My first post for “Friday Faces” is a photograph of, I believe, James Heneker, but which James Heneker, father or son???
This photograph was passed onto me, and someone had written James Heneker on it,(in a digital format) and I believe, they attributed it to James Heneker senior born 1826 – 1917. (Born in Westwell, Kent, UK in 1826, died Beltana, South Australia in 1917)
The black and white photograph above, is scanned from a newspaper obituary for James Heneker Jnr who died in 1926. Although it isn’t terribly clear it may be that someone out there can see any similarities in the top photograph. I believe I can see a likeness, but then again, he may just have looked like his father, and therefore the top photograph could be the original James Heneker.!
I feel it may be James Heneker Jnr born 1850 – 1926. My main reason for thinking this is that there does not appear to be (so far!!!) any photographs of the senior James Heneker or any of his family members taken in earlier years. There are photographs of James senior, and of him with his wife Mary Ann, in their senior years. As they lived most of their lives (and especially in their later years) in the far north of South Australia, in a very remote location, I tend to think the younger James Heneker may have been more likely to have had a photograph taken of him at some stage.
James Heneker Jnr, like his father, had many jobs, from carting supplies to miner, and in later life moved to the city of Adelaide to live. As the years went on, it seems to me there was probably more chance of James Jnr having a chance of being photographed.
The clothing doesn’t really help me, although I could probably find someone who may be able to place the date by the clothing. Not having the original photograph, there is nothing written anywhere that could help me. If anyone has any idea’s I would love to hear them. No matter what, I love this photograph and it would be wonderful if it was James Heneker senior. To see him as a younger man would make my day. James senior was portrayed in later photographs with a beard.
Heneker - a Pioneering family from Kent to South Australia 
6 thoughts on “Friday Faces – Which James Heneker is this?”
Barb Rogers
I have similar photos of Sr. and Jr. from the turn of the century (19th). But my guess is that the one with the beard is indeed Sr. I’m basing this on the hairline, which once receded can’t be put back. The obit of Jr. shows him (perhaps in younger days) at least with much more hair that the first photo. And that’s just my guess.
heneker52
Hi Barb, thanks for that. does seem others have similar views. Fantastic news to think it is James Snr. I think he is great looking too!!!! That photo does definitely have a much older look to me, but I haven’t been sure if that was wishful thinking or not, on my behalf. So I am thinking now I will go with that, and just state that it is presumed to be James Snr when I use it in conjunction with anything I write about James Snr. Much appreciated. Cheers Vicki
Harold Boddy
I also have the above brown sepia photo as James Heneker Snr.
The photo also appears on a information sheetlet on James Snr with the “Pioneers Association of South Australia Inc” logo on it.
It states that the photo was supplied by a great great grandson.
So with that and originally being posted on Ancestry by another reliable researcher,
(therefor 2 sources) I have taken it on face value that the photo is of James Heneker Snr and added it to my family tree.
Confirmation that it is James Heneker Snr would be fantastic
La Nightingail
The ears on the two men do not appear to be the same. In the first photo they are smaller and more rounded at the bottom tip. In the second photo they appear larger and pointed at the lower end – if that helps?
heneker52
Thanks La Nightingail, taking a look at that I can see what you mean. A message from another family member in Victoria also seems to point towards it being a photo of James Snr. Cheers for now Vicki
heneker52
Thanks Harold, that does make it appear that it may definitely be James Snr. I kind of hope it is, would be great to have a photograph of him when he was younger…..Do people’s ears elongate though as they get older??? Just wondering. Hmmmmm…sounds convincing doesn’t it….so maybe it is. I guess I could just use it as James Snr and state that it is unconfirmed . Do you have any photo’s of Joseph when he was younger?? I may do, I have a cd of photo’s must look through it again….Cheers Vicki