Maker: Kate McClelland

Panel number: 218

Petition sheet number: 259

Person honouring: Eliza Eder

Relationship to maker: Great-great-great-grandmother

Eliza Cleaver was born in Cubbington, Warwickshire, England in 1841. At the young age of nine years, Eliza boarded the Cressy to Lyttelton, with her parents and three siblings. The family were early arrivals to Canterbury.

Eliza and her family walked over the Bridle path to settle in Canterbury, their first home being a dug-out thatched ‘cottage’ in the hillside.

In December 1858, seven years to the day since landing in Lyttelton, Eliza married Henry Eder, a farmer. Eliza and Henry had 11 children.

Eliza signed sheet 259 of the 1893 petition at Woodend, along with her daughter Ellen Eliza, who was a domestic servant in 1893. Both women continued to enrol to vote.

Eliza died aged 88, and was buried at the Woodend cemetery.

Panel materials: Fabrics gifted by my Mum a number of years back that had not yet been used for a project. A great opportunity to use them!