William Kent (1820-1890) was born 18 June 1820 in Sussex, England, to William Kent & Ann Maria Willard.

He first married Ann Hope (-1861)
children added as found
. born Chelsea, London .
* 1856 - 1878 Sarah Lydia Frost Kent

Ann died in England in 1861. William next married Mary Elizabeth Hamman (1819-1887) on 12 Feb 1864 in Brighton, England and emigrated to New Zealand shortly after

Lyttelton Times, 16 Oct 1866
Accident - Yesterday a very serious accident happened to a man named William Kent. He was engaged in painting one of the new stores in High Street, the property of Mr J. D. Macpherson and for this purpose was standing upon a ladder, about fifteen feet from the ground. By some mishap the ladder became displaced and Kent fell, sustaining sever injuries. He was conveyed to the Hospital where every attendance was shown him by Dr Prins. Last night he was in a very precarious condition.

Timaru Herald, 8 Feb 1871
Assault George Berry was charged by William Kent with assaulting him and thereby provoking a breach of the peace. Berry, in his defence, stated that he had gone to the complainant to remonstrate with him against cruelly beating his (Kent's) children, when a scuffle ensued in which the complainant fell against the verandah. Fined £2 and costs.
Provoking A Breach Of The Peace Mrs Catlow was charged by William Kent with using insulting language to him, thereby provoking a breach of the peace. This case arose out of the previous one. Adjourned by the wishes of both parties till the 14th instant.

Timaru Herald, 15 Jan 1872
Resident Magistrate's Court Timaru Annie Berry, alias Sims, was brought up charged with wilful destruction to private property, she having, the same morning, smashed the shop windows of Mr W. Kent, painter, Great South-road, doing damage estimated at £3. Prisoner pleaded guilty but said that the damage was done under provoking circumstances, the prosecutor having accused her of certain things very wrongfully.The Resident magistrate ordered her to pay £2 for the damage done and inflicted a fine of £2, or in default one month imprisonment.

Christchurch Star, 26 Feb 1876[/color
Supreme Court - re Kent The matter was for a return to a habeas corpus obtained by Kent and served on Mrs Kent, for delivery of Master Kent to his father. The matter was before the Court last Friday and was adjourned till to-day to enable Mrs Kent to be present with the boy. To-day she appeared and, after handing in a statement and repeating to the Court her many grievances, his Honor, after a short conference with the subject in dispute, allowed Mrs Kent till March 6 to file affidavits and order her to be present in Court with the boy on March 13.

Press, Christchurch, 17 March 1876
Sittings In Banco Re Writ Of Habeas Corpus and Re Edwin Charles KENT
In this case a writ of Habeas Corpus had been obtained by Mr Thomas, counsel for William Kent, calling on Mary Elizabeth Kent to bring before the Court the infant son of the said William Kent for the purpose of his being delivered over to the custody of his father. The affidavit of William Kent went to show that he married his present wife in 1863 and that the infant, the cause of the present suit, was born in 1866. For some three years, with the exception of a short period in 1875, he was living apart from his wife. In June, 1875, he brought away his son for the purpose of educating him and he lived with him in Christchurch up till the 27th January 1876, when he was taken away from his father. On February 1st the father went to Timaru, where he found the child, but he was held by main force by his wife and some other persons until the child was removed. In his affidavit the father states that it was necessary his son should be re-delivered into his possession, in order that he might be properly educated and brought up on the Protestant faith as his wife belonged to the Roman Catholic faith and would, he feared, bring up and educate his son in the tenets of that faith.
The writ of habeas corpus thereupon issued.

Mr Cowlishaw, for Mr Thomas, appeared for the father.
Mr A. Thompson for the mother.

