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Margaret Chapman
Description
TitleMargaret Chapman
Alternative NameMargaret Lawless
SummaryA woman of Selwyn who signed the 1893 Suffrage petition.
Description1892 petition 449/255
1893 page 2 teacher
1893 Electoral Roll no 131
First NameMargaret
Last NameChapman
OccupationTeacher
Date of Birth6 Feb 1865
Place of BirthCounty Down, Northern Ireland
Date of Death14 Jul 1959
Place of DeathGisborne, New Zealand
Age at Death94
Parents or Next of KinJohn Chapman
Eliza Martin
Other Biographical InformationMargaret Chapman was born February 6 1865, in County Down, Northern Ireland, third daughter of John Chapman and Eliza nee Martin. She came to New Zealand as an infant in 1864 with her parents and older sister and the family eventually settled in Fernside. It seems likely that she is the Margaret Chapman of Fernside with marks of 326 in the Pupil Teacher's Examination, 1880. She scored high also in 1883 with 436 points, she would have been eighteen at this time.
Two years later she was appointed Mistress at the School at Annat. In 1889, on August 14 she married William John Barlow. He was born in Scotland and was a blacksmith, having come to Canterbury with his parents who had settled at Glenntunnel where his father was engine driver in the mines. Margaret continued teaching and also taught at the Presbyterian Sabbath School. Her services were recognised in August when she was presented with a toast rack, her husband thanked them on her behalf. She was also involved with the Annat Band of Hope which were often held in the Schoolroom. She continued teach at Annat until her resignation on 31 St October as she was pregnant with the couple's first child Theodore, who was born in late January 1892. A social to mark her retirement was held on Thursday 26th where she was presented with a "suitably inscribed silver tea service" and once again her husband thanked them before the floor was cleared and two or three hours of dancing concluded the social evening.
Margaret signed the 1892 Petition on page 449/255 and the 1893 petition as M Barlow Annat on page no 2. This page seems to have been filled at a gathering for there are women from Annat, Dunedin and Christchurch. She was enrolled to vote in 1893 no 131 as Margaret Barlow, Annat, Teacher. Shortly before 1896 they moved away from Annat to Linwood in Christchurch where William became a bicycle manufacturer. In 1901 she gave birth to a daughter Eily Thelma. By 1911 they were in Gisborne, where William was now listed as an engineer. It was here that Margaret sued for Divorce in March 1914 having left William in March 1913. Her petition was on the ground of Williams alleged adultery with Miss Elsie Roberts, also a school mistress. Margaret had taken a position as a teacher at the Gisborne Public School and was supporting herself although William had given her £1 a week for their daughter. An order was made for a decree nisi to be made absolute within three months, with an interim order for the custody of the daughter to the Margaret. The divorce became final on June 29 1914 and William married Elsie Roberts on the June 30th. Margaret continued work as a teacher and also her interest in social issues for in 1927 she petitioned Parliament for increased superannuation and in 1932 she appealed for Health Camp stamps as Hon Sec of The Victoria League Gisborne.
Margaret herself remarried in June 1930 to Thomas George Lawless, a businessman and local politician. They had six years together before he died in 1936. Margaret lived on through more social changes and died aged 94 on 14 July 1959. She asked to be cremated but also left money for the men of her family to buy mourning rings.
Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6075, 6 March 1885, Page 2
Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7398, 26 August 1889, Page 5
Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8032, 28 November 1891, Page 4
Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9631, 25 January 1892, Page 1
Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3607, 24 March 1914, Page 6
Star (Christchurch), Issue 11506, 30 September 1915, Page 5
Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10357, 17 August 1927, Page 4
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17281, 10 June 1930, Page 5
'Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11229, 11 June 1930, Page 3
Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11809, 2 December 1932, Page 4
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9V-VWC5
Note The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship (1901-present) is a voluntary charitable organisation that connects people from Commonwealth countries.)




1893 page 2 teacher
1893 Electoral Roll no 131









Eliza Martin

Two years later she was appointed Mistress at the School at Annat. In 1889, on August 14 she married William John Barlow. He was born in Scotland and was a blacksmith, having come to Canterbury with his parents who had settled at Glenntunnel where his father was engine driver in the mines. Margaret continued teaching and also taught at the Presbyterian Sabbath School. Her services were recognised in August when she was presented with a toast rack, her husband thanked them on her behalf. She was also involved with the Annat Band of Hope which were often held in the Schoolroom. She continued teach at Annat until her resignation on 31 St October as she was pregnant with the couple's first child Theodore, who was born in late January 1892. A social to mark her retirement was held on Thursday 26th where she was presented with a "suitably inscribed silver tea service" and once again her husband thanked them before the floor was cleared and two or three hours of dancing concluded the social evening.
Margaret signed the 1892 Petition on page 449/255 and the 1893 petition as M Barlow Annat on page no 2. This page seems to have been filled at a gathering for there are women from Annat, Dunedin and Christchurch. She was enrolled to vote in 1893 no 131 as Margaret Barlow, Annat, Teacher. Shortly before 1896 they moved away from Annat to Linwood in Christchurch where William became a bicycle manufacturer. In 1901 she gave birth to a daughter Eily Thelma. By 1911 they were in Gisborne, where William was now listed as an engineer. It was here that Margaret sued for Divorce in March 1914 having left William in March 1913. Her petition was on the ground of Williams alleged adultery with Miss Elsie Roberts, also a school mistress. Margaret had taken a position as a teacher at the Gisborne Public School and was supporting herself although William had given her £1 a week for their daughter. An order was made for a decree nisi to be made absolute within three months, with an interim order for the custody of the daughter to the Margaret. The divorce became final on June 29 1914 and William married Elsie Roberts on the June 30th. Margaret continued work as a teacher and also her interest in social issues for in 1927 she petitioned Parliament for increased superannuation and in 1932 she appealed for Health Camp stamps as Hon Sec of The Victoria League Gisborne.
Margaret herself remarried in June 1930 to Thomas George Lawless, a businessman and local politician. They had six years together before he died in 1936. Margaret lived on through more social changes and died aged 94 on 14 July 1959. She asked to be cremated but also left money for the men of her family to buy mourning rings.
Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6075, 6 March 1885, Page 2
Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7398, 26 August 1889, Page 5
Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8032, 28 November 1891, Page 4
Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9631, 25 January 1892, Page 1
Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3607, 24 March 1914, Page 6
Star (Christchurch), Issue 11506, 30 September 1915, Page 5
Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10357, 17 August 1927, Page 4
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17281, 10 June 1930, Page 5
'Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11229, 11 June 1930, Page 3
Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11809, 2 December 1932, Page 4
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9V-VWC5
Note The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship (1901-present) is a voluntary charitable organisation that connects people from Commonwealth countries.)

Connections
PlaceAnnat

Attribution
Margaret Chapman. Selwyn Stories, accessed 17/02/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5578