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Mary Ann Atkinson
Description
TitleMary Ann Atkinson
Alternative NameMary Ann Ferguson
SummaryA woman of Selwyn who signed the 1893 Suffrage Petition
Description1892 Suffrage Petition - page 450/256
1893 Suffrage Petition - page 187
1893 Electoral Roll - no 860
First NameMary
Middle NameAnn
Last NameAtkinson
Date of Birth14 April 1844
Place of BirthCastleterra, Cava, Ireland
Date of Death08 May 1911
Place of DeathAnnat, Selwyn Canterbury, New Zealand
Age at Death67 years old
Parents or Next of KinThomas Atkinson
Eliza Wadsworth
John Jones Ferguson
Other Biographical InformationMary Ann Atkinson was born 14 Apr 1844 in Castleterra, Cavan, Ireland, second daughter of Thomas Atkinson and Eliza nee Wadsworth. She was aged 19 when she emigrated to New Zealand with her family on board the Ivanhoe leaving Plymouth on 25 February and arriving after a passage of 108 days firstly to Timaru and then Lyttelton and into quarantine at Camp Bay. There had been twenty five deaths on board during the voyage from what was described as a "low fever", then a euphemisn for Typoid. Among the dead were Mary Ann's two younger sisters; Abigail (14) and Emily (11) and her mother Eliza. The family settled in Lyttleton. Mary Ann married John Jones Ferguson also from County Cavan, on 20 October 1866 in Hokitika. John had an interesting background; he had joined the British Army in 1848 and trained at Hythe before returning to Cavan as Drill Instructor to the Cavan Militia. and later Sergeant until his retirement in 1861. He had emigrated to New Zealand ship Queen of the Mersey and like his wife he had an interesting voyage, with 10 deaths from Measles and a crew mutiny in an attempt to seize liquor supplies. With his army background he found employment as a Warder at Lyttleton Goal later moving in 1865 to become Warder at the new Hokitika Goal for 13 years until 1878. In 1878 he resigned and the family of twelve children moved to Annat to farm. Mary Ann signed the 1892 Suffrage Petition as M. A. Ferguson and was joined by her three eldest daughters, Lizzie (Eliza), Nellie (?Eleanor) and N (? Martha Jane). She signed the 1893 Suffrage Petition on page 187 along with her daughter Nellie (Eleanor). Mary Ann was enrolled to vote in the 1893 Election at number 860. John died in 1900 and was buried in Kowai Pass Cemetery. She continued to live in Annat until her death on 8 May 1911 aged sixty seven and was buried next to her husband in Kowai Pass cemetery. Her funeral was described as one of the largest seen in the district and she was described as "highly respected, and was noted for her kindly disposition, being always ready to lend a helping hand wherever it was needed".
NZBDM - 1866/8281 - Mary Anne Atkinson & John Ferguson
NZBDM Deaths - 1911/4885 - Ferguson, Mary Ann, 67Y
Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15615, 13 May 1911, Page 8




1893 Suffrage Petition - page 187
1893 Electoral Roll - no 860









Eliza Wadsworth
John Jones Ferguson

NZBDM - 1866/8281 - Mary Anne Atkinson & John Ferguson
NZBDM Deaths - 1911/4885 - Ferguson, Mary Ann, 67Y
Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15615, 13 May 1911, Page 8

Connections
Subject (Keywords)Suffrage Annat
PlaceAnnat


Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryKowai Pass Cemetery, Springfield

Attribution
Mary Ann Atkinson. Selwyn Stories, accessed 17/02/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5629