Jane Masterton (1840-1901)

New Zealand Pioneer and Women's Suffragist

Jane Masterton, wife of William Coats, was a political activist in Otago, New Zealand during and after the campaign for Votes for Women, granted in 1893.

Genealogy

Jane Masterton was the second child of John Masterton and Elizabeth Dickson of Kirkliston, Midlothian, Scotland. She married William Coats, pattern maker, in 1862, and they emigrated to New Zealand a few years later. Jane is a member of the large connected family of Mastertons that flourished in the Cramond area. Fuller details of the extended family of Jane Masterton are given in the following link:

Otago Witness

Among the first, if not the first, nomination of a parliamentary candidate in the British dominions by a lady was that of Mr Hutchison, Dunedin. We observe that Wellington has since followed, Sir Robert Stout having three, lady nominators. The name of the Dunedin lady is Mrs Jane Coats, Castle street, Dunedin.

Otago Witness
page 15
23 November 1893

A Political Address. The Hon. R. J. Seddon (Premier) addressed a public meeting at Messrs Weight, Stephenson, and Co.'s saleyards, in Maclaggau street, on Friday night. Mr H. Gourley (mayor-elect) presided, and there were fully 4000 persons present. Some hundreds were also unable to gain admission. As soon as the Premier had made his way to the platform through the large crowd, Mrs Hatton (president of the Women's Franchise League) handed the chairman a written address. The following was the text of the address, with the signatures:— To the Hon J.E. Seddon, Premier of New Zealand. Hon. Sir, — We, the undersigned members of the executive of the Women's Franchise League, would take this opportunity of publicly thanking you, and the Government of which you are the head, and for placing the women of New Zealand in the proud position they now occupy as the possessors of political freedom. We would publicly place on record our recognition of the great service you have rendered to the women of the colony in passing measures for the protection of young girls by raising the age of consent in 1895 from 13 to 15, and in 1836 from 15 to 16 years. We rejoice to know that the trend of legislation proposed by your Government is in that direction of removing social and political disabilities from women ; that you have expressed yourself in favour of women being paid the same wages as men for work equally well done ; and that the Law Practitioners Bill — a bill giving to women the opportunity of practising law — has now been placed upon the statute Book. We would also respectfully suggest that the domestic servants half-holiday should be made statutory during the first session... As the traffic in strong drink seriously offsets the well-being of all classes of the community, more especially our women, we would urge the reintroduction of the Liquor Bill as it left the House of Representatives last session, and that the influence of the Government be used to make , it law as soon after the meeting of Parliament as possible.

Marion Hatton, President.
Jane Coats, Treasurer
Ann Ansell, Secretary
Margaret Mason
Elizabeth Miller
Jane Adams
Mary Trainor
Members Jessie Pinkerton
Lillian Millar
Mary Alexander
Maria Powell

Otago Witness
page 54
3 December 1896

At the nomination of candidates to fill an extraordinary vacancy in the North-East Valley Council, held last week, Elizabeth Chaplin was nominated by Jane Coats and Hugh Gourley.

Otago Witness
page 43
7 December 1899

DEATHS. COATS.— On the 22nd September, at her residence, Castle street, Jane, the beloved wife of William Coats in her sixty-second year. Deeply regretted.

Otago Witness
page 43
25 September 1901