written for lawrie2 and lawrie2

William Walter WALLIS (1852-1903) was born 8 Dec 1852 in Wallingford, Berkshire, England
He married in Milton, Otago, at the Milton Manse on 11 Oct 1875 to: Mary Christina WELLS (1852-1935)
WILLIAM's TIMELINE
1861 - was enumerated on the UK census of 1861 in Dorchester, Oxfordshire, England
1875 - was a hotel waiter at Otago, South Island, New ZealandG
1890 - was a surfaceman at Glenore, Otago, South Island, New ZealandG5
1896 - was a surfaceman at Glenore, Otago, South Island, New ZealandG5
1900 - was a miner at Milton, Otago
* 18 Sep 1900 - William Walter Wallis was committed to the 'Seacliff' Mental Asylum. On 11 July 1903 he was confined to bed and died 6 Sep 1903 aged 50 (see notes below)

MARY's TIMELINE
Mary was born in Nelson, Marlborough, first of 5 children (4 in NZ, 5th born 1865 in Hobart but died in Dunedin) to Robert Alfred WELLS (1811-1866) from Oulton, Norfolk & his second wife Christina HUGHAN (1828-1870), from Kirkmabrack, Kirkcudbright, Scotland, who married 9 Feb 1855 in Melbourne
* On 15 Oct 1834, Robert Wells was tried in Norfolk, England for stealing a horse. He was found guilty and sentenced to Life imprisonment. On 21 April 1835 he boarded the convict transport ship, the Mangles in London along with 309 other prisoners for a 102 day voyage to Australia. The Mangles was built in Calcutta, Bengal in 1802. It was used in trade with China until it became a convict transport ship. The ship arrived at Van Diemer’s Land, Australia on 1 Aug 1835.
The log of convicts transported on this voyage gave the following information... Robert was convict number 1936, his height was 5’6¼”, age 24, his trade was that of a plowman (reap, mow and stack thatch), he was tried in Norfolk on 15 Oct 1834 and was given a life sentence. His native place (N.P.) was Olton (Oulton), he was married, Presbyterian religion and could read but not write. (his first wife was Elizabeth Blogg. They married 13 Nov 1833 in Blickling, Norfolk)
The next page of the log stated that his wife Elizabeth lived at Blickland (Blickling), near native place, that his father George at native place (Oulton) was a farm laborer. He had two brothers, George and Samuel and three sisters, Sophia, Diana and Elizabeth, all at home. He last lived at native place.
Robert received a Ticket of Leave on 24 May 1844 and was recommended for a conditional pardon on 23 Dec 1845.
* Robert & Christina emigrated to NZ two months after their marriage, on 13 April 1855, on board the "Spray" from Melbourne. Christina's parents, Gordon Hugh (1804-1881), Post Master at Taieri beach & Mary Marie (nee McNay 1797-1873) and seven siblings also immigrated to NZ, from Melbourne, 28 Nov 1855 on board the "Gil Blas" (written Highan). Robert and Christina settled in Nelson where three of their five children were born. Mary Christina (1857-1935), Annie Elizabeth (1859-1951) & Diana (1860-1860 aged 7 weeks). Robert Alfred Wells (1863-1950) was born in Taieri beach, Otago and John Hughan Wells (1865-1939) was born in Australia and died in Dunedin
In the 1860's Robert, Christina and their children then moved to Taieri Beach which was a small isolated farming settlement on the East Coast of the South Island. There Robert, who was commonly called "Rabbie", worked as a farm hand. This farm was successively owned by Richard Stoddart, John Hall and then James and Samuel Fairbairn. Robbie erected a little wattle and daub hut on the North West corner for his family. Christina had two more children by this time, Annie Elizabeth and Robert Alfred.
* A story that Robert Wells told the locals at Taieri Beach was that he was a "ticket of leave man". This was a document given to Australian convicts when granting them freedom to work and live within a given district of the colony before their sentence expired or they were pardoned. On being asked what he was transported for, he would reply "It was for taking a piece of rope - but it had a horse on the end of it". Convicts could leave the colonies after their sentences were completed or after being granted an Absolute Pardon.
Robert and Christina went back to Tasmania sometime after 1863. Their last son John was born there in 1865.
Around 1866 Robert went out one evening and never returned; foul play was suspected. After her husband disappeared, Christina was left with a young family to raise so her mother Mary Marie Hughan (1797-1873) and her brothers Thomas and William made arrangements for her to return to NZ to live at Taieri Beach. It appears that Christina may have traveled back on the ship "Albion" on 13 Nov 1866. It left Hobsons Bay, Melbourne and arrived in Otago. Christina died aged 43 on 11 Sep 1870 in Dunedin. She is buried Southern Cemetery Dunedin. Her mother Mary looked after her children before she passed away 3 years later on 17 Dec 1873 ... Bruce Herald, 30 Dec 1873 DEATH, McKay(sic) - At West Taieri, on the 17th instant, Mary McKay, wife of Gordon Hughan, aged 75 years
* Mary Christina Wallis was living in Foxton in 1917. She died 28 Dec 1935 at Home of Compassion, Paremata and buried Karori, Wellington

the known children of William & Mary:
(born in Glenore), Milton, some sources say they only had 12 children)

... 1
17 Nov 1876 - 1966 William Walter Wallis
William married Jane Paxton Milne BOWIE (1878-1952) in 1899
the known 7 children of William & Jane:
1900 - Mary Buchann Wallis
1902 - William George Wallis
1903 - Percival James Wallis
1906 - Hazel Irene Wallis
1908 - Walter Bowie Wallis
1910 - Harold Stanley Wallis
1913 - Doreen Mabel Wallis
William next married Mary ?
they had a son:
1923 - William Walter Wallis
William snr died aged 89