Mr Thompson now applied for an adjournment of the case to enable him to file further affidavit in reply.
His Honor declined to allow of any further adjournment. The case had now stood over for several weeks for the convenience of Mrs Kent and unless it were now proceeded with he should cut the Gordian knot by making and order for handing over the child to the custody of the father.
The affidavits filed in the case are very voluminous on both sides. That of Mrs Kent states that at the time of her marriage to Kent, his children, by his first wife, were wholly neglected and permitted to wander about the streets and were not provided with sufficient food and clothing. That at the time of her marriage Kent and his family were all members of the Roman Catholic Church and that he had frequently informed her that he was firmly established in the tenets of the Church and that it was his desire that any child or children born of their marriage should be brought up in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church. That Kent had not for many years attended any place of public worship[ and had returned himself in the census as of no religion. That from the birth of the said infant, Kent had evinced towards him feelings of dislike and had treated him with harshness and unkindness. That from the time of his marriage up to the present time Kent had neglected his wife and children and left them destitute of food and clothing while able to provide for them and that from April 1873 to May 1875 Kent deserted her and his family, never contributing towards their support, leaving her to support the younger children by his first marriage and also the infant, the subject of these proceedings. That on his return Kent took away the younger children by his first wife and the infant aforesaid against her will and also sold all her furniture and effects. That she believed that Kent did not remove the said infant for the purpose of educating him, but the the purpose of causing her pain. That while the said infant was with Kent in Christchurch she was informed that he was utterly uncared for and in the most miserable and indigent condition and was also treated by the said Kent and the woman with whom he resided with the utmost barbarity and that she requested his aunt to take him away from his father and send him to her at Timaru, which was done, and that when he arrived he was in a most loathsome condition, being without clothes and very dirty. That the said infant has always evinced symptoms of great fear of Kent and that the stat of his health was such that he required to be treated with the greatest care and tenderness and that she believed if he was given up to his father the consequence would be that he would die from ill treatment and neglect or that he would grow up as a vagrant. Affidavits in support of these statements were filed from E. M. Turner, M. A. Bidmead and H. E. Kent.
The answering affidavit filed by Kent denied that he had ever neglected his children, or failed to provide them with food and clothing and a good education. For the past twelve years he had never belonged in any way to the Church of Rome and had determined from what he had seen therein that no more of his children should be brought up in that faith. He had frequently attended churches of various Protestant denominations, though he had not formally joined any one. He entirely denied having treated the said infant, or any of his children, with harshness or unkindness, or having deserted or failed to maintain his wife and family. When he left them in 1873 he left a four-roomed cottage, well furnished, with two acres of land, part of which was in cultivation as a market garden, six tons of hay, six head of cattle, two goats and a number of fowls. ducks &c; that his two sons, who were living with his wife, were receiving wages in the aggregate over £1 10s per week and that he was never applied to for help during his absence. The reason why he had brought his children to Christchurch, including the said infant, was to have then educated and that the said infant had always been sent both to day and Sunday school. That the said infant always seemed fond of him and never wished to go away and he verily believed if he were not handed over to him he would suffer both physically and morally and lose what little knowledge he had attained, as his wife would not permit him to go to school.

In support of this affidavit there were affidavits from Mrs Laine, a daughter by his first wife, denying the cruelty to his fire wife and children; from Mrs Flindell and Mr Sopp, the schoolmaster of St Luke's school, who spoke of the boy's progress at the school and as to the health and tidiness of the infant and his fear of his mother and from Mesdames Flindell, O'Keefe, Leake and Ausley as to his health and general good appearance while with his father in Christchurch.

Mrs Kent now appeared in obedience to the writ and produced the child, entering into a long explanation of the circumstances of the case.
His Honor said that the affidavits filed by Mrs Kent did not show a prima facie case for retaining the custody of the child and were contradicted by the affidavits of independent witnesses. There was no doubt whatever that the father by law was entitled to the custody of the child unless the Court saw that the child would be morally contaminated, or was in danger of life or person. The affidavits of Mrs Kent stated that the child had been ill-treated and neglected by his father, but there was ample evidence that this was greatly exaggerated. Even if the court were to rely on the affidavits of Mrs Kent - evidently exaggerated and possibly false - it could not give the mother the custody of the child. The Court was not to judge of sentimental matters as to where the mother or father deserved most sympathy; all it had to do was to see whether the father was not a fit and proper person to have the custody of his children. This the affidavits before the Court did not sufficiently establish; hence the Court had no alternative but to order the child to be given up to the custody of his father.
Mrs Kent said that she would not care so much so long as the child was brought up in the faith she belong to.
His Honor said this was a matter quite outside the jurisdiction or province of the Court. The law of England and of her colonies, in its anxiety to preserve the liberty of conscience, did not interfere with the right of any one to choose any form of faith then might think fit. Mr Kent had been a Protestant, had then become a Roman Catholic and his children had been baptised in that faith, but he had now declared himself a Protestant and wished to have his child brought up in that faith. This he had a perfect right to do if he thought proper and the law could in no way interfere with him. After reading the affidavits and hearing Mrs Kent, the order would be that the custody of the child be given to his father.
. Order accordingly.
Mr Cowlishaw said that the father was quite willing to allow the mother access at all reasonable times to the child; even to allow her to take him away for a day or two at a time, provided she gave an undertaking to return the child.

