[The House that Thomas SPENCE built in 1856 - the Legislative Council Chamber on the right, abutting the northern wing of the original "Rum Hospital" previously known as the Principal Surgeon's residence, which is bounded on the left by the original Council Chamber, still in use as the Legislative Assembly Chamber.]
A somewhat satirical report was published in BELL's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle, concerning the election of a new Mayor for Sydney in December 1862, and in which the outgoing Mayor's speech had been reconstructed by the anonymous reporter into an epic ode, including these two lines about the new Mayor:
"... SPENCE is an architect of great renown,
Whose noble works adorn our ancient town..."
Thomas SPENCE was not an Architect as we know them today, but was instead a Carpenter/Joiner turned building contractor, perhaps best known for his having won the contract in 1856 to erect the cast-iron store-house-cum-church building, prefabricated in Scotland, in the short four weeks he had left before the opening of the first bi-cameral Parliament in the Australian Colonies - and which building is still in use as the Legislative Council Chamber of the N.S.W. Parliament, in Macquarie Street, Sydney - although since Thomas built it, the roof was reconstructed, and the front wall has been moved closer to Macquarie Street in order to enlarge its capacity.
[The Legislative Council Chamber, after the roof had been altered - the original curved
iron roof (the roof line still visible) proved to be too hot under the summer sun, and too noisy when the rains fell
during debates, and was replaced with a pitched slate roof.]
Thomas SPENCE appears to have been a little ahead of his political times - in another mildly satirical report, in the same newspaper only 11 months earlier, he was credited as having made a speech, at the farewell banquet in honour of Benjamin JAMES, in which he advocated that "a House was nothing without women" - the similarly unidentified reporter went on to draw the obvious allusion to the House in Macquarie Street which was without women Members, and said of Alderman SPENCE:
"Really, the men of out time are becoming fearfully enlightened."
[This photo image is part of a collage of 1861 Sydney Aldermen, held in the City of Sydney Archives (see below).
Another image of it appears on the City of Sydney's "Alderman of Sydney" web-page (Ref SRC 20606).]
Another image of it appears on the City of Sydney's "Alderman of Sydney" web-page (Ref SRC 20606).]
[Thomas SPENCE's signature, taken from a letter he wrote in 1856, now in the Archives of the N.S.W. Parliament.]
Thomas SPENCE was also a widower, and after he was elected Mayor in December 1862, his late wife Esther was represented, at those Civic occasions which required a Mayoress, by their elder surviving daughter Elizabeth SPENCE, then a young woman 25 years of age, and who would, 3 years hence, become the wife of a pioneering Presbyterian Minister, and would go with him to live in the Manse of the small N.S.W. country town of Carcoar - having earned the stated reputation for being the only Presbyterian Minister's wife who could claim to have been at one time of her "career" the Mayoress of a major Australian city.
That Minister was Rev James ADAM, M.A., and his story can be found in an earlier blog on this blog-site.
A BRIEF SOJOURN IN MANCHESTER.
Thomas SPENCE and his wife Esther HYDE had arrived in Sydney on 12 February 1842 on the ship Champion, from Liverpool, as bounty emigrants, together with their 5 year-old daughter Elizabeth. They lost a son on day 61 of the voyage, somewhere off the coast of Africa, in the heat of a tropical summer; he only survived his birth by 5 hours; and he joined up to four other children who had not survived their infancy in the town of Manchester, where Thomas and Esther had married, in Saint John's Parish Church, on 28 August 1834. Esther did it hard - she lost two of three more children born in Sydney, and died in 1858, just as Thomas was launching his Civic career as Alderman for Fitzroy Ward, covering Woolloomooloo, on the Sydney Municipal Council.
[Image courtesy of Ancestry.library edition.]
[Original issued certificate, in the family archives, pinned to a letter, dated 28 August 1841, certifying the baptismal details of their daughter Elizabeth SPENCE, shortly before the family emigrated to N.SW.
Earlier again, in the early 1830's, Thomas had arrived in Manchester from Fifeshire in Scotland as a joiner and carpenter, probably having learned his trade from his father in Auchtertool; and there joined his younger brother Robert SPENCE, also a carpenter, who also married there, to Alice GRISDALE, and also emigrated to Sydney, about three months before Thomas and Esther, settling in Redfern.
Thomas resided at Owen St, Hulme, as a Joiner (1836, 1839) and Book-keeper (1838), and more precisely at 28 Owen Street (February 1841); his brother Robert, who witnessed Thomas and Esther's 1834 marriage, resided at Salford.
The SPENCE family was enumerated at 77 Devonshire Street, Manchester, 1841 Census - Thomas, aged 38, a Joiner, with Ester, aged 30+ and Elizabeth, aged 5.
SPENCE FAMILY ORIGINS IN DYSART, FIFESHIRE.
