Biographical information provided by Christa Hopkinson for the He Tohu exhibition:
Ethel Elizabeth Bambery was born on 7 November 1874 in Tasmania, Australia to Irish immigrant parents. In 1889 she married William Gala Bambery in New Zealand. The couple had six children together and lived in Musselburgh.
In 1917 Ethel filed for divorce with full custody. It was confirmed that William was an alcoholic and had been unable to provide for the family. As a result, Ethel earned a living by having boarders at their property, as well as taking in washing. The divorce was finalised in 1919 with Ethel gaining custody of the children.
Ethel moved to Utah, USA and remarried. She died on 24 December 1938, aged 65.
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
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