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Elizabeth Seay
Description
TitleElizabeth Seay
Alternative NameElizabeth Barr
SummaryA woman of Selwyn who signed the 1893 Suffrage Petition
Description1892 Suffrage Petition - page 449/255
1893 Suffrage Petition - page 185
1893 Electoral Roll - no 137
First NameElizabeth
Last NameSeay
Date of Birth16 July 1865
Place of BirthChristchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Date of Death4 July 1933
Place of DeathChristchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Age at Death67
Parents or Next of KinThomas Seay
Ellen Nixon
James Porteous Barr
Other Biographical InformationElizabeth Seay was born in Halswell, Christchurch on July 16 1865, daughter of Thomas Seay and Ellen, nee Nixon. She was the first of the children to be born in New Zealand. Her parents had arrived from County Down in Ireland, with the two eldest children in 1863 and and had settled about 1874 in Springfield to farm. Elizabeth married James Barr, second son of James Porteous Barr of Mountainview Farm, at her father's home in Springfield on May 12 1886. The Barr family were well involved in the community, supporting the school in Annat and also the local branch of the Band Of Hope. Elizabeth signed the 1892 Petition on page 449/255 and then the 1893 Suffrage Petition on page no 185. She was enrolled to vote in 1893 as number 137 on the Roll. Sadly their daughter Agnes had died in August before the election. In same year her husband James was declared bankrupt but after time as a stock agent, returned to farming. Elizabeth died in 1933 and was buried with her parents in Linwood Cemetery.
Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14088, 6 July 1911, Page 9
Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7861, 17 May 1886, Page 4.
Press, Volume L, Issue 8598, 27 September 1893, Page 6

Alternative NameElizabeth Barr
SummaryA woman of Selwyn who signed the 1893 Suffrage Petition
Description1892 Suffrage Petition - page 449/2551893 Suffrage Petition - page 185
1893 Electoral Roll - no 137
First NameElizabeth
Last NameSeay
Date of Birth16 July 1865
Place of BirthChristchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Date of Death4 July 1933
Place of DeathChristchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Age at Death67
Parents or Next of KinThomas SeayEllen Nixon
James Porteous Barr
Other Biographical InformationElizabeth Seay was born in Halswell, Christchurch on July 16 1865, daughter of Thomas Seay and Ellen, nee Nixon. She was the first of the children to be born in New Zealand. Her parents had arrived from County Down in Ireland, with the two eldest children in 1863 and and had settled about 1874 in Springfield to farm. Elizabeth married James Barr, second son of James Porteous Barr of Mountainview Farm, at her father's home in Springfield on May 12 1886. The Barr family were well involved in the community, supporting the school in Annat and also the local branch of the Band Of Hope. Elizabeth signed the 1892 Petition on page 449/255 and then the 1893 Suffrage Petition on page no 185. She was enrolled to vote in 1893 as number 137 on the Roll. Sadly their daughter Agnes had died in August before the election. In same year her husband James was declared bankrupt but after time as a stock agent, returned to farming. Elizabeth died in 1933 and was buried with her parents in Linwood Cemetery. Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14088, 6 July 1911, Page 9
Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7861, 17 May 1886, Page 4.
Press, Volume L, Issue 8598, 27 September 1893, Page 6

Connections
Subject (Keywords)Suffrage, Annat
PlaceAnnat
PlaceAnnat
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryLinwood Cemetery

Attribution
Elizabeth Seay. Selwyn Stories, accessed 09/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5683



