Maker: Jenni Shah

Panel number: 456

Petition sheet number: Unknown

People honouring: Catherine Turner, Nielsine Christensen, Ellen Higgison, and Catherine Doull 

Relationship to maker: Great-great-great-grandmothers

Catherine Turner, Nielsine Christensen, Ellen Higgison, and Catherine Doull  travelled to New Zealand from four different countries in the 1860/70s, bringing many languages, cultures, and traditions with them. They raised 49 children between them and were the earliest settlers from my family.

Catherine Turner (born Simpson) was born in Ireland in 1840 and arrived in Lyttelton on the Indian Empire in 1865. She had been widowed twice. She travelled to the West Coast where she met and married James Turner, an American watchmaker, entrepreneur, hotel owner, ruffian, charmer, and later a borough councillor. Following James’ death, Catherine migrated to Canada with two of her children. She died there in 1915. 

Nielsine Christensen (born Nielsen) was born in Denmark in 1850. She arrived in Lyttelton on the Punjaub in 1873 with husband Laurits. They joined the Scandinavian community in Wairarapa. She died in Eketahuna in 1939 aged 88. 

Ellen Higgison (born Waghorn) was born in England in 1859 and arrived in Wellington on the Douglas in 1873. She married Joseph at age 18 and had 16 children over 26 years, enduring the loss of four babies before they were three. She died in 1928.

Catherine Doull (born Sinclair) was born in Scotland in 1845. She arrived in Wellington on the Hermione in 1882, with husband Alex, a stonemason, and their four children. She delivered her fifth child on-board and named her for the captain of the ship, Jane Hermione Robert Jennings. They settled in Wellington. Catherine died in 1926.

Panel materials: Corriedale wool that I hand-dyed to imitate the colours of landscape, An alpaca/tencel blend yarn as weft and various novelty yarns to denote features in the landscape. Ribbons for name and place markers.