Frederick William Sellens
Frederick William Sellens, 1920
KEY DATES:
Birth: 1882, Hastings, East Sussex
Married: March 1907, Hastings, East Sussex
Died: 29 May 1963, Wellington, New Zealand
Buried: 31 May 1963, Karori Cemetery, Wellington, New Zealand
BIOGRAPHY:
Frederick William Sellens was born in 10 Alma Terrace in 1882 to Frederick Albert and Hester Elizabeth Sellens. Around 1888 the family moved to 22 Alma Villas, the next street from Alma Terrace.
10 Alma Terrace, (left) and 22 Alma Villas (right), Hastings, East Sussex, 2003
Sellens family, c.1900
Back row from left; Albert Victor Jubilee, Frederick William, Ernest Henry
Front row from left; Hester Elizabeth, Rosina Gertrude, Ethel Elizabeth, Frederick Albert
Frederick William travelled to New Zealand some time before 1906 where he settled in Northland, Wellington. His brother Ernest Henry Sellens later joined him, arriving on the 4 December 1906 aboard the 'Corinthic'. The brothers emigrated there to get building work in the fledging country. Frederick had previously trained as a carpenter. He travelled back to England in 1907 in order to marry his fiancée Emma Stevenson. They married in March 1907, then the couple emigrated to New Zealand and had 4 children; Fredrick, Harry, Ethel and Hester. Frederick built his own home in Northland, Wellington.
Sellens family, November 1920, New Zealand
From left; Ethel, Frederick William, Frederick (Freddy), Hester, Emma (Emmy) and Harry Sellens
When Frederick William's mother Hester Elizabeth Sellens died, she bequeathed him one hundred pounds in her will.
After breaking his right wrist Frederick was forced to give up building work and instead took on a secretarial job for a grocer's shop. He also was an avid amateur radio enthusiast, right from the earliest days of radio when he made and received overseas broadcasts and built his own sets. His call sign was ZL2MY.
Frederick William Sellens died on the 29 May 1963, aged 81 in his home of 4 Plymouth Street, Palmerston. He was buried 31 May 1963 at the Karori Cemetery, Wellington.
Emma Sellens died 9 May 1977 aged 91 years and was buried with her husband in Karori Cemetery in Wellington.
CENSUS:
LINKS:
Hester Elizabeth Sellens' will (pdf format)
Grateful thanks to Ernest Lionel Sellens and Ruth McLeod for the photos and information of Ernest Henry and family. Also thanks to Ethel Webb for additional information.
© Copyright N. Goodwin MMII