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Mary Tresidder
Description
TitleMary Tresidder
Alternative NameMary Heighway
SummaryA woman of Selwyn who signed the 1893 Suffrage Petition
Description1892 Suffrage petition - page 451/257
1893 Suffrage petition - 185
1893 Electoral Roll - Riccarton, no 2776
First NameMary
Last NameTresidder
Date of Birth20 February 1868
Place of BirthChristchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Date of Death20 February 1957
Place of DeathHastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Age at Death89 year old
Parents or Next of KinSarah Newsome
William Tresidder
Martha Tressider
James Reuben Heighway
Other Biographical InformationMary, the eldest, and her twin Martha were born on 20 February 1868 in Christchurch, Canterbury, daughters of William Tresidder and Sarah Ann Newsome. Her parents had arrived in 1863 on board the "Chariot of Fame" settling in Annat. Over their time there her parents operated a shop, ran a hotel and farmed and Mary would probably have helped with these. The family was involved with both the Primitive Methodist Church and the Band of Hope. Mary often played the organ and took part in the entertainments given by the Band of Hope. In 1882 she and sister Martha were presented with albums, Mary for playing the Harmonium for services and Martha for work in the Sunday School.
On March 3 1891 Mary married James Reuben, third son of James Heighway, in the Sheffield Weslyan Church. The Heighway family were also strongly involved with the Band of Hope group. A report of the time notes that " The happy couple from childhood have lived in the district and grown up together, and are very favorably known among a large circle of friends." They had chosen the day as it was the 25th annivesary of her parents, Sarah and William's, marriage. Mary signed the 1892 Suffrage petition on page 451/257 as Mary Heighway, Sheffield and the 1893 Suffrage petition on page 185 at Annat, probably on a visit to her parents, as she signed below her mother and sister's signatures. Lucy and Serena Heighway, her Mother in Law and Sister in Law respectively, also signed that page. The petition was made up from individual pages which were taken around to collect signatures. Sheet 185 contains signatures from Annat, Springfield, Sheffield, Kowai Bush, Methven and one from the West Coast. When it came time to vote Mary had already moved away from the district with her husband James and enrolled on the Riccarton Electoral Roll as number 2776. By the time of the 1896 Election James and Mary were in Hastings where the Heighway family had moved, with James working as a Carpenter. Her parents and sisters were living there also. The family continued their involvement in Methodist Church activities especially the concerts where Mary's singing was often praised. Their son Tennyson was called up for War Service but appealed on the basis that his father James was an invalid and that he had signifcant family responsibility. James's obituary notes that he had suffered from chronic rheumatism, for 17 years and been confined to his bed for the last five years. James died in November 1919 aged 59 and was interred in Hastings cemetery. Their youngest daughter Majorie did not marry and cared for her mother until her death. Mary died February 20 1957, on her 89th birthday, and was interred beside her husband in Hasting Cemetery.
Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2668, 25 October 1882, Page 2
Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 8692, 16 January 1889, Page 4
Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7821, 26 March 1891, Page 5
Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 275, 6 November 1919, Page 4
Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 275, 6 November 1919, Page 4




1893 Suffrage petition - 185
1893 Electoral Roll - Riccarton, no 2776








William Tresidder
Martha Tressider
James Reuben Heighway

On March 3 1891 Mary married James Reuben, third son of James Heighway, in the Sheffield Weslyan Church. The Heighway family were also strongly involved with the Band of Hope group. A report of the time notes that " The happy couple from childhood have lived in the district and grown up together, and are very favorably known among a large circle of friends." They had chosen the day as it was the 25th annivesary of her parents, Sarah and William's, marriage. Mary signed the 1892 Suffrage petition on page 451/257 as Mary Heighway, Sheffield and the 1893 Suffrage petition on page 185 at Annat, probably on a visit to her parents, as she signed below her mother and sister's signatures. Lucy and Serena Heighway, her Mother in Law and Sister in Law respectively, also signed that page. The petition was made up from individual pages which were taken around to collect signatures. Sheet 185 contains signatures from Annat, Springfield, Sheffield, Kowai Bush, Methven and one from the West Coast. When it came time to vote Mary had already moved away from the district with her husband James and enrolled on the Riccarton Electoral Roll as number 2776. By the time of the 1896 Election James and Mary were in Hastings where the Heighway family had moved, with James working as a Carpenter. Her parents and sisters were living there also. The family continued their involvement in Methodist Church activities especially the concerts where Mary's singing was often praised. Their son Tennyson was called up for War Service but appealed on the basis that his father James was an invalid and that he had signifcant family responsibility. James's obituary notes that he had suffered from chronic rheumatism, for 17 years and been confined to his bed for the last five years. James died in November 1919 aged 59 and was interred in Hastings cemetery. Their youngest daughter Majorie did not marry and cared for her mother until her death. Mary died February 20 1957, on her 89th birthday, and was interred beside her husband in Hasting Cemetery.
Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2668, 25 October 1882, Page 2
Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 8692, 16 January 1889, Page 4
Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7821, 26 March 1891, Page 5
Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 275, 6 November 1919, Page 4
Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 275, 6 November 1919, Page 4

Person
Connections
Subject (Keywords)Suffrage, Annat
PlaceAnnat
Sheffield
OrganisationBand of Hope
More InformationMarriage notice for Mary Tresidder and James Reuben





Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryHastings Cemetery

Attribution
Mary Tresidder. Selwyn Stories, accessed 17/02/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5671