Robert Fawcett (1854 - 1901)

Born 29 Jun 1854 in Governors Bay, Canterbury, New Zealand

Husband of Louisa Emily Ann (Richards) Skene — married 10 Jan 1887 (to 23 Nov 1901) in New Zealand

Died 23 Nov 1901 at age 47 in Auckland, New Zealand

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Biography

Robert was born in Governor's Bay on the 29 June 1854. He is the second child of Peter Fawcett and Jane Clanney. As with nearly all of Peter and Jane Fawcett's children, his birth was not registered. He was baptized by W W Willock, the vicar of St Cuthbert's Church, at the Fawcett home on the 8 July 1855. The sponsors were James Nelson, Jane Anne Nelson, and William Fawcett. ^[1]

Robert married Elizabeth Mercer on the 9 January 1877.^[2]

There were no children born to this marriage.

Nine years later he sued her for divorce on the grounds of adultery.

DIVORCE CASE

At the Supreme Court, Auckland, to-day, the divorce case, Robert Fawcett Elizabeth Fawcett, respondent, and William Edward Downey, co-respondent, came on for hearing. Fawcett deposed that he was married on the 9th of January 1877, and cohabited with his wife near Oxford up to the 5th of October, up to which time he had no reason to suspect her. Saw her off to Auckland at that date, where she was going to stay with her sister, and he received a letter from Downey, stockman on the station, on the 10th of October. He (Downey) had been living a little over two years in their house. He left the day before Mrs Fawcett. He said he was going to Auckland, and then from there North. Asserted that he was living with his wife. Never observed any familiarity between his wife and co-respondent. Hugh Campbell testified to seeing an act of adultery between Mrs Fawcett and correspondent in Mr Fawcett's house one morning. Margaret Costelo, employed at Wynyard House during October last, as waitress, deposed that Downey and Mrs Fawcett stopped at Wynyard House at the beginning of October. They stayed in the same bedroom. His Honour granted a decree nisi, with costs against the correspondent. ^[3]

His second marriage was to Louisa Emily Ann Richards on the 10 January 1887.^[4]

Four children were born to Robert and Louisa - Robert, Alice, William, and Mary.

In 1891 he became a hotel keeper, taking over the license of the Anchor Hotel. ^[5] In 1896 the license of the Anchor Hotel was handed over to Samuel McPherson and Robert took over the Naval and Family Hotel.^[6] In1901 the license of the Naval and Family Hotel was handed over to David Norden. ^[7]

Perhaps he had to give up the license because of illness, because he died four months later on the 23 November 1901. ^[8]

FAWCETT - On November 23, 1901, at his late residence. Karangahape Road, Robert, dearly-beloved husband of Louisa Fawcett, aged 46 years. The funeral will leave the above for Otahuhu to-day (Monday), at 2 p.m. ^[9]

FAWCETT - On November 23rd, at "Verona," Karangahape road, Auckland, Robert, second son of the late Peter Fawcett, of Ashburton, and brother to C. E. Fawcett, Wellington. ^[10]

Research

1. Robert is buried in the Otahuhu Cemetery. These records are held at the Auckland Library, but are not available at the moment. (11 November 2022)

Sources

1. ↑ Transcriptions from Baptismal Register, St Cuthbert's Anglican Church, Governors Bay, Held by Christchurch Library
2. ↑ New Zealand Births Deaths and Marriages, https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/, accessed 29 November 2020, Marriage registration 1877/113 for Elizabeth Mercer and Robert Fawcett
3. ↑ Divorce Case, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18860522.2.12, Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2164, 22 May 1886, Page 2
4. ↑ New Zealand Births Deaths and Marriages, https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/, accessed 29 November 2020, Marriage registration 1887/2486 for Louisa Emily Annie Richards and Robert Fawcett
5. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18911203.2.39, Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 287, 3 December 1891, Page 5
6. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18960303.2.23, New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10069, 3 March 1896, Page 4
7. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19010904.2.62, New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11750, 4 September 1901, Page 6
8. ↑ New Zealand Births Deaths and Marriages, https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/, accessed 11 November 2022, Death registration 1901/5779 for Robert Fawcett, age 46
9. ↑ Deaths, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19011125.2.2.1, New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11820, 25 November 1901, Page 1
10. ↑ Death, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM19011128.2.15, New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4525, 28 November 1901, Page 4