Richard Frederick WEDGE was born on 3 November 1866 in Wainui, New Zealand. He was the son of Richard Harwood Wedge and Sarah Jane Wedge nee Gibbons. He had two brothers and four sisters. Richard, who was known as Dick, spent his early years in Thames where his father tried his hand at gold mining, before the family moved back to Northland where they had farmed. In 1893 Dick was living at Mangawai in Northland and working as an assistant storekeeper.

He married Eliza Bartlett PETERSON on 22 May 1896 at the registrar’s office, Port Albert, New Zealand. Eliza was the daughter of Charles and Esther Petersen. After their marriage they lived with Dick’s mother in Northland (as she had been recently widowed) until she died the following year. Dick worked as a farmer and general labourer.

Dick and Eliza had the following children:
1. May Esther Wedge born 1896
2. Charles Richard Wedge born 1898
3. William Harwood Wedge born 1899
4. Eileen Mary Wedge born 1902
5. Ivy Mona Wedge born 1904
6. John Wedge born 1906
7. Alfred Frederick Wedge born 1910

Eliza died 24 Dec 1917 in Whangarei and Dick died 21 July 1930 in Whangarei. They are both buried together in Kamo Cemetery.