Biographical information provided by Roger Swanson, Alexander Turnbull Library, for the He Tohu exhibition:
Catherine Elizabeth Schwahten was born in Germany around 1844 and married Carl Ludwig Vollheim. They arrived in Wellington aboard the Lammershagen on 11 July 1875 after voyage of 96 days leaving from Hamburg and Cuxhaven. With them were their six children – two boys and four girls.
They settled in Masterton. She was known as Elizabeth. Her husband died on 12 Jan 1904 in an accident at work. She was initially denied any compensation but pursued a claim to the Arbitration Court in Wellington where she won her case and was awarded 200 pounds. She died in Masterton on 5 June 1917. Her obituary reported that she had four grandchildren at the front.
