Sarah Arabella (Hedley) Welch (1835 - 1904)

Born 14 Jul 1835 in Woolwich, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Wife of William Read Welch Jr — married 9 Oct 1856 in Christ Church, Taita, Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 15 Aug 1904 at age 69 in Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand

Biography

Sarah (Hedley) Welch was born in England.

Sarah Arabella was born on 14 July 1835 at Woolwich, Kent, England^[1], and baptised on 2 October at Saint Mary Magdalene, Woolwich. She was the daughter of George Hedley and Ann Ridley.

Sarah (Hedley) Welch migrated from United Kingdom to New Zealand.

It is possible that she emigrated to Sydney, New South Wales before 1841 and was educated there. She emigrated to New Zealand (still trying to find the ship), possibly in 1851 as she had lived five years in the Hutt when she married.

She married William Read Welch on 9 October 1856^[2] (the intention to marry was dated 6 October^[3]) at Christ Church, Taita. They had nine children.

1. William Edward (1857 - 1933)
2. George Henry (1859 - 1906)
3. Arthur Wellesley (1862 - 1871)
4. Laura Ann (1864 - 1903)
5. Frederick Percy (1866 - 1932)
6. Ernest Alfred (1867 - 1935)
7. Maurice Whitewood (1970 -1950)
8. Arabella (1871-1928)
9. Ada (1874 - 1931)

Sarah was an woman of great fortitude who contributed much to the community in Taita^[4]. She led the Sewing Union, which was the main source of funds for Christ Church, Taita. She had the misfortune to lose her son Arthur in 1871 when he was killed by a horse while staying in the Wairarapa. Then her mother-in-law Ann Welch died in 1879, and her husband William became mentally unwell. He committed suicide in 1881. She continued to live in Laurel Hall and looked after her father-in-law William and her children. When her daughters died, she took in her grandchildren.

Sarah (Hedley) Welch signed the 1893 Women's Suffrage Petition

Sarah signed the 1893 Women's Suffrage petition as S.A. Welch of Taita^[5]. She was listed on the 1893 Otaki Electoral Roll as a widow living at Taita^[6]. Her children Arabella, Frederick Percy a farmer and Maurice Whitewood also a farmer, all in Taita, were listed on the same roll. She was still there in 1902, but now on the Hutt Electoral Roll^[7].

Sarah died on 15 August 1904 aged 69 years^[8]. She was buried at Christ Church Cemetery, Taita^[9].

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JMWR-3WY : 21 March 2020), Sarah Arabella Hedley, 1835. Accessed 21 Nov 2020
2. ↑ New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (Digital Database), Department of Internal Affairs Marriage Registration. Accessed 21 Nov 2020

   1856/1946Bride=Sarah Arabella Hedley Groom=William Read Welch DOM=09/10/1856

3. ↑ Intention to Marry Notice – Archives NZ Reference BDM 20/1/1 – Microfilm R6906 No.70

   Married 06 Oct 1856 at the Episcopalian Church Taita known as Christ Church by Rev Thomas Biddulph Hutton and others

   William Read Welch, bachelor, farmer, aged 25yrs, resident at the Hutt for about 16yrs

   Sarah Arabella Hedley, spinster, daughter of George Hedley, aged 21yrs, resident with her father at the Hutt for about five years

   Date of Certificate: 06 Oct 1856

4. ↑ Erwin, Miles H. Guardian of the Valley. Aotearoa New Zealand: Steele Roberts, 2004
5. ↑ Women’s Suffrage Petition Accessed 7 Jul 2020

   Surname: Welch Given names: S. A.

   Given address: Taita Sheet No: 422

   Town/Suburb: Taita City/Region: Wellington region

6. ↑ Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853–1981. Auckland, New Zealand: BAB microfilming. Microfiche publication, 4032 fiche. District: Otaki. Year: 1893. Accessed 2 Mar 2023
   • View free Ancestry Sharing Link

   Name: Sarah Arabella Welch; Electoral Year: 1893; Residence Place: Taita, New Zealand; District: Otaki; Region or Province: Wellington; Manawatu-Wanganui.

7. ↑ Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853–1981. Auckland, New Zealand: BAB microfilming. Microfiche publication, 4032 fiche. District: Hutt. Year: 1902. Accessed 2 Mar 2023
   • View free Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1836 #29726520 (accessed 2 March 2023)
     
   Name: Sarah Arabella Welch; Electoral Year: 1902; Residence Place: Taita, New Zealand; District: Hutt; Region or Province: Wellington.
8. ↑ New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (Digital Database), Department of Internal Affairs Death Registration. Accessed 21 Nov 2020

   1904/4831 Welch, Sarah Arabella Age=69Y DOD=15/08/1904

9. ↑ "BillionGraves Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDL-1JV1 : 27 June 2019), Sarah Arabella Hedley Welch, died 17 Aug 1904; citing BillionGraves (http://www.billiongraves.com : 2012), Burial at Christ Church Cemetery Taita, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. Accessed 21 Nov 2020

• Frost Family Tree

Acknowledgements

• Information from research undertaken by Jean Dickson
• Biography written by Margaret Bailey Allison