suffrage_petition
Surname: 
Bigelow
Given names: 
Annie
Given address: 
Ponsonby Auckland
Sheet No: 22
Town/Suburb: 
Ponsonby
City/Region: 
Auckland
Notes: 

Biography contributed by Pam Rea

Anna Margaret Jane Bigelow was born in Nova Scotia around 1853, the eldest daughter to parents John Bigelow, a ship builder, and Mary [nee Rockwell.] Two brothers were born before her John Smith Bigelow, born about 1851, and James Amasa Bigelow, born about 1852. There were two younger sisters Emma Sophie Bigelow, and Mary Elizabeth Bigelow. (these two sisters’ names are also on the petition).

This family emigrated from Nova Scotia on the Brig George Henderson leaving on 4 December 1859. Their names are on the ship’s list leaving Pugwash in Nova Scotia, but not on the list of passengers embarking in Auckland. It is thought that they embarked in Sydney Australia, in April 1860, and from there made their way to New Zealand a few years later; possibly in a ship built by John Bigelow, according to two known sources.

This family was definitely in Auckland by 1863, as Annie’s father John Bigelow had set himself up a shipbuilder and was advertising for men to work for him by then.

Annie Bigelow never married. She inherited the family home and some land, in Dunedin St, Ponsonby, Auckland, and half shares in the Barque Devonport, when her father died.

She is noted on the City of Auckland Burgess Rolls for 1890-91 and 1891-92 in Dunedin St. Ponsonby as entitled to one vote. Annie did some travelling from time to time and was in England staying with her sister Emma and husband, at 40 Milton Grove, Manchester, during the 1901 and the 1911 English Census, noted as a dressmaker. Before that Annie had been living at Rehia in the Kaipara electorate of New Zealand, probably with relatives.

Annie Bigelow died in the Northern Wairoa Hospital on 10th November 1937 at the age of 85, and is buried in the Arapohui Cemetery, Dargaville.

Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.

Community contributions

No comments have been posted about Annie Bigelow

What do you know?