Editing Kate Sheppard (section)

==Early life==
[[File:Kate Sheppard Christchurch locations.jpg|thumb|right|Notable Sheppard locations:<br/>1)&nbsp;''[[Kate Sheppard National Memorial]]'' 2)&nbsp;Madras St residence 3)&nbsp;[[The Octagon, Christchurch|Trinity Church]] 4)&nbsp;[[Odeon Theatre, Christchurch|Tuam St Hall]] 5)&nbsp;Addington Cemetery]]
Kate Sheppard was born Catherine Wilson Malcolm on 10 March 1848{{efn|Malcolm in ''The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography'' (1993) said she was born "probably on 10 March 1847",{{sfn|Malcolm|1993}} and some later works have repeated that date, usually omitting the "probably". However, Devaliant 1992, p. 5, says that Kate gave her birth year as 1848.{{sfn|Devaliant|1992|p=5}} Furthermore, newspaper notices following her death on 13 July 1934, and her gravestone, record her age at death as 86, which indicates 1848 as her birth year.{{sfn|"Obituary 1934"}}{{sfn|"Deaths 1934"}} }} in [[Liverpool]], England, to Scottish parents Jemima Crawford Souter and Andrew Wilson Malcolm. Her father, born in Scotland in 1819, was described in various documents as either a lawyer, banker, brewer's clerk, or legal clerk; he married Souter in the [[Inner Hebrides]] on 14 July 1842.{{sfn|Devaliant|1992|p=5}} Catherine was named after her paternal grandmother, also Catherine Wilson Malcolm,{{sfn|Devaliant|1992|p=5}} but preferred to spell her name "Katherine" or to abbreviate it to "Kate".{{sfn|Malcolm|2013}} She had an elder sister Marie, born in Scotland, and three younger siblings – Frank, born in Birmingham, and [[Isabella May|Isabella]] and Robert, both born in London; evidently, the family moved often during that period.{{sfn|Devaliant|1992|p=5}} Details of the children's education are unknown, though Kate's later writings demonstrate extensive knowledge of science and law, indicating a strong education. She was known for her broad knowledge and intellectual ability.{{sfn|Malcolm|2013}} Her father loved music and ensured that the family had good musical training.{{sfn|Devaliant|1992|pp=5–6}}

Kate's father died in 1862,{{sfn|Malcolm|2013}} while in his early forties, but left his widow with sufficient means to provide for the family.{{sfn|Devaliant|1992|p=6}} After her father's death, Kate lived with her uncle, a minister of the [[Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900)|Free Church of Scotland]] at [[Nairn]];{{sfn|Fleischer|2014|pp= 151–154}} he, more than anyone else, instilled in her the values of [[Christian socialism]].{{sfn|Malcolm|2013}} During this time, the rest of the family stayed with relatives in [[Dublin]], where Kate later joined them.{{sfn|Devaliant|1992|p=6}}

George Beath, the future husband of Kate's sister Marie, emigrated to [[Melbourne]] in 1863, and later moved to [[Christchurch]]. After Marie joined him there, they were married in 1867, and their first child was born the following year. Marie's accounts of Christchurch motivated Jemima to move her family to New Zealand, as she was seeking better prospects for her sons' employment and wanted to see her granddaughter. They sailed on the ''[[Matoaka (1853 ship)|Matoaka]]'' from [[Gravesend]] on 12 November 1868, arriving in [[Lyttelton Harbour]] on 8 February 1869.{{sfn|Devaliant|1992|pp=6–7}}{{sfn|"Shipping"}}

[[File:Trinity Church, Christchurch, NZ (crop).jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[The Octagon, Christchurch|Trinity Congregational Church]], where Sheppard worshipped]]
In Christchurch, most of the family, including Kate, joined the [[The Octagon, Christchurch|Trinity Congregational Church]]. The minister was [[William Habens]], a graduate of the [[University of London]] who was also Classics Master at [[Christchurch West High School|Christchurch High School]].{{sfn|McKenzie|1993}}{{efn|Christchurch High School, originally Christchurch Academy, later became [[Christchurch West High School]] and is now [[Hagley College]].{{sfn|Amodeo|2006}}}} Kate became part of Christchurch's intellectual and social scenes, and spent time with Marie and George's growing family.{{sfn|Devaliant|1992|pp=8–9}}

Kate married Walter Allen Sheppard, a shop owner, at her mother's house on 21 July 1871. Walter had been elected to the [[Christchurch City Council]] in 1868, and may have impressed Kate with his knowledge of local matters. They lived on Madras Street, not far from her mother's home, and within walking distance of the city centre.{{sfn|Devaliant|1992|pp=9–10}} The Trinity Congregational Church raised funds for a new building from 1872 to 1874, and Kate was most likely involved in this. She formed a friendship with [[Alfred Saunders]], a politician and prominent [[Temperance movement in New Zealand|temperance]] activist who may have influenced her ideas on women's suffrage.{{sfn|McGibbon|1990}} Sheppard and her husband arrived in England in 1877 and spent a year there, then returned to Christchurch.{{sfn|Devaliant|1992|pp=11–12}} Their only child, Douglas, was born on 8 December 1880.{{sfn|Malcolm|2013}}

Sheppard was an active member of various Christian organisations. She taught [[Sunday school]], and in 1884 was elected secretary of the newly formed Trinity Ladies' Association, a body established to visit parishioners who did not regularly attend church services. The association also helped with fundraising and did jobs for the church such as providing morning tea. Sheppard wrote reports on the work of the association, tried to recruit new members, and worked to retain existing ones. The following year she joined the Riccarton Choral Society. Her solo in a May 1886 concert was praised in the ''[[Lyttelton Times]]''.{{sfn|"Riccarton Choral Society"}} She also served on the management committee of the [[YWCA]].{{sfn|Devaliant|1992|pp=13–16}}