Maker: Donna Gush

Panel number: 322

Petition sheet number: 379

Person honouring: Ann Phillips

Relationship to maker: Great-great-grandmother

An English house servant who was to become one of the first pioneer settlers in Warkworth, Ann Coulam was born around 1835 in Lincolnshire, England. 

Ann married Isaac Phillips, a farm worker, in September 1857. Ann, Isaac, their oldest two children, Ann’s parents, and two of her siblings emigrated to New Zealand on the Donald McKay. The ship left England in December 1860 and arrived at its destination in March 1861. They all settled in Dome Valley near Warkworth.

Ann had 10 children, one of whom died in infancy. One of Ann’s sisters married one of Isaac’s brothers, and both had large families. Many of the Phillips who signed the petition were related to Ann. 

Ann and her family were active members of the Methodist Church, which was known to be committed to promoting the betterment of society – it is likely that this involvement saw her signing the suffrage petition. 

Ann worked with her husband to clear the land they farmed, Mount Pleasant. Isaac won competitions for his rye grass, so it is likely they farmed livestock. Later in life the farm management was handed to one of their sons, Herbert.

Ann and Isaac retired in Warkworth, and Ann died there in August 1914. Her obituary notes that she was one of the first pioneer settlers arriving at a time when there were only bush tracks, few horses, and no vehicles. 

Panel materials: A mix of items I had and items found at second-hand and op shops (the butterfly section was from a tray cloth). I reworked the butterfly, which I did with many of the sections, making them a mix of old and new.