And now comes the worst part of the whole proceedings. The father and son walked out of Court, hand in hand, but in a second afterwards the boy made a clean bolt and has never since been heard of. An advertisement has appeared from Kent's counsel giving notice that whereas an order was made in the Supreme Court on Thursday the 16th instant, that a child named Edwin Charles Kent should be delivered into the custody of his father, William Kent and the child disappeared immediately after the order was made and cannot be found that anyone detaining the child will be liable to be prosecuted. The child is about 10 years old and 3ft 6in high, has fair hari and very pale complexion. When last seen, was dressed in a light grey tweed suit and was wearing a light-coloured soft felt hat. The next move, I presume, will be for the Minister of Justice to offer a considerable reward and this not having the desired effect, I have no doubt that search warrants will be issued right and left and I would not mind betting that I could lay my hands on him the very first shot. But the arrangements for spiriting the child away must have been very adroitly managed.

Globe, 21 March 1876
. TAKE NOTICE . Whereas an Order was made in the Supreme Court on Thursday, the 16th Instant, that a child named EDWIN CHARLES KENT should be delivered into the custody of his Father, WILLIAM KENT, and the child disappeared immediately after the order was made and cannot be found, anyone Detaining The Child, will be liable to be Prosecuted under the Offences Against the Person Act, 1867, sec. 53. The child is about ten years old and three feet six inches high, has fair hair and very pale complexion. When last seen was dressed in a light grey tweed suit and was wearing a light colored soft felt hat. Richard Thomas, Solicitor for the said William Kent, Christchurch, March 18th, 1876
NOTE son Edwin Charles Kent was born 22 Feb 1866 in NZ. He married Frances Helena Way on 12 Sep 1887 in New Plymouth. Their son, Edwin Charles Kent was born in Christchurch on 24 March 1888 and lived for 3 days. The death of Edwin & Frances not found in NZ

Press, 3 July 1876
Subscription List in favor of Mr W. Kent, Painter, who has been put to very heavy expenses in the Supreme Court, endeavoring to obtain the legal custody of his child. As the expenses have pressed very heavily upon him, the following amounts are subscribed in order to help him pay the pecuniary responsibilities he has incurred. Subscription will be thankfully received and acknowledged by the undersigned:- Mr Hugh Bennetts, Auctioneer, Christchurch; Mr Edmund Ford, Cooper, Cambridge terrace; Mr James Carter, Carrier, Carter's lane; Mr Johnson, Grocer, corner of Kilmore street, near Colombo bridge.

Christchurch Star, 15 Feb 1877
Magistrate Court Wm. Kent was summoned for having obstructed the footpath in Cashel street, by standing a pair of steps thereon while painting a verandah, but as it appeared that the time for which a permit had been granted by the Council to use the steps had only just expired when the cause of action arose, the case was dismissed.

Press, 11 July 1877
If this should Meet the Eye of Wm. Kent, son of Wm. Kent, Painter, Christchurch, who is seriously ill, please write to your father, Manchester street, Christchurch, Anyone knowing his address will do a great kindness by sending it to the address named - Wm. Kent

Lyttelton Times, 19 Feb 1878
In Bankruptcy In the Supreme Court of New Zealand, Canterbury District. In the matter of the Debtors and Creditors Act 1876 and of the bankruptcy of William Kent of Christchurch, painter, a debtor. Notice is hereby given that the creditors having failed to elect a creditors trustee, I have, pursuant to section 46 of the said Act, appointed Frederick William Thiel, of Christchurch, a certified accountant in banruptcy, to be the creditors trustee in the said estate and that the said Frederick William Thiel has in writing signified his acceptance of such trusteeship.

