Robert Rice - who is he? *COMPLETED*

[kiwi jeanie]

Hi everyone - I am looking for some help here re my GGrandfather Robert Rice - who is he?!?! He married Jennette 'Janet' Edith Louisa Bradford on 18 Jan 1879 in Greytown, Wairarapa - no details except his occupation is a painter. They moved to Wellington at some stage as there are references to them living there in Papers Past - the marriage was very temptestuous and there are quite a few articles in the newspaper!! Accordingly to BDM NZ they had 6 children. (Janet Rice the daughter is my GGrandmother). Janet the mother remarried to Arthur Grant Kirkwood in 1921, and her marriage cert says that she was widowed on 21 November 1901. There is no reference in NZ BDM to any death that year, I ordered the NZ BDM death cert for the Robert Rice who died in 1895 but he is a farmer in Akaroa so not him. Janet lived in Woolwich, London at the 1871 census although she was only 11. Both her parents (William and Elizabeth) died before 1881 - her younger sisters (Charlotte, Mary and Helen) have gone into service at the 1881 census. There is a Robert Rice (soldier) living in Woolwich at the 1871 census and I'm wondering if they came to NZ together - she was only 18 when she got married, or perhaps she came to NZ with her older siblings - Elizabeth and William. Any help greatly appreciated .. I don't know what to do next!! 

[Lucy2]

Hi Gina

Mmm ... no, there doesn't appear to be a death in New Zealand for your Robert RICE.   

What we need to establish now though, is Robert's place of birth and the year.   Of course those details aren't shown on an 1879 NZ marriage certificate, but they will be recorded on the birth certificates for his children. 
(Just the one birth printout, for one child, is all that is  needed.   )

~   Lu

[Lucy2]

 Accordingly to BDM NZ they had 6 children. (Janet Rice the daughter is my GGrandmother).

Hi again

Yes, six children (1879 - Robert Henry RICE /  1882 - William Arthur  /  1884 - Mabel Mary /  1885 - Alfred Alexander /  1888 - Jennette Edith Louisa /  1890 - Susan Maud :

But did you notice these two other children on the birth index. ??

1896 - RICE - Joseph Reginald
Mother :   Janet Edith Louisa
Father :  N/R  (name not recorded)

and   ...

1903 - RICE - Doreen May
Mother :   Janet Edith Louisa
Father  :   Joseph  ??

[Lucy2]

Sadly, three of the children died as infants.   

RICE - William Arthur - aged 7 weeks (age from BDM site)
Buried :   16 October 1882
C of E Section - Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington


RICE - Alfred Alexander - aged 6 months
Buried :  7 January 1886
Cof E Section - Bolton Street Cemetery


RICE - Joseph Reginald - aged 10 months (age from BDM site)
Buried :  24 December 1896  (Death registered 1897)
Karori Cemetery, Wellington
Roman Catholic Section - Plot  1  I

Buried with her son Joseph, is Janet Edith Louisa KIRKWOOD
- 3 January 1936 - aged 74 years.

Cemetery record search at  >>  click on "Online Services"

http://www.wellington.govt.nz/

     

[Lucy2]

 Janet lived in Woolwich, London at the 1871 census although she was only 11.

 There is a Robert Rice (soldier) living in Woolwich at the 1871 census and I'm wondering if they came to NZ together - she was only 18 when she got married, or perhaps she came to NZ with her older siblings - Elizabeth and William.

Hi Gina  ... a few more snippets for you.

Seems this might be Janet's arrival in New Zealand ?

BRADFORD - Janet - age 19 - of Kent - Occ. Housemaid

Vessel :  "Rakaia" - arrived Wellington - 8 October 1878

From FREE BMD (UK)

BIRTHS - Jan - 1860

BRADFORD - Janet Edith Louisa
Registered :    Dover (Kent)

[Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889. ]

~  Lu 

[Lucy2]

... and a few more. 

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz

"Evening Post" - 4 June 1940 - Deaths

Notice for Robert RICE - s/o late Mrs J.E.L. KIRKWOOD and brother of Mabel, Janet, Maud and Dorrie. 
(I assume "Dorrie" is the child Doreen, born in 1903 ? )
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Evening Post"  - 7 February 1922 - Magistrate's Court

Janet KIRKWOOD granted a separation from her husband ...

[Lucy2]

Hi Gina

I wondered whether you had checked any electoral rolls for Robert RICE ?

Somebody on here may be able to assist with a lookup of the CD for the years 1893 / 1896 ?

The PapersPast articles make for interesting (though very sad) reading. 

Perhaps the 1886 item is significant (where Janet states she believes her husband is about to desert her) ??
Although obviously he stayed on for a while longer, with 2 further children being born.

In 1891 there's an accident reported on a ship at Wellington which concerns a Robert RICE who is hospitalised. ??
A little difficult to know whether this is you man.

~  Lu

[Lucy2]

... just these too (though maybe you've already spotted them) ?   

"Evening Post" - 11 October 1883 - page 3 / column 1

Bankruptcy Notice - Robert RICE - of Wellington, labourer.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Evening Post" - 25 February 1893 - page 4 / column 2

Advertisment:   Mrs RICE has started in the crockery and furniture business.
Mrs Janette RICE and Co. - next to the White Swan Hotel, Cuba Street.

[kiwi jeanie]

Lu - you are AMAZING!! Can't wait to go through it all when I have a moment - it is my son's birthday tomorrow so I have lots to do today!!