They were the sons of Alexander SPENCE (1775-1860), a Clock and Watchmaker and Wright, of Dysart, Dunfermline and Auchtertool, all in Fifeshire, by his wife Jean MACKAY. Their first known child Thomas was born in Dunfermline in 1802, followed by Robert in 1804; two younger sons were born in Auchtertool, and Henry and Alexander both also joined their brothers in Australia, emigrating in the mid 1850's, with wives and children - Henry going to Ballarat in Victoria, and Alexander to Botany in Sydney's south.
Their only two daughters, Margaret and Isobel, remained in Fife, where they were married, with children.
The SPENCE family had a long tradition in the Royal Burgh of Dysart, as Master Clockmakers and before them as Maltsters. Thomas's grandfather Thomas SPENCE, and his great-grandfather Robert SPENCE, were both Clockmakers of Dysart, and their long-case clocks are still listed in on-line sale catalogues, and for asking prices in excess of £8,000 sterling.
[Detail of the maker's mark of a Thomas SPENCE long-case clock, ca 1795, used to illustrate a recent on-line sale.]
But, we should start with Thomas's great-great grandfather:
Thomas SPENCE was baptised at Saint Serf's Parish Church, Dysart, on 12 February 1683, a son of David SPENCE, Maltster, and his spouse Janet SMALL; Thomas was himself a Burger and Maltster, and was several times Baillie of Dysart; he died in Dysart on 25 October 1758, and was buried under his own stone in the Churchyard of Saint Serf's, Dysart; he married at Saint Serf's, on 24 August 1711, Grizell HENDERSON (daughter of Robert HENDERSON, Bailie of Dysart, by Elizabeth LAW); she was buried with her husband, 25 December 1770; they had issue:
1. Robert SPENCE, baptized at Dysart, 9 October 1712. See [A] below.
2. David SPENCE, baptized at Dysart, 8 August 1714; Salt Master in Dysart; bur Saint Serf's Churchyard, 15 December 1774; married Helen REDDIE; she was buried Saint Serf's, 12 June 1766; issue.
3. Janet SPENCE, baptized at Dysart, 8 July 1716; named in her father's deed, 1763; unmarried.
4. Elizabeth SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 26 February 1718; named in her father's deed, 1763; married at Dysart, 14 November 1752, John REDDIE, a Captain in the service of the Hon East Indies Company, with issue including - Grizel REDDIE, the wife of James BLACK, Commander, R.N.
5. Thomas SPENCE, baptized at Dysart, 24 January 1720; Maltsman and Tidewaiter; married at Dysart, 26 August 1757, Helen ANDERSON, with issue including - Andrew SPENCE (1761 - 1805), trained as a Dentist with his cousin, and went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he married Mary MAUGHAN and had issue.
6. James SPENCE, baptized at Dysart, 22 February 1722; Operator to the Teeth of King George, October 1766, then of Red Lion Street, Holborn; later of Soho, London; died in London, 10 January 1783, and was buried at Saint Serf's, Dysart; by his wife Martha (her will dated March 1784, proved February 1789), he had issue:
a. Thomas Richard SPENCE (born about 1745), also a Royal Dentist, with issue by his wife Frances.
b. George SPENCE (1750-1815), another Royal Dentist, who married Ann PITTS, with issue.
c. Martha SPENCE, born in 1756, the wife of Captain George WHITLEY, with issue.
[A] Robert SPENCE was baptised at Dysart, 9 October 1712, the eldest son and heir; a Wright, Watch and Clock Maker in Dysart; he was buried at Saint Serf's, 6 October 1799; he married at Dysart, 3 February 1738, Margaret PAGE (daughter of Alexander PAGE of Abbotshall and Isabel PHILP); they had issue:
1. Thomas SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 9 June 1740. See [B] below.
2. Grizel SPENCE, baptized at Dysart, 12 February 1742; possibly the wife of William McCULLOUGH, with issue.
3. Isobel SPENCE, baptized at Dysart, 27 November 1743; probably buried Saint Serf's, Dysart, 30 July 1810; unmarried.
4. Alexander SPENCE, baptized at Dysart, 3 December 1745; probably buried Saint Serf's, 22 August 1746; an infant.
5. Elizabeth SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 25 September 1747; probably buried Saint Serf's, 19 December 1752; a child.
6. Margaret SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 30 June 1749; probably buried Saint Serf's, 20 February 1750; an infant.
7. Robert SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 14 June 1750.
8. Margaret SPENCE (2), baptized at Dysart, 23 June 1752; probably buried Saint Serf's, 14 September 1824; unmarried.
9. Martha SPENCE, baptized at Dysart, 15 January 1757; probably the wife of George COMRIE, with issue.
[B] Thomas SPENCE was baptised at Saint Serf's, Dysart, 9 January 1740, the 2nd child and eldest son; Clockmaker in Dysart; his death details have not yet located, but he was living in 1795, and probably died very soon after; he married firstly, at Dysart, about 1761, Isabella DUNCAN; she was buried at Saint Serf's, 8 March 1770, having had issue:
1. Mary SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 30 May 1762; probably buried at Saint Serf's, 29 September 1762; an infant.
