Ruth Cramp

Biography contributed by Pam Logan, great-granddaughter of Ruth

Ruth Aslin was born in 1864, the daughter of Ellen Beardsall and Robert Aslin. Ruth had six siblings: Annie Throne b. 1858; William b. 1859; Mary b. 1861; Frederick b. 1862; Edward b. 1865; Elizabeth b. 1867; Emma b. 1869 and Margaret b. 1872.    

Her father died on 20 February 1875 at Oxton and his will was proven on 20 May. Ellen and her children emigrated to New Zealand on the Taranaki from London on 26 September 1879 and arrived at Port Chalmers on 22 December. The report of the ship’s arrival in the Otago Witness states that ‘The whole of the passengers have come out at their own expense, and are evidently a very respectable class of people.’ 

Ruth married Edwin Cramp in 1883. Her mother Ellen and sister Lizzie were probably staying with Ruth at her New Brighton home when they signed the suffrage petition.

The family was closely involved with the Wesleyan and later Methodist church in Dunedin and other parts of New Zealand and their Christian faith was very important in their lives.

Ruth died in 1901.