Ann Agnes Ansell

Surname:

Ansell

Given names:

Ann Agnes

Given address:

Selwyn N.E. Valley

Sheet No: 142

Town/Suburb:

North Dunedin

City/Region:

Dunedin

Notes:

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley.

Ann Agnes Ward was born in 1853 in Cockermouth, England – the daughter of Francis Ward, a blacksmith and Isabella Glover.

She married William James Ansell, a bricklayer, on 30 November 1873 and they had a son before they emigrated to Otago in 1875 on the “Aldergrove”.

They settled in Dunedin where they had a further seven children, one who died in infancy.

When Ann signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Selwyn, North East Valley.

In 1933 they celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary at their son’s home in Dunedin. They were presented with a “beautifully upholstered fireside chair” from the North East Valley Baptist Church of which they were foundation members.

William died in 1935 and Ann died on 21 July 1936 – they are buried in the family grave in the Northern Cemetery.

Ann’s obituary said “her humanitarian qualities endeared her to many homes in the district, and she was constant in her kindly attentions to the sick.” ”A bright disposition won for her a wide circle of friends”.