2. Robert SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 25 September 1763.
3. James SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 12 May 1765; probably buried at Saint Serf's, 28 June 1768; a child.
4. Margaret SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 26 October 1766; possibly buried at Saint Serf's, 14 September 1824; if so, unmarried.
5. William SPENCE, baptized at Dysart, 9 January 1769; probably buried at Saint Serf's, 17 June 1771; a child.
Thomas married secondly, again at Saint Serf's, Dysart, his cousin Amelia (Emily) ORROCK (daughter of Robert ORROCK of Auchtertool by Isabel PAGE, a sister of Mrs Margaret SPENCE alias PAGE); Emily was buried at Saint Serf's, 27 July 1806, having had issue:
6. Alexander SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 1 September 1775. See [C] below.
7. James SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 8 December 1776; he possibly married Mary MURRAY?
8. Isabel SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 14 June 1779; possibly buried at Saint Serf's, 30 July 1810; if so, unmarried.
9. John SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 4 November 1781; possibly married Grizel MEARNS?
10. Orrock SPENCE, baptised at Dysart, 4 September 1763; he married at Kirkcaldy, June 1818, Catherine HILL, with issue.
[C] Alexander SPENCE was born at Dysart, 13 August 1775, eldest son of the second marriage; Wright and Watchmaker in Dunfermline and Auchtertool; he died at Auchtertool, 2 June 1860, aged 84 years, the death informed by his son-in-law Alexander KINNELL; details of his marriage to Jean MACKAY have not yet been found; she was buried in Auchtertool Churchyard, 26 July 1846, her age not recorded; they had issue:
1. Thomas SPENCE, born at Dunfermline, 6 October 1802, and baptised at the Abbey Church, 24 Oct.
2. Robert SPENCE, born at Dunfermline, 31 July 1804, and baptised ditto, 4 August. See [A] below.
3. Alexander SPENCE, born at Dunfermline, 17 January 1809; apparently died young.
4. Henry SPENCE, born at Auchtertool, 22 December 1812, and baptised there, 15 March 1814 See [B] below.
5. Alexander SPENCE, born at Auchtertool, 1 March 1817, and baptised there, 15 March. See [C] below.
5. Isabel SPENCE, born at Auchtertool, 21 November 1821, and baptised there, 30 November; she was married at Auhtertool, 10 November 1841, to William PATERSON of Auchtertool, with issue:
a. Jean PATERSON, baptised at Auchtertool, 13 March 1842.
b. Robert PATERSON, baptised at Auchtertool, 25 August 1844.
c. Janet PATERSON, baptised at Auchtertool, 21 December 1846.
d. Margaret PATERSON, born at Kingskettle, and baptised at Auchtertool, 18 September 1852.
e. William PATERSON, baptised Auchtertool, 11 October 1855.
f. Thomas PATERSON, baptised Auchtertool, 21 October 1859.
g. Isabella PATERSON, baptised Auchtertool, 2 August 1866.
6. Margaret SPENCE, born at Auchtertool, 10 June 1824, and baptised there, 19 June; she was married at Auchtertool, 30 January 1852, to Alexander KINNELL, with issue:
a. James KINNELL, baptised Auchtertool, 18 June 1852.
b. Alexander KINNELL, baptised Auchtertool, 6 August 1854.
c. Jane KINNELL, baptised Auchtertool, 18 January 1861.
d. John KINNELL, baptised Auchtertool, 15 May 1859.
e. Thomas KINNELL, baptised Auchtertool, 5 May 1862.
f. Robina KINNELL, baptised Auchtertool, 5 September 1862.
g. William KINNELL, baptised Auchtertool, 19 January 1867.
THOMAS SPENCE SETTLES IN SYDNEY.
Thomas SPENCE first resided in Nicholson Street, Balmain, where he was recorded in the 1844 Sydney Directory. He made several property purchases in that vicinity, including 11 perches of land in Johnston Street, Balmain , an "... extension of Nicholson Street," from Elizabeth BURNICLE, in 1850, and which remained in his possession until the 1870's.
It is believed that on that land, in about 1844, and with the permission of her late husband William BURNICLE (he died in February 1846), Thomas had previously built a small stone cottage, later known as Woodbine Cottage, on the south-eastern corner of Nicholson Street and Smith's Lane (later School Street). See William BURNICLE's entry in the 2nd part of Peter REYNOLDS's article published in The Leichhardt Historical Journal, No. 12, 1983, at page 14. The cottage has evidently not survived; but it does appear in John DEGOTARDI's 1865 photograph, "Panoramic View of Simmons Point, Balmain East, from Goat Island, etc", on the www.collection.hht.au web-site; which photo was reproduced in REYNOLDS's article, identifying the exact location.
But Thomas did not stay long in Balmain, and by 1849, he had already taken occupancy of a one-roomed workshop on William Street, Woolloomooloo.
