Jane Heneker was born on the 27th July 1851 in the District of Adelaide (according to BDM records recorded by genealogysa.org.au from original SA BDM records).
In the 1850’s James Heneker, Jane’s father, is reported as carting the first engine to the Callington Mines, which opened in 1851. Scotts Creek, where Jane was born was in the general vicinity of the Callington Copper Mines, and it is probable that James worked at the mines or carting people and ore.
Jane was the first daughter to James Heneker and Mary Ann (nee Spencer) and second child. Birth records show five of her siblings were also born at Scott’s Creek in the Adelaide Hills, about 24 kilometres from the city of Adelaide. Jane’s surname appears also as Henniker and Henneker, which seems usual for the Heneker family, who originally appeared as Henniker on the shipping list of the Hooghly which James and his parents and siblings travelled on from Kent in the United Kingdom in 1839. It appears that as time went on Heneker became the normal spelling. As my maiden name is Heneker, the spelling seems to have been maintained to current times.
On the 5th January 1873, Jane married Charles K Baker. It is stated on the marriage certificate that the marriage took place at the residence of the bride’s parents, Orldina, South Australia. (Although I have done many searches, I have yet to find out where Orldina was?? By 1872 it appears James and Mary Ann were living in the Blinman area, therefore Orldina may have been the name of a station or property. I continue to search and will hopefully be able to add more information).
On the 14th June 1874 at Port Wallaroo (now known as Wallaroo) Charles and Jane had a son named John Wallaroo [genealogysa.org.au]
On 22 May 1876 a daughter was born to the couple and named Ada Levina, she was also born at Wallaroo.
In 1882 Jane applied for a Protection Order at the Wallaroo Local Court. The details from the newspaper report is below:
“Local Court – Wallaroo
Monday, August 7, 1882
(Before J.B. Shepherdson, Esp., S.M. & Dr Gosse & Mr Jas. Hay J.J.P)
“Jane Baker, applied for a Protection Order and stated that she was married to her husband, Charles K. Baker, on January 5, 1873, and that on the 7th August 1877, he deserted her without any cause. He left her without anything. She had acquired furniture and other things by her own labor. The order was granted .”
[WallarooTimes, SA (1882-1888)/Wed 9 Aug 1882/Page 2]
Again in 1885 a Missing Persons advertisement is placed in the Adelaide Observer newspaper, looking for “Charles K Baker aka Charles Klotz, who had last been heard of in Melbourne in 1878, to communicate with Jane who was intending to remarry. At the time Jane is noted as residing in Kadina, South Australia.”
[Adelaide Observer/Sat 21 Mar 1885/Page 39/Family Notices]
Whether Jane received a reply from Charles is unknown, however she was able to re-marry in 1887.
Jane remarried on 1st September 1887 to Edward Painter, and they lived at Alford, on the Yorke Peninsula. They had a daughter whom they named Jane who was born 26 November 1888 at Alford. [genealogysa.org.au]
Jane died on the 5th April 1908 at Alford, and was buried in the Kadina Cemetery on 6th April 1908. She is interred on Path 14, Block 32n, the burial was officiated by the Rev Rush M. Jane was aged 55 years when she died.
The Kadina and Wallaroo Times published on Wednesday 8th April 1908 this memoriam to Jane.
“Mrs Jane Painter, an old resident of the Peninsula, died at Alford on Sunday at the age of 55 years. The deceased lady, then Mrs Baker, lived at Wallaroo for a number of years, and when she married again, she removed to Alford, where she lived up till the time of her death. She leaves a husband and three children – Mrs D. Pink and Miss Painter of Alford, ad Mr. J.W. Baker of this town. Her remains were interred in the Kadina Cemetery on Monday afternoon, the funeral arrangements being in the hands of Mr. G.R. Haddy. [The Kadina & Wallaroo Times/Wed 8 Apr 1908/Page 2/General News]
PAINTER
At Alford, Jane, dearly loved wife of Edward Painter, aged 55 years, leaving one son, J.W.Baker, Kadina and two daughters, Mrs D. Pink and Miss Jane Painter, both of Alford.
[Express & Telegraph/Tuesday 7 April 1908/Page 1/Family Notices]
BAKER-PAINTER
In loving memory of Jane Baker-Painter, wife of Edward Painter of Alford, who died suddenly, on the 5th April 1908. “She saved others, herself she could not save”. – Inserted by her son, Mr. J.W. Baker, Kadina.
[Evening Journal/Tuesday 5 April 1910/Page 1/Family Notices]
The photograph below is courtesy of the State Library of South Australia.
It depicts the Alford Hotel in 1890, Jane would have been living in Alford at the time this photograph was taken
CHILDREN OF JANE HENEKER AND CHARLES K BAKER
John Wallaroo BAKER born 14 June 1874 at Wallaroo, South Australia
John married Mary Elizabeth Borlace on 27 January 1912 at Unley, South Australia
*Their daughter Gladys Mary Baker was born on 24 January 1913 at Unley, South Australia. Gladys married Wilfred Revell Daws on 18 April 1936 in South Australia.
Heneker - a Pioneering family from Kent to South Australia 