Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Elizabeth Strain was born about 1848 in Ireland.
She emigrated to Otago with her family in 1849 on the Cornwall and they settled in Dunedin.
Elizabeth married Samuel Finch, a carrier, on 25 August 1869 in Dunedin and they had eight daughters.
Samuel appeared to have a habit of living beyond his means – he was declared bankrupt in 1870, 1871, 1878 and 1891.
When Elizabeth signed the suffrage petition they were living in North East Valley, Dunedin and Samuel was working as a fellmonger.
He died in the Dunedin Hospital in 1899 and Elizabeth died on 1 March 1929, they are buried together in the Northern Cemetery.
Her obituary said she 'was of a retiring disposition, a most lovable nature, and much respected by all who knew her.'
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
Going Abroad http://www.ngaiopress.com/drhocken.htm
