Sarah McMurray
McMurray, c. 1908
Born
Sarah Ann Silcock

26 August 1848
Nelson, New Zealand
Died14 September 1943(1943-09-14) (aged 95)
Palmerston North, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealand
Other namesSarah Ann McMurray
Known forWood carving
Spouse
Robert McMurray
​
(m. 1872)​
Children6
Parent(s)Simon Bonnet Silcock and Susannah Flower
RelativesSarah Page (cousin)
Signature

Sarah Ann McMurray (née Silcock, 26 August 1848 – 14 September 1943)[1] was a New Zealand woodcarver and craftswoman.[2]

Biography

McMurray was born in Nelson, New Zealand, on 26 August 1848, the daughter of Susannah Silcock (née Flower) and Captain Simon Bonnet Silcock.[3] McMurray was the third of 14 children.[4] Sarah Page, a prohibitionist, was McMurray's cousin through her mother's sister, Rhoda Saunders (née Flower), who married politician Alfred Saunders.[5]

She married Robert McMurray in 1872.[3][6] They had six children.[7] They lived for some time in dense forest in the Inangahua Valley on the West Coast of the South Island. In the 1880s they moved to a farm in Awahuri in the North Island. Later moving again to Wanganui.[3]

She took up relief carving as a hobby and despite being over 50 years old she enrolled in a local technical college to develop her wood carving skills.[8][3] She was prolific and elaborately carved most of the furnishings in her house.[9][3]

She was among the signatories to New Zealand's 1893 women's suffrage petition.[7] In 1914 her and husband Robert McMurray moved to Palmerston North.[3] She continued her woodcarving in Palmerston North working in the garden shed.[3] She worked mainly in kauri.[3] She also handmade toys for her children and grandchildren one of which is in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[10]

Death

McMurray died at her home on Ada Street in Palmerston North on 14 September 1943, aged 95.[11] [12] She is buried at Terrace End Cemetery next to her husband, who died in 1927.[7][13][14]

References

  1. ↑ "Sarah McMurray; Collections Online – Museum of New Zealand te Papa Tongarewa".
  2. ↑ "McMurray, Sarah, 1848–1943". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Orwin, P. M. (1992). Macdonald, Charlotte (ed.). The book of New Zealand women = Ko Kui Ma Te Kaupapa (Repr. (twice) ed.). Wellington: Williams. pp. 392–393. ISBN 0908912048.
  4. ↑ 92 and Still Going Strong Manawatu Times 26 August 1940 Page 5
  5. ↑ "Rhoda Saunders". Geni.com. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  6. ↑ Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle 27 September 1871 Page 6
  7. 1 2 3 "S. A. McMurray | NZHistory, New Zealand history online".
  8. ↑ 92-YEAR-OLD PIONEER Wanganui Chronicle 29 August 1940 Page 8
  9. ↑ TALENTED AGE! Manawatu Times 16 September 1935 Page 6
  10. ↑ "Toy policeman; Collections Online – Museum of New Zealand te Papa Tongarewa".
  11. ↑ Manawatu Times 15 September 1943 Page 1
  12. ↑ Grand Old Lady of 95 Years Passes Manawatu Times 23 September 1943 Page 2
  13. ↑ "Cemetery and cremation search". Palmerston North City Council. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  14. ↑ Manawatu Standard 8 September 1927 Page 1
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