Joseph Heneker was the 2nd son of James and Mary Anne (nee Spencer) Heneker.
I love this photograph of Joseph Heneker. Not sure where it was taken, looks like he is on the verandah of a home, his home?? perhaps in his home at Port Augusta.
Joseph was born on 16 February 1857 at Scotts Creek, South Australia. The family were living in that area at the time of his birth. Also living in the area was Joseph Spencer, Joseph Heneker’s grandfather and the father of Mary Ann Heneker.
The SA Birth Register states that Joseph was born at Scotch Creek, Kanmantoo. That is assumed to be a spelling error.
Scott Creek is often seen written as Scotch Creek, however maps, and visits to the area show it as being called Scott Creek, Kanmantoo being the district, and also with a large mine.
As James was known to be involved with mining, especially as a young man at the beginning of the colony, it is assume that James Heneker may have been mining and hence why they were living in the area at the time of Josephs’ birth.
Not much seems to be recorded about Joseph from his birth until he married on the 16th March 1885, to Christina Hill.
It is recorded that Joseph was 28 years of age, and the couple married at the Beltana Railway Station. Christina Hill was born in St Martin in Meneage, Cornwall on 9th February 1870 to John Thomas Samuel Hill and Elizabeth Jane Williams. At her marriage it states she was 16 years of age.
Beltana Railway Station (photograph courtesy of Yadz’s Photo Gallery File 420/443 accessed online 13/07/2015)
Joseph Heneker died at Port Augusta on 24th May 1950 aged 93 years. Christina passed away on October 1936 at Hawker, South Australia. Christina was only 66 years when she died.
CHRISTINA HILL
Christina was born on 9th February 1870 in St Martin in Meneage, Cornwall. According to the Free BDM UK Index the spelling of her name is ‘Christiana’. This is interesting, as I can’t find any records in Australia with her name spelt that way, including the Marriage Certificate. The 1871 UK Census shows her name also being spelt as Christiana. I thought that may be a spelling error, which often happened. However with the Free UK BDM Index also showing the spelling as Christiana, I feel that it would be a safe assumption to think that Christiana is the correct spelling. Especially as this printed index took place before the 1871 census. At this stage I do not have a birth certificate to verify, although I believe that even birth certificates can show the name spelt one way and the family spelling it another way as their literacy may have increased or the person themselves may have gone to school, and hence the name could be spelt a certain way by teachers. It can be very confusing and probably a true answer may never be known with these riddles.
