Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Sarah Jane Dutton was born about 1864, probably in Stewart Island – the daughter of James Dutton, a sawmiller, and Jane. (See 137 Jane Dutton)
In the early 1870s the family moved from Stewart Island to the Owaka district where Sarah’s father opened the first saw mill in the district.
She married David Wratten, a bushman, on 26 December 1883 and they had six children.
When Sarah signed the suffrage petition the family were living near Owaka where they had a small farm.
Sarah died at her home on 20 July 1927 - she is buried in the Owaka Cemetery.
David died at their daughter’s home in Auckland in 1935 - he is buried in the Waikaraka Cemetery, Auckland
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Auckland Council https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/cemeteries
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