In August 1851, he purchased a brick and Shingle workshop just around the corner, in Palmer Street, and in May 1852, he purchased a brick and shingle house in William Street.
His acceptance into the congregation of the Free Presbyterian Church in Pitt Street in November 1852 gives a clear indication of the removal of his residence from Balmain to Woolloomooloo by that time.
Sydney Directory listings record him as a Builder, at William Street, 1851; at 79 William Street, 1855; and at 110 Palmer Street, 1858; Miller and Timber Yard, 102-104 Palmer Street, 1861; and from 1863 in Palmer Street - No 108 in 1863 - 1865; and No 126 in 1867-1876.
It is not possible, from this distance in time, to identify exactly where these earlier structures stood, but it is apparent from Rating Assessments in later years that they were probably part of the package of four properties that later came into the possession of his only surviving daughter Mrs Elizabeth ADAM, and after, of her only daughter Mrs Margaret Paton PIGOTT (my grandmother).
In 1861, Thomas was recorded as the owner of the following properties that were rated in Fitzroy Ward:
1. 42 William Street - House and Shop; Brick and Shingle; two floors and six rooms; annual value £170; occupied by James SADLER.
2. 44 William Street - all ditto; occupied by Henry WALLS.
3. 102-106 Palmer Street - Wood and Iron sheds; value £20; occupied by Thomas SPENCE.
4. 108 Palmer Street - House; Brick and Slate; three floors; value £100; occupied by Thomas SPENCE.
There were two other properties listed, at 10 and 12 Spence's Lane, where two cottages of brick and shingle, valued at £28 and £26, were occupied by Margaret PARKER and Edward EVERETT respectively; these were probably shortly after demolished and replaced by a house similar to the one at 108 Palmer Street.
These street numberings were only temporary, and by 1867, the now pair of terraced houses which Thomas owned on Palmer Street were numbered 126 (probably the former 108 - Thomas continued to reside in this one until his death) and 128 (the southern house, standing on the north side of Spence Lane, which ran from Palmer Street to Bourke Street, just north of William Street, and which disappeared, around the year 2000, under the new circular south-bound on-ramp into the airport tunnel, known as the Eastern Distributor).
[Numbers 126 and 128 Palmer Street, Woolloomooloo, from the files of the Department of Main Roads, photographed shortly before they were demolished in the 1980s to make way for the Bourke Street by-pass under William Street. An Executor's inspection prior to their sale in 1960 revealed that one of them was being used as a "house of ill-repute" otherwise a gay brothel.]
When my grandmother died in 1960, these four properties were sold to satisfy the conditions of her will (they were of unequal value, and so could not be divided equally without realising their cash value). At that time, they comprised the pair of adjoining three storied terraced houses standing on the north-western corner of Palmer Street and Spence Lane (both demolished in the 1980's to make way for the Bourke Street "diversion" where it passed under William Street); and the two shops on the north side of William Street, between Crown and Palmer Streets (one occupied by a Butcher, the other by a Chemist), and were demolished to make way for the Boulevarde Hotel ( the butcher shop lay under the present driveway entrance to the hotel).
[The nearest I can get to the two William Street shops, off to the extreme right, at the far end of the veranda colonnade.
Courtesy of Max KELLY's "Faces of the Street," Paddington, 1982, page 145.]
[Corner of William and Palmer Streets, Woolloomooloo, July 1945.
Photo by Ivan IVES, courtesy of the State Library of N.S.W.]
THOMAS SPENCE SERVES HIS PARLIAMENT.
Thomas spent some time in and around the Parliamentary precinct on the east side of Macquarie Street, as a sort of period contractor for minor
Politics was not new to Thomas SPENCE. During his time in Manchester, not only had the Reform Bill of 1837 enabled Mancunians to once again send Representatives to sit in the House of Commons, a right they were deprived of at the Restoration as punishment for their support of Oliver CROMWELL in the Civil Wars, but they were also able to establish a Municipal Corporation for the Town, despite having to outlay almost £800,000 to "compensate" the MOSELEY family for their surrendering of the Manorial Rights.
And in addition to all of this, the Collegiate Church - where his wife Esther HYDE was baptised in 1804, and where her parents (George HYDE, a Cloth Dyer, and Margaret MOTTRAM) were married in 1794 - was finally elevated to the rank of Cathedral.
But I don't know whether Thomas was new to Politics.
In July 1848, his name was included on a list of members of a Balmain committee established for the election of Charles COWPER and H. Gilbert SMITH to the Legislative Council as Members for the County of Cumberland [Sydney Morning Herald, 31 July 1848], but in particular for advancing the electoral cause of Mr SMITH.
It seems likely that his association with the world of COWPER, later to lead a number of Governments of an increasingly Liberal persuasion, inevitably led to his own involvement in Municipal politics another 9 years hence; it may also have "facilitated" his involvement with both minor and major new works in the N.S.W. Parliamentary precinct, which he commenced in February 1850.
