Thomas William Josiah Chandler, born ~1852 in Jersey, UK and Ellen (nee Munday)born ~1856, Durham, Eng, were married at St Andrews church Christchurch New Zealand, aged 25 & 21 on the 27th Aug 1877. T W J Chandler's occupation is listed as Grocer.
Their first child was born 4th Sept 1878 and baptised William Arthur Chandler, but on the 20th Nov they registered a child, born on the 4th Sept, as Henry Arthur Chandler. This child was reg as being born at Glen Tui, Rangiora, New Zealand.
They had, that we know of, 3 more children,
Thomas Joshua 6th June 1880.
Clara Constance 27th July 1881.
Ellen Gertrude 6th May 1883.

There are 'Insolvency' and 'Bankrupt' notices in the CHCH press for T W Chandler 1879 & 1880. Store keeper at Waikari.

My Great Grandfather was William Chandler. His mother was Nellie Chandler and he had two sisters younger than him named Clara Mary and Ellen. They had been deserted by their father who they named on their marriage cert. as William or Thomas Chandler.

The first definite record we have of William was his 'arrest' in Wellington 1888, aged 8.

Evening Post 5/1/1888
'William Chandler, the child who has been under the care of the police since New Years Day, was today committed to St Mary's Industrial School, Nelson, by Mr Wardell Esq. Despite full inquiries made by police they failed to find the boys mother, though she is well known to authorities and although she was seen on the street immediately before the youngster was arrested.'

His mother is named as Nellie and she said that Williams father had left the colony.

From 'Papers Past' in June 1888, another Chandler descendant has found a report of the arrest of a Thomas Chandler at Dannevirke on a charge of deserting his wife and three children. He was returned to Wellington and placed before the court, agreeing to pay towards the maintenance of his family. His occupation is given as an Expressman (Horse and Cart Delivery Contractor) of English Descent. If this was their father it was too late for William and the girls. The Warrant(Police Gazette)had been issued on 15 November 1887, just before William had been taken off the street.
Interestingly Thomas William Josiah Chandler is listed on the 1890 Census as living in Bute Street, Wellington, occupation Carter. There is no mention of his wife and family.

The girls went to an orphanage in Wellington.
We believe this to be the same family but wonder what happened to little Thomas Joshua?
Also found in 'Papers Past' (but with no proof of connection to any one)
A Mr Chandler in court (Rangiora) for Wife Desertion, May 1881. (just a couple of months before Claras birth date.)
Passenger list for Ship 'Mawheru' arriving in Wellington with a Mrs Chandler and Children (3) listed as cabin passengers July 1884.
Also a death in Wellington for a Nellie Chandler (1893)who died of 'Delirium Tremens' and Pneumonia there is no 'next of kin' listed. Her age is given as 30 and she is buried in Karori Cemetery. Could this have been Williams mother? If it was Ellen Munday she would have been 37, but without 'next of kin' did they just guess an age?
It doesn't help that our Clara and Ellen had different names for their father on their marriage certs, one saying her father was William and the other said Thomas. Both said they were born in Wellington but again they were very young when they went to the orphanage and may not have know where they were born.

Our William ran away from the Industrial School more than once and ended up in Marlborough. He worked on Hastilows farm (Tua Marina) was a Logger at Onamaluto, served in the Boer war, then became a butcher at Renwick.
His army records, for the Boer War, name a Mary Chandler as next of kin, possibly it was Clara Mary Chandler.
He played cricket for Tua Marina. W. Chandler is also mentioned in running races but there is another family of Chandlers, with a William, who lived in the same area so it's difficult to tell which was which.
William married Eliza Ann Thompson of Grovetown, Marlborough. They had 5 children, 1 died as a baby.
William died aged 35, at Renwick, having accidentally shot himself while climbing through a fence. He was returning home from killing a pig for the butchery.
After his death Eliza moved back to Grovetown and worked as a dressmaker.