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Emma Hilda Keane was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 18 May 1873, the eldest of six children of Elizabeth Hancock and her husband, Henry Keane, a hotel-keeper. The family moved to Christchurch, probably in the late…

Ellen Elizabeth Aley was born in Auckland on 13 September 1869 to Ellen Beck and her husband, Alfred Aley, a watchmaker and jeweller. Nothing else is known of Nellie’s life until she married James Ferner, a bill poster…

Emily Herbert was born in Burnley, Lancashire, England, on 1 April 1873, the daughter of Amanda Mary Ramsbottom and her husband, George Herbert, a tailor. Little is known of her early life, but she married Charles Evans…

Rosetta Lulah Leavy was born in July 1871 at San Francisco, USA, the daughter of Francesca Simon and her husband, Charles Maurice Leavy, a civil service commissioner for the state of California. Rosetta received a…

Allan Kerr Taylor was born on 30 December 1832 at Negapatam (Negapattinam) in the Madras Presidency, India, the seventh child of William Taylor and his wife, Barbara Innes. His father, a captain in the 39th Madras…

James Williamson is said to have been born in 1814, in Belfast, Ireland, the son of Ann Gardiner and her husband, Thomas Williamson, a linen merchant and ship owner of that city.While still a boy, James went to sea on…

Jelal Kalyanji was born on 17 August 1899 at Surat, Gujarat, India, to Jagdamba Hansu Chauhan and her husband, Kalyanji Vanamali. Like many Hindus, he was married as a child but his wife died in 1910. Jelal’s father, a…

John Israel Montefiore, also known as John Julius Montefiore, was born probably in London, England, in 1807; his parents' names are unknown. He was a cousin of Joseph Barrow Montefiore, the notable early nineteenth…

Albin Martin was born, probably in 1812 or 1813, at Stower Provost (Stour Provost), Dorsetshire, England, the son of Harry Martin, an Anglican clergyman, and his wife, Elizabeth Gatehouse. He became a pupil of the well-…

Tom Barker was born on 3 June 1887 at Crosthwaite, Westmorland, England, the eldest child of Thomas Grainger Barker, a farm labourer, and his wife, Sarah Trotter. As a boy he worked on farms, attending school part time…

Jessie Finnie was one of a large number of prostitutes who worked in Auckland, New Zealand, in the 1850s and 1860s. She was born in Scotland in 1821 or 1822. Her exact place of birth and the names of her parents are…

Lucy Bridget Canty was born on 22 March 1879 in Greta, New South Wales, the 10th child of Daniel Canty, a miner, and his wife, Bridget Wade. In 1895 16-year-old Lucy was one of seven young Australian women recruited to…

Ernest John Bartlett Allen was born at South Hinksey, Berkshire, England, on 29 March 1884 to Ellen Bartlett and her husband, Spencer Henry Allen, a butcher. Allen must have shown considerable intellectual ability for…

Richard James Sullivan (later known as O'Sullivan) was born at Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, Ireland, and baptised there on 10 January 1826. He was the son of Richard Sullivan, a merchant, and his first wife, Catherine…

Valentine Jackson Chapman was born on St Valentine’s Day (14 February) 1910, at Alcester, Warwickshire, England, the son of Thomas Jackson Chapman, an Anglican clergyman, and his wife, Amy Evelyn Wynn. He was educated…

Christopher Vincent Cosmo Stanich Homer was born in Sydney, Australia, on 9 March 1902, the son of Ernest Matthew Homer, a grocer’s assistant, and his wife, Florence May Lillian Pritchard. After education at the North…

According to his own account Alfred George Horton was born in Lincolnshire, England, probably in 1842 or 1843. His father was Henry Horton, but his mother's name is unknown. He worked on the Hull Daily Express as a…

Archibald Joseph Charles Fisher was born on 15 June 1896 at Dudley, Worcestershire, England, the son of Edmund Scambler Fisher, a jeweller, and his wife, Thirza Wilkinson. Archie studied fine arts at the Birmingham…

William George Garrard was born in Woolwich, London, England, probably between 1832 and 1835. He was the son of William George Garrard but his mother's name is unknown. He joined the Royal Navy in his youth and served…

Molly Morell Macalister was born at Invercargill on 18 May 1920, the eldest of three daughters of Stanley Morell Macalister, a solicitor, and his wife, Catherine Holmes McQueen. A partner in the prominent Invercargill…