Maker: Karyn Henson

Panel number: 382

Petition sheet number: 464

Person honouring: Mrs Grace Mackintosh, Miss Grace Mackintosh and Miss Jessie Mackintosh (her daughters)

Relationship to maker: Great-great-grandmother and two of her daughters

The signature on the petition simply says ‘Mrs Mackintosh’ but it’s very likely this is Grace Mackintosh because two of her daughters (Miss Grace and Miss Jessie) also signed the petition directly after her. 

Grace McPhail was born in 1836 in Daviot, Inverness, Scotland, the daughter of Janet and Angus.

In 1859, Grace married John Kerr Mackintosh; while they were still in Scotland, they had nine children (represented by nine camellias stitched on the panel) – Angus, Jessie, Elizabeth, Grace, Alexander, Jessie, John, Donald, and Duncan. 

In 1855, John, Grace, and their six surviving children arrived in Lyttelton on the sailing ship Coptic. They sailed on to Wanganui on the coaster Stormbird where they bought Gordon Park farm at Okoia. They lived at Gordon Park until 1904 when they bought the leasehold of 430 acres on Warrangate Road – known as Blythewood. 

After Grace’s husband John died, their son Duncan took over running the farm. The whole family were very public spirited and involved in local organisations most of their lives.

Grace died in 1912, aged 77 years. 

Panel materials: The hexagons are all felt, most of which I have had for a long time. The patterned ones were purchased. Embroidery yarn I’ve also mostly had for a long time; only one colour was purchased new – due to my insufficient range of purples.