His "tasks" are listed in Public Works Archives, and are summarised below:
26 February 1850 - tendered for alterations to the Committee Room of the Council Chamber, for £57.
15 May 1850 - instructed to furnish a lock for a desk and a man to regulate the bells.
7 June 1850 - instructed to provide two additional keys for the dressing room at the Head of the Stairs, one for the Sergeant-at-Arms, the other for the Assistant Clerk.
6 October 1852 - ordered to erect shelves in the Speaker's Room, for a large number of books weekly expected to arrive from England.
2 February 1853 - instructed to repair or replace the shelves that he had provided for the Almanacs and Lists, which had warped so badly as to be unfit for purpose.
7 July 1853 - ordered to replace a ladder, supplied by the Gas Company for lighting the Lamps, and broken by one of Thomas's men, resulting in the lights having remained unlit for two weeks.
12 July 1854 - requested to repair sash lines on one of the Chamber windows.
Up to this time, Thomas had taken his instructions from Edmund BLACKETT, the Colonial Architect who had succeeded Mortimer LEWIS in 1849, and who had in turn been instructed by William McPHERSON, Clerk of the Council. BLACKETT resigned in 1854 to take up a position offered by the Senate of Sydney University to erect their first buildings, and was replaced by William WEAVER, who had been BLACKETT's Senior Foreman of Works.
WEAVER's tenure was short-lived, and he "resigned" under the Governor's displeasure over his failure to make timely provision for a meeting chamber required to accommodate the new Legislative Assembly under responsible bi-cameral government.
The process is succinctly described by the Clerk of the Parliaments, W.K. CHARLETON, in his address, in July 1944, to visiting members of the Royal Australian Historical Society, and published in the R.A.H.S. Journal, Vol. XXX, p. 249 et seq, as follows:
"... WEAVER was asked to prepare an estimate for a new Council Chamber and offices. A few days later he attended before a committee of the House and stated that he had approached Mrs BURDEKIN with a view to securing a lease of her residence opposite for a Council Chamber.
"These negotiations apparently fell through, and on 23 February 1856, the Governor (Sir William DENNISON) and the Executive Council approved the purchase of an iron building then in Melbourne for £1,760 (delivered in Sydney Harbour) or £1,835 if delivered (on land, no more than, i.e.) within 1 mile from a public wharf.
"It is said the building was intended for church purposes in Bendigo, but at the time of the gold rush, portion of the material was hastily put up in Melbourne to cope with the extraordinary demand for accommodation. The whole of the material was brought from Melbourne on the ship "Callender," which left there on 13 March 1856.
"On 17 April 1856, the Governor approved the tender of Mr Thomas SPENCE to erect the building, together with adjacent rooms and offices, and provide internal fittings for the Chamber, for the sum of £4,475. The building was erected at the southern end of the old Principal Surgeon's residence."
The offer of the building had been made to WEAVER on 26 February 1856, by Mr James DEAN of Macquarie Place; but by the time it was delivered to Sydney, WEAVER had been replaced as Colonial Architect, on 1 April, by Alexander DAWSON, formerly the Clerk of Works in Hobart.
Responsible Government in N.S.W. had already claimed it's first Public Servant victim.
And Mrs BURDEKIN's stately mansion stood on the site that is now occupied by Saint Stephen's Presbyterian Church.
Thomas worked hard. The whole of the prefabricated cast-iron work (manufactured in Scotland) was erected and fitted-out in about a month, although some of the ancillary office space at the rear had not yet been completed, when the first bi-cameral Legislature in Australia was officially opened on 22 May 1856 - it having only been announced two days prior, that the new Chamber was to become the home of the Legislative Council, and that the new Assembly (or Lower House) would meet in the old Council Chamber.
And Thomas may well have had some recent experience in just this kind of work - eighteen months earlier, and on the site immediately to the north of the Parliamentary complex, the congregation of the Free Presbyterian Church in Pitt Street had built a cast-iron church, also prefabricated in Scotland. This was the Congregation to which Thomas belonged (see below), and although the contract details have not yet located, it seems inconceivable that he did not have a large hand in it's erection, or the supervision thereof.
But returning to the Parliament, we find that Thomas continued to perform mostly minor works functions, with an occasional independent contract:
3 November 1856 - his tender, for £445, for building an Addition to the Steward's House at the Legislative Council Chamber was accepted.
29 January 1857 - requested to repair the leaky roof to the new Council Chamber.
29 July 1757 - requested to "work on" a number of chairs for the Press Gallery before the next Session.
16 November 1857 - ordered to provide a light ladder, 16 feet long, for lighting the gas lamps and other purposes.
20 November 1857 - ordered to re-locate the Legislative Council entrance gate further south, nearer the Infirmary Wall, to alleviate problems for turning carriages which had resulted in accidents, and improving the aspect of the building.
27 January 1858 - ordered to install, on the front veranda of the Legislative Assembly, a press for the storage of printed papers from the last Session.
