Maker: Maura Beattie

Panel number: 416

Petition sheet number: 506

Person honouring: Charlotte Amesbury

Relationship to maker: My husband’s great-grandmother

Charlotte Hookham was born in Old Bond Street, London in 1854. She came out to Lyttelton, Canterbury with her family on the Tudor in 1866. They settled in Yaldhurst and then Fendalton, Christchurch. 

Charlotte married David Amesbury in 1871. They farmed in Flaxton, Canterbury where their first child Agnes Mabel (Mag) was born. After moving to Feilding four more children were born: Caroline, Raleigh, Cecil Lucy, and John. 

David became a taxidermist after the farm went bankrupt. Charlotte and Mag worked as dressmakers.

Both Charlotte and Mag signed the 1893 petition. In Christchurch Charlotte’s mother and two sisters also signed the petition.

Charlotte died at home in Denbigh street in 1935. She had suffered a stroke a few years earlier.

Panel materials: Cottons from my fabric stash and the white piece provided.