Frederick Richard Theobald – 1859-1903

Frederick Richard Theobald was born c1859 in England and died Aug 1903 in Westport, New Zealand. His burial record, at the Orowaiti Old Cemetery in Westport, said he was interred on 31 Aug 1902 but his death registration was in 1903. His burial record also says he was born in England and died of natural causes aged 44 yrs.

1903/5642 Theobold  Frederick Richard  44Y

I have found no record of him being born in England nor in any of the census there before he was married in NZ in 1891.

Inangahua Times, Volume I, Issue 84, 6 August 1891, Page 2
Yesterday one of those pleasant incidents which, as a rule, occur but once in a lifetime, took place in the Church of England, when Mr F. Theobald and Miss Alice Kirby were married by the Rev. Mr Wilson. Both bride and bridesmaids, sisters of the bride, wore dresses appropriate to the occasion, and needless to add the ceremony was witnessed by a congregation, mainly ladies. The bride and groom are well-known and respected residents of this district.

1891/1451 Alice Mary  Kirby  Richard Frederick  Theobald

Alice Mary is buried in the same cemetery as her husband, she died of consumption and was interred on the 14 Aug 1909 aged 40 yrs.

1909/5921 Theobold  Alice Mary  40Y

Also buried in the same cemetery is their daughter Rose Ellen Mary aged 63 spinster on the 6 Jul 1962, she was born in Reefton.

On his marriage registration he is listed as Richard Frederick and on the registrations of his childrens’ births he is listed variously as Frederick Richard or Richard Frederick.

Frederick & Alice registered the births of five children:-

1892/10838 Theobald  Frederick Edward  Alice Mary Richard Frederick
1894/13982 Theobald  Alice Eileen Louisa  Alice Mary Richard Frederick
1897/14445 Theobald  Sydney James  Alice Frederick Richard
1899/2747 Theobald  Rose Ellen Mary  Alice Mary Richard Frederick
1901/8523 Theobald  Esther Julia  Alice Mary Richard Frederick

Sydney died in 1912 so this photo was taken about 1904 to 1907.

1912/9227 Theobald  Sydney  15Y
1960/37032 Thomas  Alice Eileen Louisa  66Y
1962/38669 Theobald  Rose Mary Ellen  63Y
1971/36056 Barrett  Esther Julia  69Y
1972/28611 Theobald  Frederick Edward  12 June 1892

References:
Buller District Libraries - Cemetery Enquiry
NZ BDM Records
Papers Past

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The following photograph came with the previous one and as it was taken at the same studio I thought the two photos might be connected to each other even though the writing is in a different hand. With no surname it’s impossible to tell. The ears have a certain similarity don’t you think?

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If anyone knows anything about or is connected to the Theobald family please do contact me, I would love to pass these photos onto a family member. Contact by email is preferable but if you are going to leave a comment please don’t forget to include your email address.

All the information I have found on this family may also be seen on the next update at WorldConnect here.

Dawn Scotting
pandora@kc.net.nz