Heneker – a Pioneering family from Kent to South Australia

As opposed to William Henry / Henry William Henneker who lived most of his life at Kapunda, South Australia, I have often come across records for a Henniker/Henneker family who lived in the Port Adelaide Area.

There is a William Henry Henneker who, on his marriage certificate shows his father as “Henry William Henneker”? He married Agnes Cecilia Bandick in 1911 at Port Adelaide.

It is just all so confusing. I know he is NOT the same William Henry Henneker of Kapunda. (who was a son of Thomas and Jemima Henniker). It can be so difficult for all of us. William who was Thomas’ son has been spelled William Henry or Henry William, on official documents, including death, marriage, hospital records. So it is very hard to even know for sure what his actual birth name was. And it seem the William Henry with a father Henry William!!!!! also has the same issue. On top of that, the name Henneker as previously discussed is constantly spelt differently, on every record. Henneker, Henniker, Heniker, Heneker. And this naming changes even between the spelling of a child’s surname and the father’s surname.

Anyway, my reason for posting this, is, I have found myself getting totally caught up in trying to find out if William Henry Henneker of Port Adelaide is any relation. On the shipping record of the Hooghly, the ship Thomas and Jemima and family emigrated to South Australia on, there was a separate entry for a James Henniker. Now I don’t think that is Thomas and Jemima’s son James born 1826(who is my g g grandfather) as he would have been included under the number of children given on the voyage. So I have been wondering if James Henniker who also emigrated with them was perhaps a brother of Thomas. If so, perhaps the Port Adelaide family were part of another one of the Henniker family who emigrated from a different father. I know, this is probably all very confusing to read, just as it is to write, and my writing is just what is stuck in my head and now coming out.

So I have decided to try to find out more about the origins of the Port Adelaide Henniker/Henneker’s of the time, and see where they fit in. I am “assuming” that they are probably part of the Westwell, Kent family although of course I could be totally wrong or misleading others.

If anyone is aware I would love to hear from you, otherwise I will continue to research and if I find out anything helpful I will post it on this blog. Cheers to everyone for now.