Mackay, Elizabeth (c. 1845–1897)

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Mackay, Elizabeth (c. 1845–1897)

New Zealand homemaker. Name variations: Elizabeth Ormiston. Born Elizabeth Ormiston, between 1842 and 1847, in Scotland; died Feb 1, 1897, at Trentham, New Zealand; dau. of Walter Ormiston (shepherd) and Mary (McKenzie) Ormiston; m. Robert Mackay (shepherd), 1862; children: 9, including Georgina Mackay and Jessie Mackay (poet).

Immigrated with husband to New Zealand (1863); endured many privations, including living in a sod hut for 5 years; isolated while husband was away for long periods; daughter Jessie Mackay would later write about those early years.

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 2).

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