Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Ann Ward was born in 1868 in New Zealand – the daughter of Hugh Ward and Jane McFea.
When Ann signed the suffrage petition she was living at East Gore where her sister Mary also signed. (See 103 Mary MacGibbon)
Ann married John MacGibbon Shanks in January 1895 and they had three children, one who died in infancy.
In 1904 John travelled to Bisley in England to compete as part of the New Zealand rifle team.
While he was returning home, on 31 August, Ann died while giving birth to twins, one who appears to have survived, she is buried with her daughter in the Gore Cemetery.
John re-married in 1907 – he died in 1938 and is also buried in the Gore Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Presbyterian Research Centre https://www.presbyterian.org.nz/archives/
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
Community contributions