Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Elizabeth Ann Crimp was born in Plymouth, Devon in 1845. She was the daughter of John Crimp, a mason, and Mary Gidley.
Elizabeth married Samuel Aburn, a fancy shop keeper, in 1865 and they had six children before they emigrated to Canterbury on the Mongol in 1874.
A further eight children were born in New Zealand.
Samuel worked as a builder and contractor and his largest job appears to be the construction of the new agricultural hall in Dunedin which he won the tender for in 1896. This building was later altered and became His Majesty’s Theatre.
In 1893 the family were living in Leith St, Dunedin and when Samuel died in 1908 they were in Cumberland St.
Elizabeth died on 24 March 1927 and is buried in the Northern Cemetery beside her husband. Her daughter Annie also signed the petition.
Sources
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Free BDM https://www.freebmd.org.uk
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
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