7 June 1858 - ordered to re-shingle the old stables at the rear of the Assembly.
16 June 1858 - requested to furnish a Carpenter for a day to complete sundry repairs in the Assembly Chamber
2 July 1858 - requested to supply a new spring to be fixed to the door in the centre of passage leading to the Speaker's Room, and effect repairs to the kitchen fire-place.
5 July 1858 - requested to alter frames and sashes in the Office and No 1 Committee Room, so as to afford some ventilation.
14 July 1858 - ordered to investigate the opening in the centre of the ceiling of the Chamber, and fix the covering to the ceiling ventilator.
22 July 1858 - requested to fit two first class patent drawer locks for one of the desks in the Legislative Council Office.
6 August 1858 - requested to fit a lock and key to one of the Water Closet doors at the rear of the Assembly Offices.
15 September 1858 - ordered to purchase three more Urinal troughs to be placed in the new Water Closets being built at the rear of the Parliamentary Buildings.
25 November 1858 - requested to put up ropes, etcetera, for the Prorogation at mid-day the following day.
4 February 1859 - ordered to re-build the large portion of wall separating the Parliamentary grounds from the Domain which had been blown over in a storm.
23 February 1859 - ordered to supply a step-ladder, 6 feet high, light and narrow for the Council Office.
8 April 1859 - ordered to make arrangements for the closing of the present Council Session.
17 January 1860 - requested to re-locate a paper press from the corridor on the 1st floor into the Legislative Council Office.
15 February 1850 - ordered to erect suitable posts for stretching clothes lines behind the Legislative Council.
June 1860 - the Colonial Architect recommended that the contract for a new joint Parliamentary Library, to be built in the old Refreshment Room, with additional additions to abut the rear veranda, valued at £1150, be "...carried out upon the existing Contracts upon the Schedules" in order to save time - it is probable that this was done under the terms of Thomas SPENCE's "Annual Contract."
2 July 1860 - instructed to perform the necessary alterations in the Council Chamber previous to the Prorogation of Parliament on Wednesday 4th next.
This was the last mention of Thomas SPENCE in the files of the Colonial Architect's Correspondence, N.S.W. State Archives, researched some years ago in the Globe Street Reading Rooms.
[A view of Macquarie Street, Sydney, in the 1890s.
The "Bear Pit" of the N.S.W. Parliament (just right of centre) and its appurtenances, immediately behind the left half of the solid "white" fence, book-ended by two imported pre-fabricated iron church structures erected by Presbyterians:
1. The Free Church in the foreground, and
2. Thomas SPENCE's Legislative Council Chamber, just beyond the old wing of the former Rum Hospital,
and immediately in front of the then newly built Sydney Hospital (on the extreme right.]
THOMAS SPENCE AND HIS CHURCH.
Thomas was a Scot, and so a Presbyterian. He was baptised into the Established Church of Scotland at Dunfermline Abbey Church. His younger siblings were baptised at the Established Church of Scotland in Auchtertool, so that is presumably where Thomas had his first encounter with a Scottish Sabbath School.
As a young man in Manchester, he had two of his children baptised at the Scotch National Presbyterian Church in Saint Peter's Square. It is not yet known why he did not marry there (which he did instead in the Parish Church of Saint Anne's); nor why his other children born in Manchester were not baptised there.
The reasons may be related to there having been some qualifying "ground-rules" in Anglican jurisdictions prior to the Hardwicke Marriage Act (particularly as regards qualifying periods of residency), which Act freed up some Dissenters rights (particularly in regards to the Licensing of non-Established Ministers to perform marriages after the commencement of Statutory Registration); or to the fact that his wife was not Presbyterian, and they may have had a "share and share-alike" agreement relating to the children's baptisms; or simply that he or they didn't like a particular Minister, or one was then unavailable.
In Sydney, Thomas first lived at Balmain, although it seems likely there was no separate Presbyterian Church there, which is probably why his second surviving daughter, Esther Junior, was baptised in Sydney - but here again, this took place at the Parish Church of Saint Philip's - and here again, this may have arisen due to it being Esther's "turn," or due to the unavailability of a suitable Presbyterian Minister at the time.
I have not yet found his name associated with any particular Congregation before 1852.
But there is another factor that may have come into play. The Scottish Church was well factionalised by the time Thomas emigrated to N.S.W., with a number of "dissenting" Synods operating outside of the Established Church of Scotland; and the latest "disruption" which separated the Free Church of Scotland from the Established Church would occur in 1843, shortly after his arrival here, essentially repudiating the Established Church for accepting financial support from the State for Ministerial Stipends and Building costs.
In Sydney there operated a man of the cloth even more vociferously opposed to such State Aid, one Rev John Dunmore LANG, whose stridency even kept other like-minded Free Church adherents at arms length!
Thomas does not appear to have played any major part in this Clerical factionalism, other than by his adherence to what was left of the Free Church's Synod of Eastern Australia, under Rev Alexander SALMON.
