Maker: Geni Johnston

Panel number: 405

Petition sheet number: 495

Person honouring: Caroline Hessey

Relationship to maker: None

Caroline Stuart was born around 1820 in Surrey, England. In 1861 she was a widow living in Melbourne, Australia where she married Joseph Hessey (from  Nottinghamshire, England) a widower with children. 

In 1862 the family migrated to New Zealand leaving from Melbourne and arriving at Port Chalmers on the Omeo on 20 May. On the passenger list were Caroline Hessey, a married woman aged 39 years, husband Joseph, and his children: Joseph (seven), Francis (nine), and John (fifteen). They came to Canterbury and initially settled at Waikuku Creek (near John’s daughter Mary and son-in-law John Ranby).

The family were living in Masterton when Caroline signed the petition with her mark, an ‘X’ that was witnessed.

Caroline died in August 1900, aged 80 and was buried at Masterton Cemetery. Weeks later her husband Joseph died – in October, 1900, aged 88.

Panel materials: Unbleached calico because I knew that was a useful fabric 100 years ago; I attached a heart made from a scrap of very worn Damask tablecloth that I was given by a friend. I marbled this.