William & Ann's daughter Sarah died in Christchurch
Lyttelton Times, 22 Aug 1878
KENT - August 21, at Christchurch, Sarah Lydia Frost Kent; daughter of William Kent, South Town Belt, aged 20 years and 11 months
The Friends of Mr William Kent are respectfully informed that the Funeral of his late daughter, Sarah Lydia, will leave his residence, South Town Belt, on Sunday, at half-past 2 p.m.

Lyttelton Times, 3 Sep 1878
In Bankruptcy In the Supreme Court of New Zealand, Canterbury District. In the matter of the Debtors and Creditors Act 1876 and of the bankruptcy of William Kent of Christchurch, painter, a debtor. Notice is hereby given that at the request of William Clifford, a proved creditor of the above-named debtor, I do hereby in pursuance of Section 52 of the said Act, appoint Thursday next, the 5th day of September, at the hour of 11 o'clock in the forenoon, at the Supreme Court-house, Christchurch, as the time and place for holding a meeting of the creditors of the above-named debtor for the purpose of electing a creditors Trustee in the place of Frederick William Thiel, deceased. Dated this 29th day of August 1878. D. De C. Madet, Registrar.

Christchurch Star, 24 July 1880
Benefit Concert - In connection with one of the Good Templar Lodges, a benefit concert is being arranged to take place in the Oddfellows Hall on Thursday, August 12, for the benefit of Bro W. Kent, who for some time past has been very ill and has been ordered to go to the North Island. The Committee who have the matter in hand have been promised the services of some 20 ladies and gentlemen.

Taranaki Herald, 5 June 1883
Sub Division of Section - The Land Board received an application was received from W. Kent requesting to be allowed to sub-divide section 30, block 5, Ngaire - It was decided that the subdivision could only be made on completion of the purchase

Ngaire, 25 Sep 1883 Meeting of Ratepayers
The annual meeting of ratepayers in the Ngaire Road Board district was held at Mr Leech's residence yesterday. There was only one ratepayer present, however, besides the members of the road board.
extracts only - full article . Mr Kent wanted to know why the amount of the working expenses of the board had not been published in the balance sheet. No one could tell how much it cost to work the board. The clerk passed the ledger over to Mr Kent for his inspection. Mr Kent refused to look at it .. Mr Kent brought up the subject of a pound at Ngaire which he contended was much wanted .. They found that to do the work resolved on by the board it would be necessary to incur an expenditure of about £80 in excess of the amount authorised by Government. Member had been asked whether they would approve of such a step and with one exception they had assented. Mr Kent had said that he should not agree to it .. A 'warm' discussion occurred between the clerk and Mr Kent as to what had been said .. Mr Kent said he objected to being 'made out a liar' ..

Christchurch Star, 23 Oct 1885
NORMANBY, Taranaki William Kent, late of Christchurch, is seriously ill with a severe attack of bronchitis.

South Canterbury Times, 10 Aug 1886
Raffle By permission of the Hon. Colonial Secretary. A beautiful illustrated Bible will be raffled on Friday, the 13th August 1886, in the Catholic Girls School at 4 p.m. Proceeds to be given to the support of Mrs Kent, Timaru.
* The results being that Mrs Jeremiah Kelly won the Bible and the sum of £10 14s was forwarded to Mrs Kent (Aug 2014 equivalent of $1910)

Ballarat Star, Victoria, 24 Dec 1887
Discovery Of A Dead Woman. It was reported to the St. Kilda police on Thursday afternoon, the 22nd, by residents of Balaclava that an old woman named Mary Elizabeth Kent, 60 years of age (should be 68), had not been seen by anyone for several weeks. On removing the blinds of one of the windows of the house which she had occupied Senior constable McEvoy saw the dead body of the woman in a kneeling position by the side of a stretcher, the only furniture in the house. Her hands, which clasped a rosary, as if she had been in the act of prayer, were folded and the body partly undressed. The body was much decomposed, death having apparently taken place about 12 days ago. No food was found in the house, nor were there any signs of struggling. The deceased took the house in July last from Mr Kelly of High street, under the name of Mary Hamman and had paid rent up to 28th November. When the collector called later on he got no reply to his repeated knocks. In a portmanteau were papers showing that her maiden name was Mary Hamman, that she was married to William Kent, at Brighton, England, on the 12th February, 1864 and obtained a protection order in February 1873 at Timaru, N.Z. A purse containing 11s 1d., and a will bequeathing her property to H. E. Kent of Timaru, with a small annuity to the Roman Catholic bishop of that diocese, were also found in her possession.

