Susan Family photo – Susan with her family probably 1908. All the dresses would have been made by the daughters. The two married daughters are wearing the dark skirts.

Four generations – Susan, her son, John, her grandson Henry (Harry), his son, John 1938. This is the line I am descended from, as Harry was my father.