Jane Hitchon

Surname:

Hitchon

Given names:

Jane

Given address:

Adam's Flat

Sheet No: 92

Town/Suburb:

Adam's Flat

City/Region:

Otago

Notes:

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Jane Bennett was born about 1831 in Nottinghamshire, England. She married Henry Horton Hitchon in 1857 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and they had a son later that year.

The family sailed for Victoria, Australia in 1859 on the Black Eagle where Henry prospected on the goldfields.

Their son died in 1861 and a further two sons were born in Victoria.

Henry sailed for Otago shortly after the Gabriel’s Gully gold rush and settled at Adam’s Flat where Jane and the children joined him in 1863 – their next four children were born there.

In later years Henry worked as a storekeeper and postmaster at Adam’s Flat where he died at his home in 1892 and where Jane signed the suffrage petition.

Jane carried on working as storekeeper until 1896 when she sold the business to her son – she moved to Milton in the mid 1900s.

Jane died at her home in Milton on 26 November 1916, she is buried with Henry in the Fairfax Cemetery, Milton.

Jane’s obituary said she 'was one of the pioneer women on the Adams Flat goldfields, and her services were greatly in demand in times of sickness. She was a true mother in Israel, and in her younger days would often travel for miles to attend those afflicted with illness.'