Miss C. Evans

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Catherine/Kate Evans was born in 1864 at Evansdale, north of Dunedin – the daughter of William Evans, a sailmaker, and Jessie Reid. (See 140 Mrs W Evans)

In July 1888 Catherine gave birth to a son who died aged seven days.

The following year her father took the baby’s father, Robert Ellis, to court to recover the funeral expenses.

When Catherine signed the suffrage petiton she was living with her parents in Maria Rd, South Dunedin working as a machinist.

Catherine had a further three children over the next ten years, one who died in early childhood.

She married baker, Henry Richard Brett in November 1904.

Henry had recently returned from a trip to Antarctica with Robert Falcon Scott on the Discovery and had left a wife and children in Victoria, Australia.

Both Catherine and Henry appear to have had problems with alcohol – in 1915 Catherine was changed with 'procuring liquor at Caversham' while being a prohibited person.

In 1919 Henry and Catherine 'a fairly ancient couple' were charged with false pretences. They had bought a piano on time payment in 1908 but before it was fully paid for Catherine sold it at auction. Catherine was given two years probation 'on the condition that she does not taste liquor or visit hotels, and that she pays' the balance owing on the piano in 18 months.

Catherine died on 10 July 1927 – she is buried with her sister Phoebe in the Andersons Bay Cemetery.

Henry returned to Australia after Catherine’s death – he died in Victoria in 1942.

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

BDM Victoria https://online.justice.vic.gov.au

Public Record Office Victoria https://prov.vic.gov.au

Libraries Tasmania https://librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au