Biography

Jane East (1860 – 1943)

Jane East was born as Jane Driver on 15 October, 1860 at Bendigo Flat, Stanhurst (Modern Bendigo) in Victoria, Australia. Her parents moved to Dunedin, sailing on board the ‘Bruce’ in 1863. Jane’s first marriage was to a school teacher, James Fairlie Morris, whom she married on 8 January 1878 at St. Mathew’s Anglican Church, Dunedin. Following his death in 1931, Jane married Laurence James East, a seaman and fisherman she had known for some years.

Jane had 13 children:

– Clara Daisy (born 9 September, 1878 at Purakanui School House)

– John William (born 24 October, 1879 at Purakanui School House)

– Mary Viola (born 9 August, 1881 at St. Bathans)

– Jane Cameron (born 25 March , 1884 at St, Bathans)

– James Fairlie (born 17 December , 1887, at Kyeburn Diggings)

– Maude Winifred (born January, 1887 at Kyeburn Diggings)

– Maudeline Ishtar (born 1890 at Kyeburn Diggings)

– Raymond Valentine (born 14 February, 1891 at Kyeburn Diggings)

– Colin Cameron (born 1892)

– Douglas McDonald (born 3 November, 1893)

– Winifred Grace (born 1894)

– Mignonette (born January, 1897)

-Millicent Violet (born 9 May, 1898, at Dunedin)

The father of Millicent Violet is unknown, but it is thought to have been Laurence James East, who Jane married following the death of James Fairlie Morris. Jane died in her 83rd year on 17 August, 1943, at the home of her daughter Mignonette (Mina) at 6 Baldwin Street, North East Valley, Dunedin. The cause of death is recorded as Acute Bronchitis Myocardial and Degeneration. She also suffered from Arthritis for ten years. She is buried with her parents in the Northern Cemetery.