Originally transcribed as Mary Frizett
Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Mary O’Shea was born about 1854, probably in Ireland.
She emigrated to Otago and she married Joseph Kingett/Kinggate, a carpenter in 1877.
Joseph was declared bankrupt in 1878 while the family were living in Timaru and he deserted the family in 1882 by re-marrying bigamously and moving to Australia.
In 1882 Mary’s three children were 'brought before the Court as neglected children' - they were committed to the Industrial School for seven years.
When Mary signed the suffrage petition she was living in Kensington, Dunedin.
She married Charles Matherson/Carl Matson, a rabbiter, on 21 March 1893 in Dunedin.
They lived on Clydevale Station in South Otago until half way through 1894 when they separated as 'they were not able to agree'.
Mary sued Charles for maintenance in December 1895, the payments were soon in arrears and Charles, who had another woman living with him by this time, 'offered to receive and maintain his wife'. He advised Mary that 'she must accept his offer or lose all claim”'to him.
She took the train to Clinton and travelled to the Pomahaka estate to live with her husband. After this she disappeared and the police were informed.
Her luggage was found in the Pomahaka River and Mary’s body was found a few days later wrapped in a sack.
Charles was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison with hard labour.
Where Mary was buried is unknown.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
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