Posted at 7:38 pm by heneker52, on October 10, 2021
Mary Ann Heneker nee SPENCER, had a number of brothers and sisters. One of her sisters was Sarah Spencer (1927-). Sarah married Henry Jordan. Of their children a daughter named Mary was married to Jeremiah Dowling, and they had a son called William Dowling. Like many South Australians, they moved to Western Australia to take advantage of the mining boom there, which to this day still has it’s boom and bust times. In fact my own brothers live in Western Australia and have been involved in the mining industry in one form or another, from gold prospecting to working for mining companies driving cranes and dump trucks. Many others in the past and to this day continue on that tradition. This story interestingly tells the story of William Dowling’s untimely death in a mining accident. Sadly this story was probably quite common in these times. The area of the mine was Leonora, not too far away from the mining town of Coolgardie where one of my brother’s lives. The story of William’s death appeared in newspapers of the day.
Mining Fatality.
AT THE SONS OF GWALIA.
LEONORA,. Nov. 24 1905
A fatal accident occurred at the Sons of Gwalia mine at 2 o’clock this morning.William Dowling and a mate were engaged at the No. 7 level in securing the ground, which appeared unsafe. The mate went away for a few minutes, and on returning found that about six tons of stuff had fallen from the hanging wall on top of, Dowling. The unfortunate man was quickly extricated, out when he was released was found to be dead. An inquiry was opened to-day, by Mr. Sturt and a jury, and after viewing the body and inspecting, the scene of the accident the coroner adjourned the inquest. The deceased, who resided with his parents at Leonora, was 25 years of age, and was well and favourably known in the locality
.
Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885-1954) Saturday 2 Dec 1905, pg 20
Posted at 7:26 pm by heneker52, on October 10, 2021
Cooper’s Creek is about 10 km from Windorah in Queensland. There is a concrete bridge across the Cooper now…I have to assume that this photograph was taken of Colin’s bike (probably by Colin himself, as he was such an avid photographer of all things) and is at the old bridge crossing the Cooper near Windorah.? This is such a wonderful photograph, as now, if you look online you will find photo’s of the area with large caravans, 4WDs and people!!! Back in probably the 30s and 40s this would surely been what you would have seen, even in the 1960s and 1970s. If only most of Colin’s photographs, lost in the awful fire that burned down his tin shed home, had survived. What a fantastic visual history we would have had of this magnificent part of Australia.
Thank you to the wonderful Bruce Scott of Windorah, who sent me this photograph.
Colin Reed’s bike at Coopers Creek circa 1920’s to 1930’s
Posted at 7:05 pm by heneker52, on October 10, 2021
Daughter of James Heneker and Mary Ann Spencer
Martha Heneker with her granddaughter Violet Evelyn White c.1926
*Martha Heneker was born on the 6th October 1852 [100 years -1 day from my own birth date!!] Martha like most of her siblings was born at Scotts Creek in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia, to James and Mary Ann (nee Spencer) Heneker.
*Martha married *Henry Gunter on the 18 June 1872 when she was 19 years old. They married at the Residence of Mr. Gunter Senior at Blinman, South Australia. Their first child *Samuel Gunter was born on the 6th October 1872 at Blinman. *James Henry Gunter was born at Sliding Rock on 1st May 1874.*Thomas Gunter was born at Patterton, South Australia on 26 September 1875. (Patterton is an area near Blinman, where it appears many settlers had properties.
Three months before the birth of his son Thomas, * HenryGunter died on the 2nd June 1875 at Sliding Rock. The South Australian Register recorded his death “At Sliding Rock, of inflammation of the lungs, Henry Gunter, aged 28 years” [South Australia Register/Fri 18 Jun 1875/Page 4/Family Notices].
[The South Australia Chronicle & Weekly Mail] published the following information on 12th June 1875 “I regret to announce the death of Mr H. Gunter, which was rather sudden, he only having been laid up a few days. He leaves a young widow and 2 children”
Information recorded on Billion Graves.com state that Henry is buried at Cadnia Sliding Rock Cemetery, Beltana Outback Communities, South Australia. There does not appear to be a headstone.
[billiongraves.com/sliding-Rock-Cemetery/153412]
Although the newspaper entry above states 2 children from the marriage of Henry and Martha, the Genealogy SA database of Births, taken from BDM Adelaide records, states the birth of *Thomas Gunter in 1875. As Henry died before the birth of his son Thomas, this is why the newspaper would have different information. Also within the Birth records of GenealogySA is an entry for *William John Joseph Gunter born 26 Nov 1879, recording the father as William Davis and mother as Martha Gunter (nee) Hencker, of Blinman. (note the mispelling of Heneker). [genealogysa.org.au]
On the *28 June 1882 Martha married George White at her residence in Blinman, South Australia. Martha went on to have another 5 children to George White. *Abel George White born on the 27 March 1885 at Blinman, *Herbert Charles White was born on 4 December 1887 at Blinman, *Mabel Martha White was born on 23rd June 1889 at Blinman, *DaisyEveline Lydia White born 29 September 1891 at Blinman, *Mary Ann White born 4 December 1883 at Blinman.
*George White died on the 11 September 1912, aged 66 years, and is buried at the Blinman Outback Communities Authority. His son Abel White registered his death. Also buried at the Blinman Cemetery are 2 are George and Martha’s daughters. *Mabel Martha died on the 14 November 1890 aged 1 year, and her sister *Daisy Eveline died on 8 October 1892 also aged 1 year. Also recorded is the father of George White, *John White who died 4 August 1901 aged 86 years. The inscription on his headstone is “father of George”.
*Martha died on the 1st July 1930 at the Hawker Memorial Hospital, Hawker, South Australia.
Martha’s Obituary in The Chronicle Newspaper, Thursday 16 Oct, 1930, Page 21 reads as follows:
Mrs. Martha White of Blinman, who died at the Hawker Memorial Hospital, was born at Scott’s Creek in 1852, and was the daughter of the late James and Mrs. Heniker, who came to the North with their young family in the early pioneering days. In 1872 Martha was married to the late Mr. Henry Gunter, and resided at Sliding Rock, until the death of her husband in 1876. Removing to Blinman in 1878, she was married to Mr. George White, who died in 1912. Mrs White, with her experience and practical sympathy was the help and comfort of many in their time of need. There are 4 surviving children – S. Gunter (Kapunda), J. Gunter (Parachilna), T. Gunter (Tuntalrella, N.S.W.) and Mrs. W. Kipling (Blinman). There are 22 grandchildren and 6 great grand-children.
*PLEASE NOTE: Where I have identified births, deaths, marriages or any other references obtained from the Genealogy Society of SA I have put an asterisk * at the front of the person’s name, to save having to enter the reference everytime. The Genealogy Society of SA website allows non members to check records, but not all information is shown. Members can see the complete record as transcribed by the Genealogy Society of SA. The website is https://genealogysa.org.au/. The society is situated at 201 Unley Road, Unley, South Australia.
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” ~ Alexander Graham Bell
Heneker - a Pioneering family from Kent to South Australia 
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