Emma married Edmund/Edwin Thomas Kenney in 1851. They may have parted company sometime after this. Emma emigrated to NZ as Mrs Kenney & a family of 5 children (along with 400 other immigrants, 240 for Nelson). They left London 15 Aug 1874 on the 'Ocean Mail' and arrived in Nelson 9 Nov 1874.

.. passenger list: https://tinyurl.com/4t9cvp54

• Thank you to Katherine (contributor 48995023) for the emigration details 29.4.2024

Her children

1852 - 1859 Thomas Edmund Kenney (age 7 in London)

1854 - Anne Kenney

1856 - 1912 Emma Jane Kenney (+Leitch)

1862 - 1898 Henry James Kenney (+White)

1870 - 1953 Frank Martin Kenney (+Craig)

1873 - 1962 Rose Emily (+Tasker)

Emma was the matron of the Nelson Lunatic Asylum.

She married the widower, Richard Taylor in 1882. He had first married Mary Ann Shell (1827-1880) in Adelaide, Australia in 1851 & had 10 children. Mary Ann died 31 Oct 1880 and is buried Havelock Cemetery, Marlborough.

Six weeks after their marriage, on 22 Feb 1881, Richard committed suicide.

Wanganui Herald, 21 Feb 1881

Richard Taylor, a settler of Mahakapawi, shot himself this morning with a fowling-piece in a she. His son believes the shot to be fatal.

At the inquest in Havelock a verdict was returned that deceased shot himself while in a fit of temporary insanity

The INQUEST .. https://tinyurl.com/bdhjr48d

• Mary Julia Taylor .. I am daughter of deceased. On the morning of the 21st at 6 o'clock, deceased called me three times. I went to him, round to the shed at the back of the house. He said :That woman, meaning his wife, will drive me mad: He spoke to me about some money he had and said he had put this money away for my brother William and rather than his wife should get it, he would die first. Deceased had been married to his present wife about six week. I had been at home all this time. I never herd of father and his wife quarrelling ..
• John Taylor .. I am a son of the deceased. I saw my father early on the morning of the 21st instant about 5 o;clock. He went out to milk the cows and feed the pigs and returned for his breakfast about 8 a.m. He seemed all right and cheerful. He made mo complaint to me of any kind ..
• Walter Taylor .. I am son of deceased. Saw my father on Monday, the day before his death. I saw him with his own gun in his hand on Monday morning. He was then in the house. He put the gun against his breast and shoved the trigger with a stick. He was cleaning his gun. I was close to him. He told me to go away ..
• Emma Taylor .. I am wife of deceased. Saw him on the morning of the 21st. He got up between 5 and 6 o'clock. I was not down. Deceased came to my room some time afterwards. He brought my breakfast up to me. We have been married about six weeks. I have been at home all that time. I noticed that deceased had been low spirited the last three weeks . I think money matters was the cause. I did not hear the report of the gum. Heard the children crying. They did not come to my room. No one came to tell me about it. I heard the son John crying. I put my head out of the bedroom window and asked what was the matter. He told me his father had shot himself ..

Richard was buried with first wife Mary Ann, at Marlborough.

Elizabeth then moved to Woodville where Frank started a business

Woodville Examiner, 24 Nov 1913

OBITUARY - Mrs E. Taylor; aged 79 years

We regret to record the death of Mrs E. Taylor, mother of Mr F. M. Kenney, which took place on Saturday last.

Mrs Taylor came to the Dominion in 1875(sic) and resided for some time in Nelson. About sixteen years ago she came to Woodville with her son when he started in business here. Until the last few years - when owing to failing health and her great age, she had to retire - she took a very active part in the Ladies Guild of Holy Trinity Church and in the Ladies Benevolent Association and through them formed a circle of friends who learned to appreciate a character of great worth and lovableness. These will very much regret their loss and will feel the town poorer for her decease. We offer Mr and Mrs Kenney our hearty sympathy in their loss.

Mrs Taylor's health had been failing for some time and the end was not unexpected. The funeral took place yesterday at the Woodville Cemetery and was largely attended. A short service took place in Holy Trinity Church and the Rev Canon Eccles officiated at the graveside.