Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker.
Louisa Napier was born Louisa Kendrew on 7 March 1828 in Marylebone, City of Westminster, Greater London, England To Thomas Kendrew and Elizabeth Barker.
Louisa Kendrew came to New Zealand on the ship “New Era” which sailed from London on 20 March 1855 and arrived in Wellington on 27 June 1855. She travelled Steerage.
Shortly after arriving in New Zealand Louisa Kendrew married James Thomas Kendrew on 21 July 1855 in Wellington. James died on 19 January 1856.
On 13 August 1865 she remarried to Thomas Napier in Kilmore Street, Christchurch.
Louisa had five children; unnamed male born 1861, Louisa Napier born 1866, Lily Clyde Napier born 1869, Thomas Colin Douglas Napier born 1871 and Helen Gertrude Napier born 1872.
The License of the Hororata Hotel was transferred from John Cook to Thomas Napier on 31 August 1876.
Thomas Napier, Hororata, Publican was adjudicated a Bankrupt on 17 January 1891. This Order was discharged on 10 June 1891. The License of the Hororata Hotel was transferred back to Thomas Napier and a renewal granted.
In 1892 Louisa Napier signed the Women’s Suffrage Petition Roll, Sheet 230. In 1893 Louisa Napier and her daughter, Louisa Cresswell, signed the Women’s Suffrage Petition, Sheet 209.
The 1893 and 1896 Electoral Rolls for the Selwyn electorate records her living in Hororata, Domestic Duties.
On 24 October 1913 Louisa died age 79 years at Loburn, Waimakariri District, Canterbury, and is buried in the Addington cemetery.
Thomas Napier died on 8 June 1921 and is buried in the Domain Road, cemetery, Whakatane in Plot E20 and is unmarked.
Sources:
Find a Grave - Louisa Napier
Find a Grave - Thomas Napier
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1855/1311 James Thomas Kendrew/Louisa Kendrew
Lyttelton Times, Marriages, 14 August 1865, Page 9
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1865/7492 Thomas Napier/Louisa Kendrew
Globe Newspaper 31 August 1876, Page 2
Lyttelton Times, 19 January 1891, Page 7
Press newspaper 8 June 1892, Page 3
The Wilson Collection, Louisa Napier
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