... 2
30 March 1878 - 1977 James Wallis
James married Janet ALLAN (1881-1954) in Christchurch in 1910
the known children of James & Janet:
? - ? Esmay Wallis
12 May 1923 - 2002 Betty Allan Wallis
- Betty married ? WAUGH
James died aged 99 in Papanui, Christchurch

... 3
11 Oct 1879 - 1939 Grace Paulina Wallis
Grace had a daughter Annie Christina Wallis (1895-1970)
Grace married Edwin Herbert BIDDELL in 1907
Grace died age 59 on 3 July 1939 in Woollahra, Sydney

... 4
17 Feb 1881 - 5 March 1882 Beatrice Maude Wallis
Beatrice died aged 13 months

... 5
29 Dec 1882 - 1906 Letitia Bessie Wallis
Letitia married John KERR in 1905
- they had a son:
25 Jan 1906 - 13 Feb 1906 John Kerr
- Letitia died aged 23 on 9 Feb 1905, 15 days after the birth and baby John died 4 days after her, aged 3 weeks

... 6
16 Nov 1883 - 1947 Joseph Albert Wallis
born the day before, 7 years later, as brother William Walter
Joseph married Grace Adelaide LEAN on 8 April 1903 in Port Chalmers, Dunedin
the known children of Joseph & Grace:
1902 - Laura Mary Wallis
1903 - William James Wallis
- William married Myrtle Minnie MARTIN in 1927
1907 - Alfred Joseph Wallis
1912 - Ernest Frederick Wallis
1914 - Neville Clarence Wallis
- Joseph & Grace divorced
Joseph next married to Ruby Winifred HARRISON in Dunedin in 1925
Joseph died aged 63

... 7
9 Dec 1885 - 1969 John Alexander 'Jack' Wallis
John married Jane Graham IRVINE (1890-1940) in 1919
John died aged 75

... 8
29 Dec 1887 - ? Maud Mary Wallis
born same day, 6 years later, as sister Letitia
- nothing known about Maud

... 9
30 Oct 1889 - 1980 Frederick 'Fred' Cyril Wallis
Frederick married Eva Elizabeth SINCLAIR (1899-1923) in 1921
Frederick next married Annie Elspeth WELLS (1900-1996) 27 Dec 1926 in Christchurch
the known children of Fred & Annie:
Doreen Margaret Wallis
Janetta 'Jackie' Wallis
Jillian Wallis
Shirley Wallis
Fred died aged 90

... 10
9 March 1892 - 1988 Christina Annie 'Dolly' Wallis
Christina married William Edward COLEY (1884-1965) in 1908
the known children of Christina & William:
1909 - Cecil william Coley
1911 - Harold Edward Coley
- Christina died aged 96

... 11
30 April 1894 - 1960 Bertie Gerald Wallis
Bertie married Una Mildred OAKENFULL (1898-1918) in 1917
- Una died 4 April 1918 aged 20 (possibly child birth ?)
Bertie next married Edith Annie GIBSON (1908-1983) in 1930
Bertie died aged 65 on 15 April 1960, 2 weeks from his 66th birthday
- his wife Edith Annie died 9 April 1983 aged 74 (please note that the cemetery database has her age as 82. This is a birth year of 1901. She was born 11 June 1908 to Joshua & Annie Gibson)
they are buried Paraparaumu Beach, Plot 23 + 24 Cem block U, Area Monumental Beam.
Bertie died 16 April 1960 in Paraparaumu
NOTE message from s wallis 28 Nov 2011:
Bertie was a WW1 soldier
- occupation Grocers assistant
- residence Avenue Road, Greenmeadows, Napier
- Elec. Roll 1928 Sponge Bay, Wainui (Gisborne), gardener
- Elec. Roll 1957 Frederick Street, Paraparaumu Beach, retired. Others living at Frederick st, Audrey Nanette, Leon Gerald & Edith Annie (Wife)

... 12
10 Nov 1896 - 1964 Harold George Wallis
Harold married Eileen SYMONDS on 12 April 1922 in Levin
the known children of Harold & Eileen:
1925 - Patricia Wallis
1927 - Terence Arthur Wallis
1928 - Harold William Wallis
1935 - Valerie Anne Wallis
1937 - Trevor Wallis
1941 - Colleen Maude Wallis
1944 - Charles Edward Wallis
Harold died aged 67

... 13
1 Feb 1898 - 1974 Percival Stanley 'Percy' Wallis
Percy married Margaret Ann METCALF (1900-1983) in 1925
the known children of Percy & Margaret
1926 - Margaret Wallis
1927 - 2015 Rita Mary Wallis
? - ? Stanley Wallis
Percival died 18 Nov 1974 aged 76 in Auckland


NOTES
6 Sep 1903 - BRUCE HERALD
WALLIS - On the 6th of September, William Walter Wallis, miner, the beloved husband of Mary Wallis; aged 50 years. Deeply regretted.

6th Sep 1904 OTAGO WITNESS
WALLIS - In fond and loving remembrance of my dear husband, William Walter Wallis, who died at Seacliff, September 6, 1903; in his fifty-first year.
Farewell, my husband dear, farewell;
Adieu to thee, adieu.
And you, my dearly loved ones all,
Farewell, farewell to you.

Dearest father, thou hast left us,
We thy loss most deeply feel;
But 'tis God Who hath bereft us;
He can all our sorrows heal.
- Inserted by his sorrowing wife and family

PHOTO
SEACLIFF LUNATIC ASYLUM in 1884
It was later said of the building, and its (forlorn) location, that: "The Victorians might not have wanted their lunatics living with them, but they liked to house them grandly"