Was William Hamilton Ritchie a Kiwi?

[Eyesee]

The old fiche indexes give the folio number of 45 for William Hamilton RITCHIE's birth, which translates to a birthplace of New Plymouth according to the District Keys.

The name HOMEYER appears in the Taranaki area around that time.

Ian C

[Eyesee]

PapersPast have quite a number of references to James RITCHIE of New Plymouth in the 1850s and 1860s.

Appears he was a solicitor and at times Clerk of the Court.

James' marriage to Elizabeth HOMEYER 1855
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18550829.2.11

Birth of a son in 1857 - William Hamilton
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18570815.2.5

Birth of a son in 1859 - Alfred Henry - appears to have died in Sep 1860 in New Plymouth
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18590618.2.8

Birth of a son in 1861 (stillborn)
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18610112.2.4

Death of wife Elizabeth in 1861
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18610209.2.4

Ian C

[rosie17]

Wow you have all been busy while I was sleeping 
I somehow thought his wife must have died when William is in Scotland 1871

Rosie

[Forfarian]

Thanks you all. That's building a much better picture.

I had found his birth in the NZ indexes, which is what led me to wonder if he was the one I was looking for, but it's great to have the additional detail from the 'old fiche' which I can't access.

[Forfarian]

There is a William H Ritchie age 13 born New Plymouth New Zealand ( grandson )
On the 1871 Census address High Street Dunbar East Lothian with the William Hamilton
Ritchie you mentioned ..You would need to view the original on S P as it has his Mother down as Isabella S Ritchie on the transcription on Ancestry which is wrong
Marriage 29 August 1855 New Zealand

I'm sure you know that I wouldn't even dream of trusting any transcription from Ancestry

Another transcription of that same census shows Isabella S Ritchie as an unmarried daughter of William H Ritchie senior, which tallies with the name of one of the three unmarried daughters he named in his will. I'll check the original on SP some time when I am in the Scotland's People Centre.