Rudman, Annie, 1844-1928

Robertson, Annie, 1844-1928

Salvation Army officer, social worker. Born in Hertfordshire in 1844. Her mother died when she was 2 and her father, David Robertson remarried in 1847 and brought his wife, Mary Walker, and family to Wellington in the `Alma' arriving in 1857. Her father was sexton of Sydney Street cemetery (later renamed Bolton Street Cemetery) for 30 years until his death in 1887. Just before her 21st birthday Annie married Henry Rudman, a tanner (he died in 1916). She enlisted in the Salvation Army and was the first soldier on the roll of the Wellington City Corps. During the depression of the 1880s Annie and another Wellington salvationist, Mrs Hawker, opened their homes to women earning a living from prostitution. Annie and Mrs Hawker also gave shelter to unmarried expectant mothers, this service being a forerunner to the Army's Bethany hospitals. To commemorate Annie Rudman's contribution to social work the Salvation Army men's hostel at 37 Vivian Street was in 1964 renamed Rudman House. See DNZB (Vol 2, 1870-1900, p431, R29)