Penelope C. Valpy

Surname:

Valpy

Given names:

Penelope C.

Given address:

Glenorchy

Sheet No: 134

Town/Suburb:

Glenorchy

City/Region:

Otago

Notes:

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Penelope Caroline Every was born in 1840 in Edwall, Derbyshire, England – the daughter of Simon Frederick Every, a gentleman farmer, and Mary Brutton.

She emigrated to New Zealand with her family in 1857 on the John Masterman and she married Wiliam Henry Valpy Esq at her home, Silver Acres, Andersons Bay, Dunedin, on 1 May 1858. They had eight children, one who died in infancy. William was a sheep farmer and the family moved to Glenorchy, at the head of Lake Wakatipu, in 1888 where he had acquired two runs. Penelope signed the suffrage petition while living at Glenorchy.

They later retired to Oamaru where William died in 1911, he is buried in the Oamaru Cemetery.

Penelope then went to live in Invercargill where she died on 16 February 1924, she is buried in the Invercargill Eastern Cemetery.

'She lived amongst her people as one who served. She possessed the true missionary spirit and the passion of her life was to smoothe the way for others. At Glenorchy and Invercargill she will long be remembered for her kindly ministrations at the sick bed, her ready help in times of trouble and for her words of comfort and cheer to the tempted and the tried.'