Thomas was undoubtedly in attendance, if not as the builder, then certainly as a very interested member of the congregation, when the new "Iron Church" on Macquarie Street was opened for divine service on 5 August 1855:
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[The Free or Iron Church, Macquarie Street, Sydney, on the site of the present N.S.W. State Library.]
This building served its second purpose (it had previously been partially erected in Melbourne) until taken over by Sydney Council for use as a Lending Library (very appropriate to the function of the site today, as home of the State Library of N.S.W.), and finally being removed, about the 1890's, to the State Hospital at Lidcombe, and re-erected for the third time for use as a chapel building.
Rev SALMON buried Thomas's wife Esther at Devonshire Street Cemetery in 1858; but that is the only other indication we have of his Church going activities - other than his contribution to the Building Fund of the Established Church of Scotland Synod for the erection of a church in Carcoar, in 1861, for their minister, Rev James ADAM, Thomas's future son-in-law.But by the time ADAM had married Elizabeth SPENCE in 1865, concerted efforts had managed to effect a tolerably functioning Union of the dissenting Synods, notwithstanding the Rev J.D. LANG.
THOMAS IMMERSES HIMSELF IN MUNICIPAL POLITICS.
In November 1857, Thomas was nominated to fill the office of Alderman for the Fitzroy Ward for the Municipality of Sydney, by John PALMER of Palmer Street and Michael CHAPMAN of Crown St, the notice appearing in the Sydney Morning Herald on 30 November. The elections were held on 1 December, and Thomas defeated Michael GOLDEN, being elected to a term of two years.
Sydney had first obtained its Municipal Charter in 1842, the year Thomas had arrived in Sydney from Manchester. With six Wards, and the first six Alderman elected on a Sydney wide basis for a full term, with the next six for a lesser term, and a Mayor elected directly by the populace, this model did not survive much more than a decade. In 1853, the Council was dismissed by the government, in the face of losses of great numbers to the gold-rushes, for failure to providing adequate water supply and drainage/sewerage services.
The Administrators were themselves sacked, also for incompetence, and after some alterations to the Municipal Acts in Parliament created a Second Sydney Corporation, a new council was elected on 11 April 1857, with 8 wards, each with two Alderman, the first to a two year term, and the second to retire early.
One of the new Wards was Fitzroy Ward, created out of Cook Ward, and comprising the rapidly developing area between the harbour foreshore and William Street/Bayswater Road, and between Riley Street and the creek emptying into Rushcutters Bay (the area now occupied by the present-day suburbs of Woolloomooloo, Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay).
The first rotation of Alderman took place in November of the same year, and it was this election, held on 1 December, that Thomas SPENCE contested and won, giving him a two-year term.
And at the expiry of this term, Alderman SPENCE was re-elected, on 2 December 1861, by a large majority, to yet another two year term, to expire in December 1863.
But sadly, shortly after the start of his first term, on 2 February 1858, Thomas lost his wife Esther, who died at their residence in William Street, at the relatively young age of 52.
And on 10 October 1859, he was appointed by the Colonial Secretary's Office to the Bench of Magistrates for Sydney.
In Council matters, Alderman SPENCE took the usual interest in water supply, formation of streets, their kerbing and guttering, the laying of gas pipes, etc.
[The Mayor, Mayor Elect and Aldermen of the Municipal Council of Sydney, 1861. Image courtesy of City of Sydney Archives. Thomas SPENCE appears in the 4th Row, 2nd from the left.]
THOMAS IS ELECTED MAYOR OF SYDNEY.
On 9 December 1862, Alderman Thomas SPENCE was elected, in his absence due to illness, by a meeting of the Aldermen, to serve as the Mayor of Sydney Municipality for the year 1863.
But not without some debate, both as to the method of election, and concerning the level of remuneration. SPENCE's supporters sought an election by ballot, his opponents by open voting; after the open voting amendment was defeated, SPENCE, was declared elected, polling 10 votes to 4.
As to the Mayoral Allowance, which had been denied for 1863 by a motion passed during the previous term, acrimonious debate took place over a rescission motion that was moved to re-instate the Allowance, and amendments canvassing allowances varying from £750 to £2,000. The rescission motion won the day, and the Mayoral Allowance was set at £1000.
On Tuesday 10 March 1863, Mayor SPENCE thanked his supporters, and entertained the Aldermen and Officials of the Sydney Municipality to a dinner at Manly Beach, which was marked by "... unrestrained social intercourse and enjoyment of the good things provided."
And on Wednesday 14 October 1863, the Mayor went one step further - he gave a public picnic at what is now Balmoral Beach, to which his friends, and a large number of the citizens of Sydney were invited. He was clearly mindful of the debate which had occurred at his election concerning the excesses of previous Mayoralty's in the staging of lavish Balls for the entertainment of the elite; and decided to buck the trend, and entertain all classes of the people, including some of his own poorer relations.
Not that he was thanked for this display of egalitarianism. The editor of the Empire took him to task after the event, advising him to be "... more select in his company" in the future - although it must be said this advice arose due to the political co-incidence of their having just been a change of Government, which saw several outgoing Ministers taking the opportunity to make pointed political remarks, which were judged unseemly in the presence of the Governor, Sir John YOUNG, and his wife.
