Resting place of Elizabeth YATES - First Mayoress in the British Empire, her husband Michael, a former Mayor, Elizabeth's parents George and Eleanor OMAN & sister and brother-in-law Eleanor & Thomas HENSHAW
In memory of
Michael YATES
Master Mariner
1841 – 1902
Also his beloved wife
Elizabeth
First Lady Mayor in the British Empire
1840 – 1918
Loved aunt of
E.E.M. HAMLIN
“From darkness into light”
Also in same plot [see other photos]
In Loving Memory of
George OMAN 1808 -1874
And his wife
Eleanor OMAN 1814 – 1886
Thomas Joseph HENSHAW 1811 – 1888
And his wife
Eleanor HENSHAW 1842 – 1916
“He giveth his beloved sleep”
*********************************
Elizabeth [nee OMAN] YATES
From www.nzhistory.net.nz:
Elizabeth Yates' election as Mayoress of Onehunga on 29 November 1893 – the day after New Zealand women had led the world by voting in a general election for the first time – cemented her place as a pioneer of women's political rights. She was the first woman in the British Empire to hold the office of Mayor.
Little is known of her early life. She was born Elizabeth OMAN in Caithness, Scotland [see conflicting information further down regarding Scottish census], probably between 1840 and 1848, and arrived in Auckland around 1853 with her parents and sister. Her father worked as a labourer and the family lived in Onehunga from the mid-1850s. On 15 December 1875 Elizabeth married Captain Michael Yates, a master mariner well known in the coastal trade; there were no children of the marriage.
Michael Yates was a member of the Onehunga Borough Council from 1885 and Mayor from 1888 to 1892, when ill health forced his retirement. Elizabeth, meanwhile, belonged to the Auckland Union Parliament and was a keen debater at its meetings. She was a strong supporter of the women's suffrage movement, and was the first woman to record her vote in the Onehunga electorate in the general election held on 28 November 1893.
Earlier that year she had also accepted nomination for the Onehunga mayoralty, which, like other local-body polls, was to be decided the day after the general election. In a 'spirited contest', Yates defeated her only opponent, local draper Frederick Court, by 13 votes to become the first 'lady mayor' in the British Empire. The office also brought her an appointment as a justice of the peace. After being sworn in before Supreme Court Judge Edward Conolly on 16 January 1894, she officiated occasionally as magistrate in cases involving women.
Yates' victory attracted widespread attention in New Zealand and the empire; she received congratulations from Premier Richard Seddon and Queen Victoria. But not everyone was happy: four Councillors and the town clerk resigned immediately in protest. Council meetings were often disruptive, and three Councillors opposed every proposal she submitted. Elizabeth's somewhat tactless, dictatorial manner and lack of regard for established rules of procedure didn't help the situation. Curious spectators often crammed the small council chamber, while unruly elements hooted and jeered outside. Newspapers published verbatim accounts of these 'disgraceful' scenes.
After a difficult year in office, Yates was soundly defeated at the polls on 28 November 1894. Despite her brief tenure, she left a valuable legacy: she had liquidated the borough debt, established a sinking fund, upgraded roads, footpaths and sanitation, and reorganised the fire brigade. Even her opponents agreed she had been an able administrator.
Elizabeth returned to the Onehunga Borough Council in September 1899, serving until April 1901. She died in Auckland on 6 September 1918 and was buried in St Peter's churchyard, Onehunga, beside her husband, who had died in 1902. [1]
Her probate is available:
archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=21457292
There is an Elizabeth OMAN born c1841 listed in the 1851 Scottish census.
Noted as being born in Ireland and at the time of the Census was a scholar of the civil parish of Bower in the county of Caithness, address being Barrock Mains.
An 8 year old sibling named Eleanor is also living in the same household
George OMAN is noted as the head of residence, a groom and Chelsea Pensioner aged 43 who was born in Dunnet, Caithness.
Eleanor aged 38 and born in Ireland is noted as the mother.
***************************************************************
Thomas HENSHAW
~ served in the Forest Rangers in the NZ Wars. [2]
Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 165, 14 July 1888, Page 6
Death Notice
“On July 2, Thomas Joseph Henshaw, of Onehunga, only son of Joseph Henshaw and the late Quartermaster of the 65th Regiment, in his 47th year” [3]
4 pages written 28 Feb 1876 by Thomas J Henshaw in Tauranga to Sir Donald McLean:
mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=1000675&l=mi
Notice of a Thomas Joseph HENSHAW filing bankruptcy 1886:
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS...
In late 1872 it seems Thomas was charged with indecent assault [Coldham v Henshaw - 7] but "due to the rebutting evidence of his sister in law Miss OMAN, he was acquitted"[8]
Eleanor HENSHAW died January 13 1916 aged 71 at her daughters residence - Preston Hill, Panmure. Beloved mother of E E M HAMLIN and relict of the late T J HENSHAW, Ensign in the Royal North Down Ensigns.
E.E.M. HAMLIN was Eleanor Elizabeth Mary nee HENSHAW. She married 25 November 1903 to Selwyn Belgin Ireland Little HAMLIN [5] who was made a Justice of the Peace in 1913. She died aged 75 in 1950 and he died 1946 aged 75.
A photo of their wedding is at Auckland War Memorial Museum. This includes Elizabeth Yates [6]
REFERENCES:
[1]
'Elizabeth Yates', URL: www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/elizabeth-yates, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 5-Dec-2011
[2]
www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?BU=htt...
[3]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS...
[4]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
[5]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZ...
[6]
muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/librarycatalogue/P1932.....
[7]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
[8]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
Resting place of Elizabeth YATES - First Mayoress in the British Empire, her husband Michael, a former Mayor, Elizabeth's parents George and Eleanor OMAN & sister and brother-in-law Eleanor & Thomas HENSHAW
In memory of
Michael YATES
Master Mariner
1841 – 1902
Also his beloved wife
Elizabeth
First Lady Mayor in the British Empire
1840 – 1918
Loved aunt of
E.E.M. HAMLIN
“From darkness into light”
Also in same plot [see other photos]
In Loving Memory of
George OMAN 1808 -1874
And his wife
Eleanor OMAN 1814 – 1886
Thomas Joseph HENSHAW 1811 – 1888
And his wife
Eleanor HENSHAW 1842 – 1916
“He giveth his beloved sleep”
*********************************
Elizabeth [nee OMAN] YATES
From www.nzhistory.net.nz:
Elizabeth Yates' election as Mayoress of Onehunga on 29 November 1893 – the day after New Zealand women had led the world by voting in a general election for the first time – cemented her place as a pioneer of women's political rights. She was the first woman in the British Empire to hold the office of Mayor.
Little is known of her early life. She was born Elizabeth OMAN in Caithness, Scotland [see conflicting information further down regarding Scottish census], probably between 1840 and 1848, and arrived in Auckland around 1853 with her parents and sister. Her father worked as a labourer and the family lived in Onehunga from the mid-1850s. On 15 December 1875 Elizabeth married Captain Michael Yates, a master mariner well known in the coastal trade; there were no children of the marriage.
Michael Yates was a member of the Onehunga Borough Council from 1885 and Mayor from 1888 to 1892, when ill health forced his retirement. Elizabeth, meanwhile, belonged to the Auckland Union Parliament and was a keen debater at its meetings. She was a strong supporter of the women's suffrage movement, and was the first woman to record her vote in the Onehunga electorate in the general election held on 28 November 1893.
Earlier that year she had also accepted nomination for the Onehunga mayoralty, which, like other local-body polls, was to be decided the day after the general election. In a 'spirited contest', Yates defeated her only opponent, local draper Frederick Court, by 13 votes to become the first 'lady mayor' in the British Empire. The office also brought her an appointment as a justice of the peace. After being sworn in before Supreme Court Judge Edward Conolly on 16 January 1894, she officiated occasionally as magistrate in cases involving women.
Yates' victory attracted widespread attention in New Zealand and the empire; she received congratulations from Premier Richard Seddon and Queen Victoria. But not everyone was happy: four Councillors and the town clerk resigned immediately in protest. Council meetings were often disruptive, and three Councillors opposed every proposal she submitted. Elizabeth's somewhat tactless, dictatorial manner and lack of regard for established rules of procedure didn't help the situation. Curious spectators often crammed the small council chamber, while unruly elements hooted and jeered outside. Newspapers published verbatim accounts of these 'disgraceful' scenes.
After a difficult year in office, Yates was soundly defeated at the polls on 28 November 1894. Despite her brief tenure, she left a valuable legacy: she had liquidated the borough debt, established a sinking fund, upgraded roads, footpaths and sanitation, and reorganised the fire brigade. Even her opponents agreed she had been an able administrator.
Elizabeth returned to the Onehunga Borough Council in September 1899, serving until April 1901. She died in Auckland on 6 September 1918 and was buried in St Peter's churchyard, Onehunga, beside her husband, who had died in 1902. [1]
Her probate is available:
archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=21457292
There is an Elizabeth OMAN born c1841 listed in the 1851 Scottish census.
Noted as being born in Ireland and at the time of the Census was a scholar of the civil parish of Bower in the county of Caithness, address being Barrock Mains.
An 8 year old sibling named Eleanor is also living in the same household
George OMAN is noted as the head of residence, a groom and Chelsea Pensioner aged 43 who was born in Dunnet, Caithness.
Eleanor aged 38 and born in Ireland is noted as the mother.
***************************************************************
Thomas HENSHAW
~ served in the Forest Rangers in the NZ Wars. [2]
Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 165, 14 July 1888, Page 6
Death Notice
“On July 2, Thomas Joseph Henshaw, of Onehunga, only son of Joseph Henshaw and the late Quartermaster of the 65th Regiment, in his 47th year” [3]
4 pages written 28 Feb 1876 by Thomas J Henshaw in Tauranga to Sir Donald McLean:
mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=1000675&l=mi
Notice of a Thomas Joseph HENSHAW filing bankruptcy 1886:
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS...
In late 1872 it seems Thomas was charged with indecent assault [Coldham v Henshaw - 7] but "due to the rebutting evidence of his sister in law Miss OMAN, he was acquitted"[8]
Eleanor HENSHAW died January 13 1916 aged 71 at her daughters residence - Preston Hill, Panmure. Beloved mother of E E M HAMLIN and relict of the late T J HENSHAW, Ensign in the Royal North Down Ensigns.
E.E.M. HAMLIN was Eleanor Elizabeth Mary nee HENSHAW. She married 25 November 1903 to Selwyn Belgin Ireland Little HAMLIN [5] who was made a Justice of the Peace in 1913. She died aged 75 in 1950 and he died 1946 aged 75.
A photo of their wedding is at Auckland War Memorial Museum. This includes Elizabeth Yates [6]
REFERENCES:
[1]
'Elizabeth Yates', URL: www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/elizabeth-yates, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 5-Dec-2011
[2]
www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?BU=htt...
[3]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS...
[4]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
[5]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZ...
[6]
muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/librarycatalogue/P1932.....
[7]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
[8]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...