Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Janet Orr Ritchie was born on 17 November 1860 in Dunbarton, Scotland, the daughter of Thomas Ritchie, a hairdresser, and Matilda Campbell.
Janet emigrated to New Zealand about 1877 and married Joseph Ellis, an upholsterer, soon afterwards.
They had ten children and lived in Leckhampton Court, Caversham Rise, Dunedin.
In 1887 their house in Caversham Rise was destroyed by fire. Janet had been ironing until 1am and at 3am Joseph woke to find the mantelpiece on fire. All their possessions were destroyed, including the piano, which was not insured.
Joseph died in 1948 and Janet died on 18 August 1953. They are buried in the family grave in the Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.
Sources
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
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