Taranaki Herald, 4 Jan 1888
Disappearance Mrs Kent, who led a secluded life in Sandytown disappeared suddenly and no trace of her whereabouts could be found. The local police have all along been making vigorous enquiries, but no record could be found by them. Mrs Kent's son only as recently as this morning made enquiries at the Police Station if any intimation had been received in reference to her unsatisfactory disappearance.

Temuka leader, 5 Jan 1888
Mystery Solved A few weeks ago a local appeared in these columns stating that Detective Kirby was in Geraldine making enquiries about an old lady named Mrs Kent, who had left her home in Sandietown, Timaru, some months previously without leaving any clue as to her destination. The detective's inquiries in this and other quarters were unsuccessful and at last it was concluded that Mrs Kent had left the colony for the Old Country as a steamer bound thither left about the time of her disappearance. All doubts to the fate of Mrs Kent is now wet at rest by the following extract from the Melbourne Catholic Advocate, which was handed to the Timaru mail by Father Foley:-
The discovery by the Melbourne police recently of the dead body of an old woman named Mary Elizabeth Kent, who was found in a kneeling position by her bedside in a house at Balaclava, has cleared up a mystery which has been exercising the people of Timaru. The old woman lived a very secluded life near Timaru, but she suddenly disappeared, over 12 months ago, and no trace of her could be found. As she had a son in the North Island, it was thought she might have joined him, When the son recently returned, and his mother could not be found, suspicion was aroused that the old woman had met with foul play, and the search was renewed, but nothing to throw any light on her disappearance was found until news was received of her death at Balaclava.

Otago Witness, 13 Jan 1888
The Timaru Mystery. Affair Cleared Up A short time ago (says the Timaru correspondent of the Christchurch Press), I telegraphed you that an elderly woman named Kent, who led a somewhat secluded life in Sandytown, disappeared suddenly and no trace of her whereabouts could be found. The local police have all along been making vigorous inquiries, but no record could be found by them. Mrs Kent's son only as recently as Wednesday morning made inquiries at the police station if any intimation had been received in reference to her unsatisfactory disappearance, However, the following clipping placed at my disposal by Father Foley, of Timaru, clears up the mystery .. repeat of above clipping

Christchurch Star, 5 Dec 1888
Accident - William Kent, late of Christchurch, met with an accident on Monday, at Ngaire Stratford, New Plymourh

Taranaki Herald, 17 July 1890
Hospital and Charitable Aid Board - The Rev. J. McIntosh wrote, asking that the maintenance on account of W. Kent, of Ngaire, be struck out - The Board held the matter over for consideration.

William Kent died 13 Aug 1890 in Stratford, New Plymouth aged 70. He is buried in the Pioneer cemetery.

Taranaki Herald, 29 Aug 1890
Stratford and Ngaire There is rather a grim joke going about in regard to the deceased of Mr Kent, of Ngaire. It appears that Sergeant Bissett was up on the previous day delivering accounts to various persons upon whom the Charitable Aid Board had a claim and in the course of the day waited upon Mr Kent with an account for £35 (equivalent in Aug 2014 to $6,720). He found the deceased apparently strong and able to enter into a long conversation, although evidently greatly put out and concerned at the claim made against him. On the following morning, however, the Sergeant was astonished to hear that Mr Kent was dead and it is now going the rounds that the worthy Sergeant must have frightened him to death.

Taranaki Herald, 15 Oct 1890
re William Kent, deceased All persons having claims against the Estate of William Kent, late of Ngaire, painter, are requested to send particulars to the undersigned and all persons indebted to the Estate are requested to pay the amount due to - R. Clinton Hughes, Solicitor for the Executors; George Calder and Elizabeth McGregor


NOTE If you can add more please leave in comments, eg:
* Where was Ann buried? Her children?
* Who were the other children of William & Mary Elizabeth?