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Laura Ann Brown
Description
TitleLaura Ann Brown
Alternative NameLaura Ann Pengelly
SummaryA woman of Selwyn who signed the 1893 Suffrage petition
Description1893 Suffrage petition - page 2
1893 Electoral Roll - no 2182
First NameLaura
Middle NameAnn
Last NameBrown
Date of Birth1850
Place of BirthEast Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Date of Death24 December 1939
Place of DeathWellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Age at Death89
Parents or Next of KinGeorge Brown
Nancy Brown (nee ?)
William Pengelly
Edna Jane Pengelly
Frank Pengelly
Other Biographical InformationLaura Ann Brown was born in East Whitby, Ontario, Canada, around 1850. Her parents were George and Nancy Brown. On 15 March 1870 she married William Pengelly in East Whitby. William was born January 1841 in Inwardleigh, Devon, England, son of Joseph and Charlotte Luxton. He emigrated to Canada in Jun 1868 arriving on board the "Peruvian" into Quebec, his occupation given as labouer. The family appear in the 1871 Canadian census in East Whitby. Their daughter Edna was born July 5th 1874 and lived the early part of her life in Canada. The family left Canada around 1879 and emigrated to New Zealand, possibly on board the "Taiaroa".
William bought land at Annat and daughter Edna walked to school in Waddington until the Annat side school was opened in 1882. Their son Frank was born in 1887, a brother for Edna, when serving during the First World War he nominated Matron Pengelly as his next of kin. The family became involved with the Annat Band of Hope, with Edna frequently taking part in the concerts as well as playing the organ for the Methodist Sunday School. In 1888 Laura was appointed caretaker at the school for £12 15s per annum whilst in 1890 William became involved with setting up a Malvern Trades and Labour Union and was elected Treasurer. In 1893 he was elected to the School Committee. Laura signed the 1893 Suffrage petition on page 2 and was enrolled on the Electoral Roll as number 2182. William and Laura appear to have separated for in 1902 for the Electoral Roll shows only Laura and daughter Edna in Annat. Later in 1902 Laura and daughter Edna moved to Levin and started a poultry farm. Eventually they moved to Wellington where Edna began her nursing training in January 1904. William continued living in Sheffield working as a bricklayer but in February 1912 it was reported that William Pengelly of Sheffield was missing from his lodgings. No trace of him was found after an extensive search of the surrounding area including the water races. In the 1914 Electoral Roll Laura listed herself as a widow and in 1919, after widespread newspaper notices, he was declared dead, and his will probated. Laura was the executor and his property was left to their daughter Edna. Their son Frank had served in the First World War but died in Christchurch in 1918 of Influenza. In the last years of her life Laura lived with Edna and died in Wellington on Christmas Eve, 1939 being cremated a few days later. Edna went on to become one of New Zealands most important nursing figures, both as a leader, a nurse and a teacher. Later she was also involved with the National Council of Women. She died in 1959 in Wellington and may have been cremated like her mother as I can not locate records of a grave.
Press, Volume XLV, Issue 6953, 5 January 1888, Page 4
Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 8301, 15 February 1912, Page 2
Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15854, 17 February 1912, Page 8
https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3p21/pengelly-edna
Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 152, 26 December 1939, Page 1




1893 Electoral Roll - no 2182









Nancy Brown (nee ?)
William Pengelly
Edna Jane Pengelly
Frank Pengelly

William bought land at Annat and daughter Edna walked to school in Waddington until the Annat side school was opened in 1882. Their son Frank was born in 1887, a brother for Edna, when serving during the First World War he nominated Matron Pengelly as his next of kin. The family became involved with the Annat Band of Hope, with Edna frequently taking part in the concerts as well as playing the organ for the Methodist Sunday School. In 1888 Laura was appointed caretaker at the school for £12 15s per annum whilst in 1890 William became involved with setting up a Malvern Trades and Labour Union and was elected Treasurer. In 1893 he was elected to the School Committee. Laura signed the 1893 Suffrage petition on page 2 and was enrolled on the Electoral Roll as number 2182. William and Laura appear to have separated for in 1902 for the Electoral Roll shows only Laura and daughter Edna in Annat. Later in 1902 Laura and daughter Edna moved to Levin and started a poultry farm. Eventually they moved to Wellington where Edna began her nursing training in January 1904. William continued living in Sheffield working as a bricklayer but in February 1912 it was reported that William Pengelly of Sheffield was missing from his lodgings. No trace of him was found after an extensive search of the surrounding area including the water races. In the 1914 Electoral Roll Laura listed herself as a widow and in 1919, after widespread newspaper notices, he was declared dead, and his will probated. Laura was the executor and his property was left to their daughter Edna. Their son Frank had served in the First World War but died in Christchurch in 1918 of Influenza. In the last years of her life Laura lived with Edna and died in Wellington on Christmas Eve, 1939 being cremated a few days later. Edna went on to become one of New Zealands most important nursing figures, both as a leader, a nurse and a teacher. Later she was also involved with the National Council of Women. She died in 1959 in Wellington and may have been cremated like her mother as I can not locate records of a grave.
Press, Volume XLV, Issue 6953, 5 January 1888, Page 4
Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 8301, 15 February 1912, Page 2
Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15854, 17 February 1912, Page 8
https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3p21/pengelly-edna
Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 152, 26 December 1939, Page 1

Connections
Subject (Keywords)Suffrage, Annat
PlaceAnnat


Military Service
Memorial or Cemeterypossibly Wellington Crematorium

Attribution
Laura Ann Brown. Selwyn Stories, accessed 17/02/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5673