Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Ann Shields Manson was born about 1845 in Scotland.
She emigrated to New Zealand and married Richard Wright Willett in 1863 - they had eight children, their eldest son dying in infancy.
The family lived, at first, in George St, Dunedin before moving to South Dunedin.
Richard died at their home in Reid St in 1890 and Ann was still living there when she signed the suffrage petition.
Ann died at her home in Albert St, Caversham on 12 June 1926, she is buried with Richard in the family grave in the Southern Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
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