SPENCER, Ernest Roland
Born 9 December 1889; died 18 November 1918; buried 20 November 1918; age 28
Two brothers died of the flu in Wellington within three days of each other. They were Ernest Roland SPENCER of 12 Herald Street, Berhampore and Enoch Harold SPENCER of 5 Hugh Street, Newtown. Both were admitted to Wellington College Temporary Hospital from their homes and were buried in the same plot in Karori Cemetery.
Ernest Roland Spencer was born on 9 December 1889 in Wellington, the fifth child of Enoch Spencer and Harriet HITCHENS. Harriet was born on 14 July 1862 in Wellington, daughter of Joseph Hitchens and Elizabeth BEVAN. Ernest’s father, Enoch Spencer Snr, was born on 10 March 1860 in Wellington, son of Edmund Spencer and Ann Frost SAUNDERS.
Born 9 December 1889; died 18 November 1918; buried 20 November 1918; age 28
Two brothers died of the flu in Wellington within three days of each other. They were Ernest Roland SPENCER of 12 Herald Street, Berhampore and Enoch Harold SPENCER of 5 Hugh Street, Newtown. Both were admitted to Wellington College Temporary Hospital from their homes and were buried in the same plot in Karori Cemetery.
Ernest Roland Spencer was born on 9 December 1889 in Wellington, the fifth child of Enoch Spencer and Harriet HITCHENS. Harriet was born on 14 July 1862 in Wellington, daughter of Joseph Hitchens and Elizabeth BEVAN. Ernest’s father, Enoch Spencer Snr, was born on 10 March 1860 in Wellington, son of Edmund Spencer and Ann Frost SAUNDERS.
Enoch and Harriet were married on 12 July 1882 in the Wellington Registry Office and raised a family of nine children: Enoch Harold (b1883), Alice Harriet Winifred b1884, Amelia Annie b1886, Edmond Joseph b1888, Ernest Roland b1889, Lionel Albert b1891, Ethel May b1895, Henry Gordon b1896, Leonard William Bevan b1901. In the early Electoral Rolls, Enoch was listed as a brickmaker, living at Wright Street, Mt Cook.
As the family was living in the Mt Cook suburb of Wellington, Ernest and his siblings would have attended Te Aro Infants School and later Mt Cook Infants. From there the brothers would move to the Taranaki Street Boys’ School, and the sisters to Buckle Street Girls’ School.
In the 1911 Electoral Roll for Wellington South, Ernest was living with the family at 5 Salisbury Terrace, Mt Cook and his occupation was listed as coach painter.
His future wife was Rose Mary FALLENI, daughter of Luigi Falleni and Isola GINI. Luigi and Isola came from Livorno, a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. They had a family of 22 children, of whom 17 would make it past childhood.
Luigi and Isola had arrived in New Zealand on the Waikato on 8 August 1877, as part of the Assisted Emigration into Canterbury. Luigi, a coachman, Isola and daughter Eugenie aged 3 were listed on the ship’s manifest. A number of the children born in Italy did not come out to New Zealand at this time. After the parents’ arrival in New Zealand, a further nine children were born. Rose Mary (registered as Marie Rose) was born in 1883 in Wellington.
Rose’s parents celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in Wellington in May 1933, (they were married in Leghorn, Italy in 1873). Luigi died in June 1938 and Isola died in July 1938; both are buried in Karori Cemetery.
Their daughter Rose married Ernest on 7 May 1913 at Somerset Avenue, Wellington. The following report appeared in the Evening Post on 12 May 1913:
On Wednesday afternoon, at the residence of Mr. L. Falleni, the Rev. W. Shirer officiating, Miss Rose Falleni, third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. Falleni, of Somerset Avenue, Wellington, was married to Mr. Roland Spencer, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Spencer, of this city. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming in her cream lace gown, and carried an exquisite shower bouquet. The bride's brother, Mr. L. Falleni, was best man. After the ceremony the guests were received by the bride's parents, when the usual toasts were honoured. Many useful presents were received by the bride and bridegroom.
In 1917 Ernest was listed on the New Zealand Army World War 1 Reserve Roll, living at 12 Herald Street, Wellington. His occupation was listed as a painter. However, Ernest does not seem to have seen active service.
In 1918 Ernest became unwell with influenza. He was taken from his home to Wellington College Temporary Hospital, Mt Victoria and died on 18 November. He was buried in Karori Cemetery on 20 November 1918. His brother Enoch Harold was buried in the same plot on 24 November.
