WATTS, Elsie Irene
Born 1893; died 3 December 1918; buried 4 December 1918; age 25
Elsie was born to Edward John WOOLLEY, a carpenter born around 1864 and his wife Jane Caroline Woolley née Witcombe (born in Queensland, Australia). The couple married in Queensland on 20 April 1885 where they had three daughters and three sons, of whom Elsie was the second-born daughter. Her siblings included Ethel May born in 1889, Edward Douglas born in 1891 (died 1893), Leslie William born in 1895, Mertle Ruby (known as Myrtle in New Zealand) born in 1897 and Cecil Thomas born in 1899.
By 1903 the family had moved to New Zealand where Elsie, Leslie, and Myrtle were enrolled on 28 July of that year at Te Aro School, their previous school being West Ipswich in Queensland. The family settled in Newtown where the children were transferred for their schooling.
The 1911 Wellington South electoral roll shows the family living at 4 Seddon Terrace in Newtown, an area where worker’s dwellings had been built under a government housing scheme known as ‘the Coromandel Street Settlement’. But the following year on 1 October, when Elsie’s father went to work for a short time in Mangatoki, South Taranaki, her mother, Jane left the family home and her marriage. By 1914 both Elsie and her mother Jane were living at 309 the Terrace in central Wellington.
Born 1893; died 3 December 1918; buried 4 December 1918; age 25
Elsie was born to Edward John WOOLLEY, a carpenter born around 1864 and his wife Jane Caroline Woolley née Witcombe (born in Queensland, Australia). The couple married in Queensland on 20 April 1885 where they had three daughters and three sons, of whom Elsie was the second-born daughter. Her siblings included Ethel May born in 1889, Edward Douglas born in 1891 (died 1893), Leslie William born in 1895, Mertle Ruby (known as Myrtle in New Zealand) born in 1897 and Cecil Thomas born in 1899.
By 1903 the family had moved to New Zealand where Elsie, Leslie, and Myrtle were enrolled on 28 July of that year at Te Aro School, their previous school being West Ipswich in Queensland. The family settled in Newtown where the children were transferred for their schooling.
The 1911 Wellington South electoral roll shows the family living at 4 Seddon Terrace in Newtown, an area where worker’s dwellings had been built under a government housing scheme known as ‘the Coromandel Street Settlement’. But the following year on 1 October, when Elsie’s father went to work for a short time in Mangatoki, South Taranaki, her mother, Jane left the family home and her marriage. By 1914 both Elsie and her mother Jane were living at 309 the Terrace in central Wellington.
Happier times are also recorded in the press (Evening Post 22 February 1911) on the occasion of the Woolley’s eldest daughter, Ethel, marrying Frederick Johnson of Ngaio at the Berhampore Baptist Church a week earlier. Elsie and her sister Myrtle acted as bridesmaids and the best man for this occasion was Elsie’s future husband, Edward Henry WATTS whom Elsie married in 1917.
Edward Watts worked as a book keeper, living from 1911 to 1919 in Motueka Street, Crofton Downs, Ngaio according to electoral rolls. On the World War I reserve roll for 1916/17 first division, his occupation was described as ‘accountant’.
When she got sick with influenza, however, 25-year-old Elsie was resident in Main Road, Ngaio, where she died on 3 December. She had given birth to a daughter just 4 days earlier. It is unclear whether her child survived; there is no death or burial record yet available online for the infant.
Elsie was buried in the Public 2 section of Karori Cemetery the next day, and according to a notice in the Evening Post on 4 December her funeral procession was scheduled to leave the Watts family home, Main Road, Ngaio, at 4.00pm.
Notice of her death was placed in the Evening Post on 7 December:
WATTS.- On December 3, 1918, at her late residence, Main Road Ngaio, Elsie Irene, the beloved wife of E. H. Watts. "A woman pure and sweet."
On her headstone the following is inscribed:
Edward Watts worked as a book keeper, living from 1911 to 1919 in Motueka Street, Crofton Downs, Ngaio according to electoral rolls. On the World War I reserve roll for 1916/17 first division, his occupation was described as ‘accountant’.
When she got sick with influenza, however, 25-year-old Elsie was resident in Main Road, Ngaio, where she died on 3 December. She had given birth to a daughter just 4 days earlier. It is unclear whether her child survived; there is no death or burial record yet available online for the infant.
Elsie was buried in the Public 2 section of Karori Cemetery the next day, and according to a notice in the Evening Post on 4 December her funeral procession was scheduled to leave the Watts family home, Main Road, Ngaio, at 4.00pm.
Notice of her death was placed in the Evening Post on 7 December:
WATTS.- On December 3, 1918, at her late residence, Main Road Ngaio, Elsie Irene, the beloved wife of E. H. Watts. "A woman pure and sweet."
On her headstone the following is inscribed:
In Fond Remembrance
Of
Elsie Irene,
Beloved wife of
Edward Watts
Entered Into Rest 3rd Dec. 1918
Aged 23 Years
“A Woman Sweet and Pure”
“Until the Day Break”
Of
Elsie Irene,
Beloved wife of
Edward Watts
Entered Into Rest 3rd Dec. 1918
Aged 23 Years
“A Woman Sweet and Pure”
“Until the Day Break”
Memorial notices for Elsie were placed in the Evening Post for many years after she died, for example in 1924, 1934 and 1936. These refer to her being loved by all who knew her.
Elsie’s parents’ relationship continued to decline after her death. The Dominion newspaper of 28 May 1919 reported that Elsie’s father Edward had ‘had to return to Wellington and take possession of the house because his wife had left the place.’ Divorce was not finalised until 1919 after Jane had repeatedly demonstrated an absolute unwillingness to return or to have more to do with Edward Woolley.
In 1920 Edward Watts married again, to Annie Baden BENNETT. They continued to live in Ngaio and were resident in Heke Street in that suburb in 1928. It was from this address that Edward purchased Elsie’s burial plot around December 1923.
Elsie’s father was buried in in another part of the Public 2 section of Karori Cemetery when he died in 1930, and someone paid for a headstone with the following inscription:
Elsie’s parents’ relationship continued to decline after her death. The Dominion newspaper of 28 May 1919 reported that Elsie’s father Edward had ‘had to return to Wellington and take possession of the house because his wife had left the place.’ Divorce was not finalised until 1919 after Jane had repeatedly demonstrated an absolute unwillingness to return or to have more to do with Edward Woolley.
In 1920 Edward Watts married again, to Annie Baden BENNETT. They continued to live in Ngaio and were resident in Heke Street in that suburb in 1928. It was from this address that Edward purchased Elsie’s burial plot around December 1923.
Elsie’s father was buried in in another part of the Public 2 section of Karori Cemetery when he died in 1930, and someone paid for a headstone with the following inscription:
‘In loving memory of
Edward John Woolley
who died 13 March 1930
aged 66 years.
“Peace perfect peace”.
Edward John Woolley
who died 13 March 1930
aged 66 years.
“Peace perfect peace”.
Elsie’s mother was also cremated at Karori when she died in 1943 and Elsie’s brother, Leslie Woolley was buried in a soldier’s grave (a Great War veteran and RSA secretary) when he died in 1950. His wife Elizabeth Maude was also cremated at Karori in 1970.
Researched and written by Jenny Robertson
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 298 J
Researched and written by Jenny Robertson
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 298 J