Spence Family of Dunedin History
I am 80yrs old and am guilty of never investigating my father's family history. I have managed to find out that my grandfather was GEORGE CARTER SPENCE and my grandmother was JANE ELDER. They lived in Dunedin or Mosgiel, NZ.
My grandfather was born in 1884 died 1912 leaving behind two sons. GEORGE McCRACKEN SPENCE who drowned at a young age and my father, WILLIAM SPENCE. I don't have any information about my grandmother. The realisation that my siblings and I were the only direct descendants when growing up has Impacted greatly on my feeling of guilt and resulted in me wanting more information about our ancestors. Both the SPENCE and ELDER families.
I have found out that my grandfather and my uncle are buried side by side in the East Tairie cemetery. I intend to travel home to Port Chalmers from Nelson sometime in the near future to stay with my remaining family member, my brother Brian. We will visit the cemetery, but I would love to find out more about other family members before then.
I look forward to Receiving help in my search.
Elaine Hemi (nee SPENCE)
George Carter Spence was born on 27 November 1884. His birth was registered in Taieri. He appears to have at least 3 siblings born in NZ. John 1879, William 1882 and Mary 1888. Their parents were John Spence and Sarah Kingon who married 1871 in Scotland. John died on 5 June 1888 in Dunedin aged 46 (his will is available to download for free on familysearch.org). At the time he was a resident of Saddle Hill. Sarah then married James Theophile Shannon and had 3 other children Margaret 1893, Samuel 1895 and Robert 1897. George married Jane Elder on 2 November 1910. William was born in 1910. You may have to look at purchasing the marriage record of Jane and George to reveal more on her family. Good Luck.
Hi Elaine,
George Carter Spence was a son of Sarah nee Kingon Spence, born in Ireland and whose parents emigrated to Scotland shortly after she was born. His father was John Spence who was a miner in Scotland when he & Sarah married in Lanarkshire 24 Oct 1871.
They then emigrated to Otago where they had 4 children.
1879 - 1952 John Spence
1882 - 1962 William Spence
1884 - 1912 George Carter Spence
1888 - 1960 Mary Spence (+ Kemp)
You can see them under Sarah's link above
I am just working on your family now and adding them to Find A Grave for you to look at. I will later write a journal on here for you.
Your grandmother Jane nee Elder Spence, remarried in 1916 and had 5 more children
Your father was born 22 April 1911. Where is he buried? so I can add him to the family.
Thank you so much for the information to date. It's amazing that my grandmother had 5 more children that we didn't know about. Dad died November 28th 1972. He was cremated and his ashes scattered at sea.Who did my grandmother marry and where is she buried?