Mary Rolleston

Elizabeth Mary Rolleston (30 March 1845 – 4 June 1940), known as Mary Rolleston, was a New Zealand homemaker, political hostess and community leader.

Mary Rolleston
Rolleston in 1900
Born	Elizabeth Mary Brittan 30 March 1845 Castleton, Dorset, England
Died	4 June 1940(1940-06-04) (aged 95) Christchurch, New Zealand
Known for	political hostess community leader

She was born Elizabeth Mary Brittan in Castleton, Dorset, England in 1845. Her parents were Joseph Brittan, a surgeon and newspaper proprietor, and Elizabeth Mary Brittan (née Chandler). She had five siblings, two of whom died in infancy and a fortnight after the birth and then death of the last child in 1849, her mother herself died.^[1] The surviving siblings were Joseph (Joe), Arthur, and Frances (Frank).^[2][3][4] She attended Mrs Thomson's School for Young Ladies in Christchurch.^[5]

Mary Brittan married William Rolleston on 24 May 1865 at Holy Trinity Avonside. She died in Christchurch on 4 June 1940.