Blanche Watt

Biographical information provided by Kate Potter for the He Tohu exhibition:

Blanche was born in England in 1874. In 1899, Blanche’s husband Andrew was working as a lumper at the wharf in Dunedin. While unloading cargo on the SS Taupo he was hit by some hoisting equipment. One of his legs was amputated as a result, but he died soon after the operation.

Blanche struggled with alcoholism and was admitted to the Otago Benevolent Society three times. She drowned in July 1901, shortly after her third visit to the institution. 

See also Caversham research databases