William (Ratt) Wratt (abt. 1826 - 1897)

Born about 1826 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Chrissina (Gray) Wratt — married 21 Aug 1847 in Nelson, New Zealand

Husband of Margaret (Bird) Wratt — married 25 May 1885 in Nelson, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 8 Jun 1897 at about age 71 in Spring Grove, Nelson, New Zealand

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Biography

William was born about 1826.^[1] He is the son of George Ratt and Jane Bacon.

In 1841 William, with his father, stepmother Sarah and siblings, boarded the ship "Clifford" at Gravesend for New Zealand. They arrived in Nelson in 1842.^[2]

In 1847, William married Chrissina Gray at Nelson.^[3] Chrissina died in 1880.

In 1885, William married Margaret Bird.^[4]

William died in 1891 at his residence, Spring Grove, aged 71 years^[5] and was buried at St John's Church, Wakefield.^[6]

Funeral of an Old Settler.— The funeral of the late Mr William Wratt, of Spring Grove, which took place on Friday last, was one of the largest yet seen in the Waitneas, and bore abundant testimony to the esteem in which the deceased was held by his fellow settlers —indeed, it is said that Mr Wratt was a man who had not made a single enemy. In the procession, which was about a quarter of a mile in length, were included a number who had journeyed from town and from far away as Motueka to pay a last mark of respect to a friend. Messrs Stuart, George, Henry, and William, sons of the deceased, and other members of the family were present. The burial took place in St. John's Churchyard, Wakefield, the Rev. C. W. Jennings officiating. We are glad to learn that Mrs Wratt has somewhat recovered from her serious condition of a few days hence.^[7]

Family Name

The last name of the father of the family, George was officially Ratt and all his children were registered as such including those born in New Zealand. The family was listed as Ratt in the passenger lists when they emigrated to New Zealand. From about 1850 members of the family began to spell the name as Wratt and later marriages and deaths were registered in the name Wratt.

Probate report shows both Ratt and Wratt were used "Probate.— ln Chambers on Thursday last before H. W. Robinson Esq., Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr Fell moved for and obtained probate of the will of William Ratt (sometimes erroneously called William Wratt) late of Spring Grove, deceased, to John Stuart Ratt and Edwin Arnold, two of the executors named in the will"^[8]

Research Notes

8 children are recorded in BDM in the years 1848 (George), 1850 (NR), 1852 (NR), 1854 (NR), 1856 (NR), 1857 (NR), 1860 (Elizabeth Hannah) and 1864 (William John). Chris Arnold in his Ancestry tree puts the children as: George, William, Sarah Ann, John Stewart, Emma Lousia, Henry Baly, Elizabeth Hannah and William John as well as Mary-Jane born 1847

1841 Census ^[9] has George Wratt (41-45) no transcribed birthplace, Sarah (36-40), George (20-24), William (15-19), Hannah (13), Julia (11), John (7), Jane (4) all born in Nottinghamshire. Residence was Fink Hill Street, St Nicholas, Nottinghamshire, England

Sources

1. ↑ Inferred from age at various times including 1841 census, and date of death.
2. ↑ Migration • New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973 "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973", , FamilySearch, Entry for William Ratt, 1842.
3. ↑ Curnow, Elsie S. The Wratt Race: from Rutlandshire, England through Nottingham to New Zealand. Nelson, New Zealand: Elsie Curnow, 2009. p172.
4. ↑ Marriage Registration No 1885/1452
5. ↑ Death Notice Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 8894, 17 June 1897, Page 2
6. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #142017519
7. ↑ Funeral of an Old Settler Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 8891, 14 June 1897, Page 2
8. ↑ Probate Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 8901, 26 June 1897, Page 2
9. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7SH-VFK : 13 December 2017), John Wratt in household of George Wratt, St Nicholas, Nottinghamshire, England; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• Curnow, Elsie S. The Wratt Race: from Rutlandshire, England through Nottingham to New Zealand. Nelson, New Zealand: Elsie Curnow, 2009. p171ff.
• http://person.ancestry.com.au/tree/54758494/person/13710423814/facts
• https://www.myheritage.com/names/henry_ratt

See also:

• Interred at St. John's Cemetery, Edward Street, Wakefield, Tasman District, Tasman, New Zealand

• Passenger List for Clifford, sailed 18 December 1841