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Name: WOOD, James Radcliffe
Birth Date: 24.2.1870 Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Death Date: 19 Feb 1933 London
Nationality: Australian
First Date: 1902
Profession: Considerable farming experience, he was for some years manager of Lord Delamere's estate at Njoro. Also a Director of Unga Ltd. when it was established in 1908. Over the years he bought land in various parts of the country.
Area: Therika Ruiru, Red 25 - JP, Naivasha, Sotik; Kigwa Farm Kiambu
Married: In Much Wenlock 23 Oct 1912 Rosemary 'Fannie' Evans b. 17 July 1883 Stanton Long, Shropshire, d. 1953 Much Wenlock (sister of Will Evans)
Children: All lived in Kenya for many years: Fannie Elizabeth (15 Aug 1913 Nairobi-1996); Arthur (1917); Martin; Susie; James Roland (3 Jan 1916 Njoro-2004 Woolavington, Somerset); Alan (30 July 1917 Nairobi-2002)
Book Reference: Gillett, SE, KFA, White Man, Land, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, North, Playne, Drumkey, Red 22, Ruiru, Kiambu Scrapbook, Land, Advertiser, Pioneers, EAHB 1906, EAHB 1904, Leader14, Red Book 1912
General Information:
SE - J.R. Woods [sic] - Nov 1908
Owned land at Ruiru, Kigwa River, Sotik and Laikipia and established large herds of cattle on each.
KFA - Original shareholder in Unga Ltd 1908.
KFA - One of the first to successfully harvest wheat in Kenya prior to 1903. Land Grant 1905? - J.R. Wood - Agricultural, 311 acres - Kiambu - Jan 10 - Freehold
North - Land Grant applications 6/11/1902 & 1/4/1903 Kikuyu; Committee Member of the Planters & Settlers Association, Nairobi 12/8/1903; On List of 'Principal Inhabitants of Nairobi … Masailand … Kyamboo, Kikuyu (EAM) 5/9/1903; laying out coffee plantation near Nairobi for Lady Delamere Jan 1904; 'He is an ignorant man but by dint of hard work has made a fortune' (F.J. Jackson, CO 533)
Playne - Director of Unga Ltd.
Playne - Lord Delamere - The Camp, Njoro - This farm is under the management of Mr J.R. Wood, an Australian of considerable farming experience, while Lord Delamere exercises a close personal supervision and direction of the estate, the telephone being laid on from his residence to the farm house as well as to the station. The camp, Njoro, covers 100,000 acres of which 30000 is timber.
Red 22 - Honorary Permit Issuer
Kiambu Scrapbook - Ruiru residents …… were able to rely for transport to Nairobi on the famous "Thika Tramway", built in 1912. Trains stopped at Mr J.R. Wood's siding and we are told that while Mrs Wood set off to the siding in a pony-trap in good time for the train, her husband was often late and would have to run for it in his slippers, his servant hurrying after him with his shoes. ….
Kiambu Scrapbook - Coffee - in 1904 …. Mr J.R. Wood at Kasarini had 500 plants 18 months old "looking strong and well", and Lady Delamere on Kigwa River had from 25,000 to 30,000 about 6 months old in her nursery and 3,400 about 12 months old planted out, "all looking very healthy". Lady Delamere did not of course live on this farm which was run for her by Mr J.R. Wood, her neighbour on the other side of the road.
Kiambu Scrapbook - some time before 1913 J.R. Wood forsook Kiambu for Ruiru and settled on the farm where his son still lives.
Land - 1911 - J.R. Wood - Grazing and agricultural, 4991 acres - Menengai - 16/2/09 - Under Occupation Licence for 2 to 99 years from 1/2/11 - Registered 27/2/11
Land - 1912 - J.R. Wood - Buildings, 7647.7 sq.ft. - Nairobi - 21/7/11 - Leasehold for 99 years from 1/8/11 - Registered 12/1/12
Land - 1912 - J.R. Wood - Buildings, 7647.7 sq.ft. - Nairobi - 21/7/11 - Leasehold for 99 years from 1/8/11 - Registered 12/1/12
Advertiser - 27/11/08 - Nakuru Agricultural Show - donation from - J.R. Wood
Pioneers - Kiambu - Coffee 1904 - J.R. Wood at Kasarini had 500 plants 18 months old, 'looking strong and well', and Lady Delamere on Kigwa River had from 25,000 to 30,000 about 6 months old in her nursery, and 3400 about 12 months old planted out, 'all looking very healthy'. Lady Delamere did not live on this farm, which was run for her by J.R. Wood.
EAHB 1904 - Masai-Land District Residents - Wood, J.R. - Kyamboo, Kikuyu
Red Book 1912 - J.R. Wood - Naivasha
Gazette - 29/10/1919 - Register of Voters - Kikuyu - James Radcliffe Wood, Farmer, Therika Estate, Ruiru and Fannie Wood, Therika Estate, Ruiru
Gazette 5 Mar 1935 probate required by Fannie Wood and Sydney Armstrong
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