In Celebration of "International Midwives Day", Tuesday , 5 May 2020

Brief history of some of Otautau & Districts earliest and most interesting midwives...



1. Biddy McCoy or McLoy (nee Clerkin)
In 1847, Mary Anne (or Biddy) as she was known, was tried and convicted at 19 of stealing a goose, in Ireland; this was during the years of the great famine, where 2 million starved to death. She was then transported to Tasmania to serve a 7 year sentence.

© Artists impression of Biddy McCoy/McLoy, from her criminal records description; used with permission from family

After marrying John McLoy, also a convict and him going missing after arriving in NZ (presumed drowned), Biddy had to fend for herself in the strange new land she had adopted, and ended up becoming very well known as the keeper of the Gropers Bush Hotel (just south of Otautau), from about 1857. Biddy was well known to be an expert sportswoman, with both a knife and a gun. She seems a real character and this is probably what got her through the tough times. In 1870, after being tried (but not convicted), of attempting to poison her latter partner, she worked as a nurse and midwife in Wairio and Wrey’s Bush areas. She died in 1905, aged 77.

© Photo of Biddy's Grave at Wrey's Bush, kindly donated by family members & descendants, used with permission

 If you are interested in the story of Biddy McCoy/McLoy, you can read more about her, elsewhere on our blog: https://otautaumuseumcollectionsandarchives.blogspot.com/2019/03/biddy-mccoy-nz-woman-of-wild-west.html



2.Margaret McIvor
(nee Cameron)

Margaret left Scotland with her family at 15. The ship they came on caught fire on approach to Melbourne. She spent a few years in Australia, before coming to NZ straight after marrying Roderick McIvor in 1868. They eventually settled in Otautau, and had 10 children together, with 1 adopted.

Above photo from Otautau Museum Collections #2012.24 donated by a family member
- Public Domain   

Mrs McIvor at this point was the only nurse for the whole area. Just as well she was a fantastic horsewoman and very healthy, as she used to be up by 3 or 4am and off on her horse to tend to the sick and settlers wives "in the family way". It was nothing for her to ride 10-15 miles in the dark, across wide expanses of the local tussock grassed wilderness.


Above advertisement from 1906: Mrs R McIvor - registered ladies nurse in the WSTAR 11th Sept.
(Accessed from https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers)

A licensed "ladies nurse" was a polite euphemism for Midwife. It is believed Margaret had make changes to fit within the new NZ legislation, from 1 Jan 1906:

“Since the first of this month any woman who is not registered under the Midwives Act will render herself liable to a fine not exceeding £20 if she practises as a midwife or takes or uses the name “midwife”.”
- as reported in the Southern Cross Newspaper on 13 Jan 1906

Margaret, or Mrs R. McIvor as she was known, lived a great life helping others, dying after a long illness in 1915.





3. Priscilla Holt
(nee Dimmock)
Priscilla married one of our most enduring and endearing citizens, 'Harry' Holt, in 1872. The reason “The Rec” grounds were renamed Holt Park, is this wonderful couple gifted a sum of money for the  ongoing upkeep/development.

After working for others and living on farms during their early married life, Priscilla was very fortunate to end up living in a house in early Otautau - described in history books as having ‘palatial proportions’ for the time.


Above Photo from Otautau Museum Collecion, #2010.18 of  Priscilla & Harry Holt - Public Domain

For the next 20 years, Priscilla spent her time as a very capable nurse for the sick and expectant mothers, often riding her horse all over the district to care for them. She was a very good horsewoman.

Priscilla did not have any children, but she gave of her life to others and they were thankful for it. She was said to have been very sympathetic, caring, a very generous benefactor to the local Anglican Church and all that it did in the community; she was loved by all. Priscilla died aged 83,
after having good health most of her life.


4. Jessie Edwards "Sister" (or Jess)

Miss J., or Jess Edwards, worked at the nursing home which serviced a great deal of the local area. She has bought new babies into the world over many decades. Jess was employed to be the Sister-In-Charge at Otautau Maternity Hospital in Harbison Street.
The Baby Book that Sister Edwards entered all the children
that were born under her care into. This photo was
kindly given to us by one of the mum's.
© Used with permission from donor

Sister Edwards at her 80th Birthday. This photo has
been kindly donated to us
by someone who was there
on this special day. © Used
with permission from donor


 



 


 

Her whole life was dedicated to the cause of lovingly tending the mum’s and babies, so when Jess retired into Invercargill in 1977, it ended up forcing the closure of the local maternity hospital. But along the way, the ever indomitable presence of “Sister” Edwards prevailed; she liked everyone in their proper place! Many people have a story about her and while some of the local girls who were training confessed to being a little in awe of her, and some mums had found her a little scary, they all agreed that she had a heart of gold.





Compiled by Suzie Best - Researcher/Historian, ph: 027-211-4675 with some family information helpfully and thankfully provided by descendants of family. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ All the content in the blog is Copyright: Photos - as stipulated; those from Ōtautau Museum and Heritage Trust (contact on: otautau.museum@gmail.com)Research/text - to the author in the form it is in, unless stipulated otherwise (contact on: riverstream@xtra.co.nz)

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