Robert Henry Furness (1857-1906)
was the 8th of 11 children of Smith Furness, who was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1824 and drowned in the Nelson Harbour in 1884 and of Mary PATTERSON who was born in London in 1823 and died in Palmerston North in 1902
- Robert married Elizabeth Martha ASHBRIDGE (1859-1949) St Peter's, Wellington in 1881
Robert was on the Wellington City Council
ROBERT HENRY Furness died in Wellington 1 July 1906 aged 49
- he is buried Plot 59K, CH ENG at Karori
ELIZABETH MARTHA Furness died 12 June 1949 aged 90
- her ashes were interred with Robert at Karori

their children were:
* 1882 - 1946 Edmund Earl Furness
- Edmund married Blanche Louisa URWIN (1881-1932) in Wellington 22 July 1906
daughter of Alfred Adolphus Thomas URWIN & Eliza Harriet PARSONS
Evening Post 7 April 1906 A pretty wedding was celebrated on Wednesday afternoon, 28th March, at St Peter's Church, the contracting parties being Mr Edmund Earl Furness, of the staff of the Wellington Harbour Board, and only son of Mr R. H. Furness, of Adelaide-road, and Miss Blanche Urwin, fifth daughter of Mr T. A. Urwin, of Pirie-street. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev G. P. Davys, and was witnessed by a large gathering of relatives and friends. The bride was attended by Miss Furness (sister of the bridegroom) and Miss Gladys MacKay, and her two little nieces, Miss Esme Urwin and Miss Zita Casey. She wore a handsome gown of white louisine silk, elegantly trimmed with old lace and passementeric trimming with a handsome collar of pearls. The elder bridesmaids were attired in cream dresses and floral hats, and the little ones looked charming in white silk Empire frocks and Victoria bonnets. After the ceremony a reception was held at the residence of the bride's parents, "Glenlora", Pirie-street, and the numerous guests were entertained in the evening at the Foresters' Hall.
The honeymoon is being spent in the Auckland district
Dominion, 27 February 1914 Edmund Earl Furness petitioned for a dissolution of his marriage with Blanche Lawson(sic) Furness on the ground of misconduct. The co-respondent named was Leonard Cooke, bank clerk, now in West Australia
* Blanche next married in 1921 to Charles James GERARD
* Blanche next married in 1926 to William PIRIE
EDMUND next married Kathleen Eva BRIGHT (1888-1973) in 1923
daughter of William Charles BRIGHT & Mary MULVIHILL
Evening Post, 7 April 1923 FURNESS-BRIGHT - On the 7th April, 1923, at Kent Terrace Church, by the Rev J. Baird, B.A., Edmund Earl Furness, son of Mrs Furness, and the late R. H. Furness, to Kathleen Eva Bright, daughter of Mrs M. Bright and the late Mr W. Bright, of Westport

* 1885 - 1961 Mabel Susan Furness
- Mabel married James Scott CONNELL (1878-1946) in 1910 & divorced in 1928
stepson of Peter CONNELL (1837-1922 born Lasswade, Edinburgh, arrived from Mull of Cantire into Dunedin in March 1861 on the 'Arima', died Moxham Ave., Kilbirnie, Wellington) & Jane CONNELL (1842-1923 born Wellington, died Wellington). James Scott Connell was for a time the Postmaster at Courtney Place, Wellington

see also: the FURNESS on PECK of Taita