Maker: Nicky Dyer

Panel number: 259

Petition sheet number: 316

Person honouring: Mrs [Martha] Baylis

Relationship to maker: None

Martha Elizabeth Baylis must have been a creative needlewoman. 

Martha Byfield was born in October 1848 in Lambeth, Surrey, England, the fourth child of Martha and George Byfield.

On 23 December 1866 Martha married William John Baylis. They had three children in England before emigrating to New Zealand aboard the Howrah, arriving in Wellington on 18 November 1876. Their travel was assisted by the New Zealand government.

While travelling, William kept a diary and assisted with publishing a newsletter for the passengers; both he and Martha began work on a tapestry of the ship, which was completed by later generations. 

The family lived in Wellington for many years and had two more children there, as well as fostering a young girl.

As for other women, Martha first appears on an electoral roll in 1893, the same year she signed the petition in Palmerston North. For both the 1893 and 1896 rolls her occupation was ‘wife’. William was an asphalter.

Martha and William were on the 1905 electoral roll at Featherston Street, Palmerston North and in Campbell St by 1911. 

Between 1913 and 1936 Martha gave her occupation as ‘nurse’ but she was not a qualified nurse.

Martha was 92 when she died in September 1940; she was buried with William [died 1916] in Terrace End cemetery, Palmerston North.

Panel materials: New Zealand wool and curtain fabric.