Mrs Calder

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley.

Annie Clark was born about 1843 in the Isle of Man – the daughter of John Clark, a miner, and Jane Dalziel.

Her father died when she was a child and she emigrated to New Zealand with her mother in the 1860’s.

Annie married, carpenter, George Calder in Balclutha, South Otago in 1871 and after their marriage they moved to Dunedin.

They had eight children, two who were stillborn and one who died in infancy.

In 1879 while travelling to her grandchild’s funeral Annie’s mother was run over by a train in South Otago.

When Annie signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Main Rd, North East Valley.

Annie died at her home on 6 March 1920 – her obituary said “was of a very charitable and kindly disposition, and was noted for her many acts of kindness.” ”She was actively engaged in many philanthropic works. She was a regular visitor to the gaol, and was the appointed visitor to the foster homes for the boarded-out children for North Dunedin. She was also connected with Y.W.C.A. work in its early days. For many years she conducted an afternoon Bible class for school children at N.E. Valley”.

George died in 1924 – they are buried in the family grave in the Northern Cemetery.

Sources:

BDM online NZ    https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/

DCC Cemetery Records  http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search

Family Search   https://www.familysearch.org

Otago Nominal Index   http://marvin.otago.ac.nz

Papers Past   https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz