Frances was born in Down, Ireland on the 12 Dec 1845. She emigrated with her family on the ‘Zealandia’ as a 16 year old, young woman. The family arrived at Lyttelton and as far as I can determine, was homed at Purau where she carried out domestic duties for the Rhodes family. She traveled with that family to the ‘Levels’ outside Timaru, before taking a job at Moeraki.
It was at this point that she met her future husband, Angus Ross.
At some point in 1865, Fanny became pregnant and had a child at Christchurch. The child was named Franklyn John Bennett Finlay. I am unsure as to whether he was adopted out or not. The reason for that comment is that he died young, only 17 at Ashburton. By this time, Fanny had other children with her husband at Waianakarua in North Otago. That suggests that Franklyn was not living with his mother.
Alternatively, Franklyn could have grown up in the Ross household and returned to Ashburton to work as a blacksmith. Both options are unclear.
Fanny married Angus Ross on the 2 Sep 1869 at Knox Church, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Angus had taken land at Waianakarua in a valley that terminated at the famous Waianakarua Flour Mill, which is still present today.
Click through to the ROSS page.
From here, Fanny went on to build a new family in Wainakarua on the farm they named “Langwell”. That name from the highlands of Scotland.
Angus and Fanny had the following
| Child | Born | Married | Children | Died | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklyn John Bennet Finlay * | 1865 | – | – | 18 Sep 1882 | |
| Mary Ann Ross | 27 Jun 1870 | 8 Apr 1912 | – | 30 Jun 1955 | Armes |
| Ellen Ross | 8 Apr 1872 | 21 Apr 1904 | 5 | 5 Apr 1969 | Hutton |
| Frances Ross | 6 Apr 1874 | 9 Jan 1899 | 5 | 5 Dec 1940 | Hutton |
| Angusina Ross | 24 Nov 1875 | 29 Aug 1901 | 7 | 7 Mar 1959 | Robertson |
| Neil Findlay Ross | 9 Nov 1877 | 14 Apr 1911 | 3 | 24 Oct 1955 | Low |
| Leah May Ross | 19 May 1886 | 23 Apr 1932 | – | 3 May 1971 | Smeddles |
Fanny predeceased her husband and passed away on the 16 Dec 1926 at home, Waianakarua, Otago, New Zealand.
She is buried in Otepopo/Herbert Cemetery, alongside her husband in a somewhat non-descript grave, including spelling mistakes.
