Robert Bartley (1826 - 1913)

Born 1826 in Jersey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom

Husband of Esther (Kerby) Bartley — married 24 Apr 1848 in Jersey, Channel Islands

Descendants

Died 3 Sep 1913 at about age 87 in Auckland, New Zealand

Biography

Auckland Star 26th April 1898

GOLDEN WEDDING

BARTLEY - KERBY on April 24th 1848 at St. Laurence Parish church, Island of Jersey by Rev. Thomas Orange, rector, Robert Bartley to Esther Kerby.

Auckland Star 27th April 1898 page 4 [1] A GOLDEN WEDDING CELEBRATION

- A very pleasant gathering took place on Monday to, celebrate the golden wedding of our esteemed citizens, Mr and Mrs Robert Bartley of Devonport: Mr and Mrs Bartley were married in the Island of Jersey on April 24th 184S, and arrived in Auckland in October 1854, in the good ship Joseph Fletcher, having with them a small family of little children, one son and two daughters. They were made of the right stuff for pioneers and started to work at once in our then young city, to build up a home for themselves and their children. They had many hard struggles in the ups and downs of colonial life, but through them all, they have proved themselves good and loving parents and honoured and respected citizens, and now in their declining years they are able to live a happy, quiet life as the result of the arduous labours of the years gone by. Mr. Bartley, being a carpenter by trade, found plenty of employment in our them wooden city, and for many years carried on the business of builder and contractor. In conjunction with his business he had also a timber yard, and amongst the many tradesmen who served their apprenticeship with him was Mr George Holdship, the founder of what is now the Kauri Timber Company. After retiring from business on his own account Mr. Bartley was persuaded to take the position of manager at the Auckland (now Kauri Timber) Company, which position he held for some years with credit to himself and benefit to the company, and when the company changed to the Kauri Timber Company, he resigned, and has since lived in retirement at his residence in Clarence Street, Devonport. At the gathering on Monday, the old couple were surrounded by those who represented the whole family viz., four sons, four daughters, thirty two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, all the sons and daughters being married except one son, who is now in Christchurch. The entertainment took the form of a tea and banquet, at which a number of toasts were proposed ancd esponded to, including the bride and .bridegroom of fifty years ago. During the proposition of this toast the eldest son, Mr W. Bartley presented the old folks with a beautifully framed shield containing the photographs of the whole family, including their offspring, and in the centre of the group were the photographs of Mr and Mrs R. Bartley. The shield was the work of Sarony of Karangahape Road. The, other toasts proposed were the sons and daughters, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, grandchildren, the island of Jersey, and the press. The speeches were interspersed with songs and musical selections, and a very happy evening was spent, closing with the refrain, God be with You till We Meet Again.

New Zealand Herald 5th September 1913

OBITUARY : An Early Settler

Another of the rapidly diminishing band of early settlers in the person of Mr. Robert Bartley

died yesterday at the age of 87 years, at his residence, Devonport. The late Mr. Bartley was born at Jersey, in the Channel Islands in 1826, where he was brought up to the building trade. With his wife and three children, he arrived in Auckland by the ship “Joseph Fletcher” in 1854. The deceased commenced business here as a builder and contractor and carried on this work for many years. On retiring from his business he was appointed yard manager for the Kauri Timber Company, which position he held for some time. For some years past Mr. Bartley has been living in retirement at Devonport. He took a keen interest in public affairs and was always willing to help forward any deserving cause brought to his notice. He leaves a widow and the following sons and daughters: Messrs. Walter Bartley (Ponsonby) Charles Bartley (Richmond Road), Clement Bartley (Ponsonby Road) Edwin Bartley (Christchurch) Mesdames J.H. Witherford, S.G. Rountree, S. Gilbert and R. Tudehope.

Emigration

Date: 1854

Place: Auckland, New Zealand

Note: ship : Joseph Fletcher

Burial

Date: 6 SEP 1913

Place: O’Neils Point Cemetery, Auckland

Note: row A plot 20

Notes

1841 census - Robert Bartley St. Helier parish Jersey age 14 born Isle of Jersey

1851 census - Robert Bartley jnr. age 24 - head of household St. Helier, Jersey

Sources

• Source: S14 Text: "England and Wales Census, 1851," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/SG8B-V27 : accessed 15 January 2015), Robert Bartley Jr, Channel Islands; from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," index and images, findmypast (www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey. Data Changed: Date: 16 JAN 2015