Birth of Rubinstein Wells abt. 1891 ?

[johnbarr]

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

[Neale1961]

What information do you see on his 1914 marriage certificate?
His age - Parent's names. etc.

[johnbarr]

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.

 

[Lucy2]

Hi John

Guess you've probably already seen this marriage notice ??

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19141219.2.33

    ~  Lu

[johnbarr]

Thanks for that Lu - I had missed it!!

Seems to confirm an Agnes was his mother.
 

[Lucy2]

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

[wivenhoe]

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   

[johnbarr]

Well spotted, Lu.

That would explain why the marriage notice showed him as 'son of Mrs Agnes'.

[Lucy2]

... a snippet about the divorce 1894 >

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS18940827.2.41