Elizabeth was born on the 16 Aug 1858 at Lerwick, Tingwall, Whiteness, Shetland, Scotland. Her father, James Robertson was a sailor and he left his wife and daughter to travel to New Zealand to set up a home for his family.
Elizabeth and her mother emigrated to New Zealand in 1865 onboard the ship ‘Victory’.
On the 23 Jul 1883 at Hampden, Otago, she married James Dunbar, son of well known Storekeeper, David Dunbar. Sadly, shortly after the arrival of Elizabeth and James’ first child, Betsy, James past away.
Other than the photo above as a child, I have not been able to find any other photograph of her or her life. What we do know is that she married twice.
Elizabeth remarried 5 years later, on the 17 September 1890, to John McBride at Hampden, Otago. The couple had 4 more children together.
Elizabeth had the following children:
| Child | Born | Married | Children | Died | Comments |
| Betsy | 5 Jul 1885 | 1 Jun 1910 1952 | 4/ – | 13 Nov 1959 | McLeod/ Palmer |
| Flora Grace | 7 Mar 1893 | 1927 | 1 | 31 Aug 1959 | Nicolson |
| John | 26 Jul 1894 | – | – | 2 Apr 1955 | – |
| Not Recorded | 11 May 1897 | – | – | 15 May 1897 | |
| Lizzie | Nov 1900 | – | – | 19 Aug 1901 | – |
Second husband John, passed on the 30 Sep 1917 at Hampden.
Elizabeth passed on the 23 December 1924 at Oamaru, aged 66. She is buried alongside her husband John, daughter Lizzy and an infant son.
