RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: johnbarr on Sunday 04 September 22 02:47 BST (UK)
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I would be grateful for some help tracing the birth of this man, Rubinstein Wells.
He married Annie Maud Duncan in 1914 and they had two children. He married Elizabeth Mooney in 1941. He died 9 Jul 1973 in Auckland. I have plenty of records to confirm those details but nothing to confirm his birth.
His WW1 NZ Service Records show his birth as 16 (or 18) August 1891 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia but I cannot find any matching birth at https://www.nsw.gov.au.
Some trees at Ancestry show his parents as Alban Douglas Wells 1857-1932 and Agnes Spensley 1859-1942 but all of that couple's other children were born in NZ, including Hector Valentine Wells born here 14 Feb 1890. I cannot see any record of this family travelling to Sydney and then returning to NZ around that time.
Any suggestions welcome !!
Thanks
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What information do you see on his 1914 marriage certificate?
His age - Parent's names. etc.
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Thanks Neale,
I thought I would try here before purchasing marriage or death certs. in case I'd missed something obvious.
but that will be my next step if no luck here.
8)
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Hi John
Guess you've probably already seen this marriage notice ??
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19141219.2.33
~ Lu
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Thanks for that Lu - I had missed it!!
Seems to confirm an Agnes was his mother.
:D
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Hi John
A divorce here ... in 1894 ... for his parents ?? Father : Allan Douglas WELLS (rather than "Alban").
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search#/item/aims-archive/R20367841/wells%2C-agnes-v-wells%2C-allan-douglas
~ Lu
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BDM NZ marriage
1914/4940 Rubinstein MILLS marr. Annie Maud DUNCAN
BDM NZ birth
1916/1848 WELLS John Chrystie parents Annie Maud / Rubinstein
1917/13251 WELLS Mary Lorraine parents Annie Maud / Rubinstein
also -
1888/9997 WELLS Harry Chrystie parents Agnes / Alban Douglas
1882/2683 WELLS Alban Douglas marr. SPENSLEY Agnes
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Well spotted, Lu.
That would explain why the marriage notice showed him as 'son of Mrs Agnes'.
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... a snippet about the divorce 1894 >
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS18940827.2.41
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Thanks wivenhoe.
As mentioned in original post, all those records already viewed, but they do not help
::)
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Thanks again Lu.
I like the expression "various irregularities of conduct on his part"
;D 8)
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There is an Alban D WELLS in the 1891 census on Edgecliffe Rd, Sydney. There are 4 males and 4 females in the household.
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Ancestry All New Zealand, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920
records for Rubinstein WELLS born NSW Australia with birthplace of mother and father.
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Thanks maddys52, that's really interesting.
I found the image, but what a shame they do not give any names for the other seven occupants !!!
???
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Unfortunately that's the Australian census!
There is also this item in June 1891 - not quite sure what it means - A D WELLS (NZ) ironmonger, importing 20 cs nails. Fits with his occupation in NZ
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157370456 (2nd column)
Modified to add:
Also in trouble for behaving riotously in 1892
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113758749
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Ancestry All New Zealand, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920
records for Rubinstein WELLS born NSW Australia with birthplace of mother and father.
Thanks again, I'd looked for his parents names on that Attestation but overlooked their place of birth ::)
That fits for Alban (England) and Agnes (Australia) being his parents.
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Not sure if this is Seems to be the father in NZ - Canterbury address - in 1890 ??
1890 - Canterbury - Heathcote roll
WELLS - Allan Douglas - Wilson's Road - ironmonger (Residential qualification)
and ... in Wellington - 1899 Wellington Roll
WELLS - Allan Douglas - Nairn Street - occ: ironmonger
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Thanks Lu and maddys52.
Yes Alban is shown as an ironmonger on several records.
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Modified to add:
Also in trouble for behaving riotously in 1892
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113758749
Well that confirms he was still in Sydney March 1892.
There should be a passenger record of Agnes returning to NZ with an infant before her divorce in 1894 ???
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There are a few other mentions of "A D WELLS" on trove, possibly your man.
In relation to a Druids Picnic in 1893:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13888864 (3rd column near the bottom)
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113733635
A prize at an agricultural show for lead headed nails in 1893
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162196461 (near the end)
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Looking at the Sydney Sands Directory, there are entries for A D WELLS in 1892 at 8 Elizabeth St, Paddington ; and in 1893 both at the Elizabeth St address and at Old South Head Rd, Waverley. I can't see any entries after this time.
There is also an item on trove for the A D WELLS of Elizabeth St - helping at an accident site in 1891.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228182982
These addresses, and the Edgecliffe Rd one are all in the same general area of Sydney.