Mrs Goldammer

Surname:

Goldammer

Given names:

Mrs

Given address:

Cumberland St

Sheet No: 51

Town/Suburb:

Central Dunedin

City/Region:

Dunedin

Notes:

Biographical information provided by Stefanie Lash, Archives New Zealand, for the He Tohu exhibition:

This is probably the signature of Davinia Goldammer.

Information about Mrs Goldammer before her marriage is very difficult to find. She was married to Carl Friedrich Goldammer, a German migrant from Husum, Schleswig. At least four of their daughters were born in New Zealand: Frances Elizabeth, Amelia Florence, Catherine Barbara (Katie) and Mary Ann Lavinia (Lavinia).

Jessie Goldammer, who has signed the Women’s Suffrage Petition below her, may be another daughter.

Davinia Goldammer died in 1904.

Additional biographical information contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Devina/Levinia Jaap/Japp was born on 9 May 1838 in Glasgow, Scotland – the daughter of David Jaap, a mason, and Janet Murray.

She emigrated to Australia in 1857 as an assisted immigrant travelling on the Admiral Lyons and she married Carl Frederich/Charles Frederick Goldammer, a cabinetmaker, in Victoria in 1862.

They family sailed for New Zealand soon after their marriage and had five daughters, one who died in infancy.

They were living in Dunedin, in 1871, when Charles was declared bankrupt.

The family then moved to Oamaru - in 1875 the Goldammer’s furniture warehouse was destroyed during 'the largest fire which ever occurred at Oamaru.'

The following year Charles opened the Oamaru Furniture and Fancy Bazaar in Thames St.

Once again Charles was declared bankrupt – in 1878 the stock of the furniture warehouse was sold at auction and the family moved back to Dunedin.

When Devina signed the suffrage petition she gave her address as Cumberland St although her daughter Jessie’s (See 51 Jessie Goldammer) address was given as St Andrew St. The house may have been on the corner of these streets.

Devina died on 18 May 1904 at her home in Cumberland St.

Charles died in 1913 while travelling near Hastings when the 'horse shied at a mob of cattle and jerked the trap backwards.' Charles fell on his head and died soon after.

They are buried in the family grave in the Southern Cemetery.