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Eleanor Ferguson
Description
TitleEleanor Ferguson
Alternative NameEleanor AtkinsonSummaryA woman of Selwyn who signed the 1893 Suffrage PetitionDescription1892 Suffrage Petition - page 448/254 as Nellie Ferguson
1893 Suffrage Petition - page 187 Eleanor Ferguson
First NameEleanor Last NameFergusonDate of Birth7 November 1868Place of BirthHokitika, Westland, New ZealandDate of Death3 February 1944Place of DeathChristchurch, Canterbury, New ZealandAge at Death75Parents or Next of KinJohn Jones Ferguson
Mary Ann Atkinson
William John AtkinsonOther Biographical InformationEleanor Ferguson, known as Nellie, was born November 7th 1868 in Hokitika, eldest daughter of John Jones Ferguson and Mary Ann nee Atkinson. Her father was a Warder at the Hokitika Jail and the family lived there until 1878 when her father resigned and they all moved to Annat to farm. She was aged 25 when, along with her mother Eleanor she signed the 1892 Suffrage Petition, using her nickname of Nellie, as number 448/354. She also signed the 1893 Suffrage Petition on page 187 alongside her mother. However she was not enrolled to vote in 1893. Eleanor married William John Atkinson on September 6th 1893 at St Peters Church, Springfield and may have been to busy to enroll. William was from Belfast Ireland and had emigrated with his parents and brother to New Zealand on board the Canterbury arriving in Lyttleton in January 1864. At the time of their marriage he was living on his parents farm, Purple Hill, at Cust and this is where Eleanor would have joined him. In 1907 the family moved to Kowai Bush and farmed there. He was a vestryman of St. Peter's Church, Springfield, and with his family always took an active part in any movement connected with the Anglican Church, both at Springfield and Kowai Bush. They had eleven children. Two of their sons William and Frederick served and were injured in the First World War. William was active on the Patriotic Committee whilst Eleanor was involved with the Springfield Sewing Guild which sent warm clothes, socks and face cloths to the troops. William died in 1923 and was buried in Kowai Bush Cemetery. Twenty on years later in 1944 Eleanor died in Christchurch aged seventy-five. She is buried beside her husband and their daughter Margaret who had died aged 20.
NZ BDM Birth Index 1868/23516 - Ferguson, Eleanor Mary Ann & John
NZ BDM Marriage Index 1893/2525 - Eleanor Ferguson & William John Atkinson
NZ BDM Death Index 1944/16996 - Atkinson Eleanor 75Y
Alternative NameEleanor AtkinsonSummaryA woman of Selwyn who signed the 1893 Suffrage PetitionDescription1892 Suffrage Petition - page 448/254 as Nellie Ferguson1893 Suffrage Petition - page 187 Eleanor Ferguson
First NameEleanor Last NameFergusonDate of Birth7 November 1868Place of BirthHokitika, Westland, New ZealandDate of Death3 February 1944Place of DeathChristchurch, Canterbury, New ZealandAge at Death75Parents or Next of KinJohn Jones FergusonMary Ann Atkinson
William John Atkinson
Other Biographical InformationEleanor Ferguson, known as Nellie, was born November 7th 1868 in Hokitika, eldest daughter of John Jones Ferguson and Mary Ann nee Atkinson. Her father was a Warder at the Hokitika Jail and the family lived there until 1878 when her father resigned and they all moved to Annat to farm. She was aged 25 when, along with her mother Eleanor she signed the 1892 Suffrage Petition, using her nickname of Nellie, as number 448/354. She also signed the 1893 Suffrage Petition on page 187 alongside her mother. However she was not enrolled to vote in 1893. Eleanor married William John Atkinson on September 6th 1893 at St Peters Church, Springfield and may have been to busy to enroll. William was from Belfast Ireland and had emigrated with his parents and brother to New Zealand on board the Canterbury arriving in Lyttleton in January 1864. At the time of their marriage he was living on his parents farm, Purple Hill, at Cust and this is where Eleanor would have joined him. In 1907 the family moved to Kowai Bush and farmed there. He was a vestryman of St. Peter's Church, Springfield, and with his family always took an active part in any movement connected with the Anglican Church, both at Springfield and Kowai Bush. They had eleven children. Two of their sons William and Frederick served and were injured in the First World War. William was active on the Patriotic Committee whilst Eleanor was involved with the Springfield Sewing Guild which sent warm clothes, socks and face cloths to the troops. William died in 1923 and was buried in Kowai Bush Cemetery. Twenty on years later in 1944 Eleanor died in Christchurch aged seventy-five. She is buried beside her husband and their daughter Margaret who had died aged 20.NZ BDM Birth Index 1868/23516 - Ferguson, Eleanor Mary Ann & John
NZ BDM Marriage Index 1893/2525 - Eleanor Ferguson & William John Atkinson
NZ BDM Death Index 1944/16996 - Atkinson Eleanor 75Y
Connections
Subject (Keywords)Suffrage, AnnatPlaceAnnat
PlaceAnnatMilitary Service
Memorial or CemeteryKowai Pass Cemetery, Springfield
Attribution
Eleanor Ferguson. Selwyn Stories, accessed 09/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5678