Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Ellen Eliza Taburney/Trebarnie was born in Birmingham, England about 1840.
Whether Taburney was Ellen's real name or a stage name is unsure. She first made the news when she appeared at the Theatre Royal in Ballarat, Australia in an adaptation of Alexander Dumas’ 'Three Musketeers' in August, 1861. At first her reviews were not startling, but appeared to improve.
In July 1862, Ellen, with a troupe of her fellow entertainers sailed for Otago on the City of Hobart. Their first engagement was at the Royal Princess Theatre in Dunedin on 11 August.
On 22 August, a benefit concert was given in aid of the Benevolent Asylum. Ellen appeared in the last event of the evening, 'Boots at the Provincial', playing Cecilia Moonshine. Also in the cast was Mr De Leon playing Mr Henry Higgins.
Ellen Taubuney married Septimus De Leon the following day. They had no children.
Septimus was a gold buyer during the Otago gold rush. In later years, he was an accountant, then a real estate salesman.
In 1893, the electoral roll shows Ellen living at York Place and records her occupation as a housewife.
Ellen died at her home in York Place, Dunedin on 27 March 1910 and Septimus died the following year. They are buried together in the Andersons Bay Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au.https://trove.nla.gov.au
Public Record Office Victoria https://prov.vic.gov.au
