Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Clara Ameila/Emily Cooke was born in Victoria, Australia in 1856, the daughter of George Cooke and Margaret Stewart.
She married John Perry, a carpenter, on 2 May 1874 in Dunedin. They had a total of 14 children, four dying in infancy.
The same year that they were married, John was declared bankrupt. Two years later, he declared again.
Clara and John lived in Great King St and Cumberland St in Dunedin. They were living in York Place when Clara signed the suffrage petition.
John died at York Place in 1905. In 1910 Clara’s eldest son was sued to 'contribute to the maintenance of his mother, a destitute person under the act'. Clara had four children staying with her at home: a boy (aged 17) and three girls. The magistrate made an order for the payment of five shillings a week.
Clara died on 24 November 1918. She is buried with John in the family grave in the Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
BDM Victoria https://online.justice.vic.gov.au
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
Archway https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/Home.do