The following death notice was published:
SPENCER - On the 18th November 1918, at Wellington College Hospital, Ernest Roland Spencer, beloved husband of Rose Mary Spencer, and third son of Enoch and Harriet Spencer; aged 28 years
From 1919 onwards In Memoriam notices were published in the Evening Post by immediate and extended family.
Ernest and Enoch’s Headstone reads:
In Loving Memory of Enoch Harold Spencer
Beloved husband of Ellen Spencer
died 21 Nov 1918 aged 35
'At Rest'
Albert aged 1 yr
Mary aged 4 months
Ernest Roland Spencer
beloved husband of
Rose Mary Spencer
died 18 Nov 1918 aged 29
'So loved so mourned'
Rose Mary Crawford loved wife of R.P. Crawford
and mother of Ernie Spencer died 1 Nov 1951
Rose remarried on 1 March 1930, to Robert Paul CRAWFORD at St James Church, Wellington. When she died on 1 November 1951, she was buried with Ernest in Karori Cemetery.
As the family was living in the Mt Cook suburb of Wellington, Ernest and his siblings would have attended Te Aro Infants School and later Mt Cook Infants. From there the brothers would move to the Taranaki Street Boys’ School, and the sisters to Buckle Street Girls’ School.
In the 1911 Electoral Roll for Wellington South, Ernest was living with the family at 5 Salisbury Terrace, Mt Cook and his occupation was listed as coach painter.
His future wife was Rose Mary FALLENI, daughter of Luigi Falleni and Isola GINI. Luigi and Isola came from Livorno, a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. They had a family of 22 children, of whom 17 would make it past childhood.
Luigi and Isola had arrived in New Zealand on the Waikato on 8 August 1877, as part of the Assisted Emigration into Canterbury. Luigi, a coachman, Isola and daughter Eugenie aged 3 were listed on the ship’s manifest. A number of the children born in Italy did not come out to New Zealand at this time. After the parents’ arrival in New Zealand, a further nine children were born. Rose Mary (registered as Marie Rose) was born in 1883 in Wellington.
Rose’s parents celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in Wellington in May 1933, (they were married in Leghorn, Italy in 1873). Luigi died in June 1938 and Isola died in July 1938; both are buried in Karori Cemetery.
Their daughter Rose married Ernest on 7 May 1913 at Somerset Avenue, Wellington. The following report appeared in the Evening Post on 12 May 1913:
On Wednesday afternoon, at the residence of Mr. L. Falleni, the Rev. W. Shirer officiating, Miss Rose Falleni, third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. Falleni, of Somerset Avenue, Wellington, was married to Mr. Roland Spencer, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Spencer, of this city. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming in her cream lace gown, and carried an exquisite shower bouquet. The bride's brother, Mr. L. Falleni, was best man. After the ceremony the guests were received by the bride's parents, when the usual toasts were honoured. Many useful presents were received by the bride and bridegroom.
In 1917 Ernest was listed on the New Zealand Army World War 1 Reserve Roll, living at 12 Herald Street, Wellington. His occupation was listed as a painter. However, Ernest does not seem to have seen active service.
In 1918 Ernest became unwell with influenza. He was taken from his home to Wellington College Temporary Hospital, Mt Victoria and died on 18 November. He was buried in Karori Cemetery on 20 November 1918. His brother Enoch Harold was buried in the same plot on 24 November.
The following death notice was published:
SPENCER - On the 18th November 1918, at Wellington College Hospital, Ernest Roland Spencer, beloved husband of Rose Mary Spencer, and third son of Enoch and Harriet Spencer; aged 28 years
From 1919 onwards In Memoriam notices were published in the Evening Post by immediate and extended family.
Ernest and Enoch’s Headstone reads:
In Loving Memory of Enoch Harold Spencer
Beloved husband of Ellen Spencer
died 21 Nov 1918 aged 35
'At Rest'
Albert aged 1 yr
Mary aged 4 months
Ernest Roland Spencer
beloved husband of
Rose Mary Spencer
died 18 Nov 1918 aged 29
'So loved so mourned'
Rose Mary Crawford loved wife of R.P. Crawford
and mother of Ernie Spencer died 1 Nov 1951
Rose remarried on 1 March 1930, to Robert Paul CRAWFORD at St James Church, Wellington. When she died on 1 November 1951, she was buried with Ernest in Karori Cemetery.
Ernest Spencer (seated, second from right) and his brother Enoch (standing, far left)
at a family gathering in 1905
at a family gathering in 1905
Information from Penny Holden about her great uncle. Written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC
Plot: 143
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Permission to use the photos is given by Penny Holden for the family
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC
Plot: 143
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Permission to use the photos is given by Penny Holden for the family