Thomas entertained the gathering alongside his daughter, Elizabeth, who "... very gracefully did the honours of Mayoress on the occasion." There was a fine repast, furnished in Mr COMPAGNONI's best style, the table centre-piece, a huge block of solid ice weighing 500 lbs, creating much amusement. It might be pertinent to note here that ice was not manufactured in Sydney until 1862 - previously, ice was made in Melbourne (from 1858) and some was sent to Sydney, and before that ice, cut from frozen lakes near Boston, in Massachusetts, had been shipped to Sydney from as early as the 1830's, insulated with bales of straw, and deposited in a purpose-built Ice House.
The evident success of the Mayor's picnic resulted in a return match, on 10 November, at the same place, some 500 being in attendance; it was organised by a committee representing the guests who had attended the previous picnic; and Elizabeth SPENCE again represented her late mother as the Mayoress.
During his Mayoralty, Thomas SPENCE presided as chairman of several major gatherings in public meetings. In July there was a celebration of the first anniversary of the arrival in the colony of the Rev Dr Robert STEEL, a fellow Presbyterian; in September it was a meeting in support of Free Education; and in December it was a crowded meeting concerning the libel suit that was being prosecuted against the editor of the Empire newspaper by the Doctor who had sectioned a Mr MELVILLE in the Parramatta Lunatic Asylum, who had smuggled out a letter detailing his false committal, and which the Empire had published.
He also had two more civic functions to attend to - one was the "gala fête" of the National Schools of the metropolis "... on the occasion of a monster demonstration" held in Parramatta Park on 17 December, with over 3,000 pupils attending, with their teachers and family members - the other was watching the Regatta near Woolloomooloo Bay, from the comfort of the deck of the Flagship, the fine clipper ship Canaan, again with his daughter Elizabeth in tow.
Thomas SPENCE hung up his Mayoral robes in December 1863. He had foreshadowed his retirement several months earlier, announcing that he would not seek re-election for another term as Alderman.
THOMAS RETIRES - FINAL YEARS.
Thomas lived out his final years in retirement at his residence in Palmer Street. His younger daughter Esther and her husband Nathaniel NEALE lived with him, and she probably acted as his carer.
Thomas was very shaken by Esther's death in 1876, and one of his obituaries went so far as to suggest he never recovered from the shock of it (see below).
His financial circumstances may not have been as rosy as his property portfolio might have suggested - he was either forced, or chose, to mortgage one of his properties, a mortgage that was not discharged during what was left of his lifetime.
Thomas SPENCE died at his residence at 126 Palmer Street on 1 August 1878; he was buried at Devonshire Street Cemetery, along with his wife and daughter.
His additional details were inscribed on the standing sandstone gravestone he had erected when his wife died. It was removed, along with their exhumed remains, and re-erected over their re-interred remains at Gore Hill Cemetery. This was done in order to make way for the Central Railway extensions to the suburban Railways network, begun around 1900, and completed by the opening of the Harbour Bridge in 1932.
The Sydney Morning Herald published an obituary in their issue dated Thursday August 1878:
"MR THOMAS SPENCE, J.P.
"In the obituary of the past month occurs the name of Mr Thomas SPENCE, once Mayor, and for many years alderman of Sydney. He died last Thursday week. His arrival in the colony dates as far back as 36 years, and from the first he took a very active part in public affairs, particularly interesting himself in politics during the time that the Late Sir Charles COWPER was before the country. Mr SPENCE entered the City Council in 1858, shortly before the passing of the new Municipalities Act, as a representative of Fitzroy Ward, and he was Mayor of Sydney during the year 1863. As an alderman he was attentive to the wants of the ratepayers and the welfare of the city, and as a magistrate he was very regular in his performance of his duties. By trade he was a master builder, and during his life became possessed of considerable property. He died at the age of 76 years, more from a general break-up of the system than anything else, but the death of one of his daughters four years ago affected him so deeply that he never fully recovered from the shock of that bereavement." HIS FAMILY.
Thomas informed the N.S.W. Registrar on the occasion of his wife Esther's death in 1857 that they had had issue of eight children, six of whom had pre-deceased her, they being four boys and two girls un-named; three of the children have yet to be identified; those that have been identified are as follows:
1. Margaret Jane SPENCE, born in Manchester, 9 February 1835, and baptised at the Scotch National Presbyterian Church, Saint Peter's Square, on 14 February; she died young, before the 1841 Census, and probably before Statutory Registration commenced on 1 July 1837.
2. Elizabeth SPENCE, born in Manchester, 14 May 1836; she emigrated to N.S.W. with her parents, 1841; she died at "Cadara" near Tottenham, 21 June 1932; she was married, at 108 (later re-numbered 126) Palmer Street, Woolloomooloo, 4 April 1865, to Rev James ADAM, M.A., Presbyterian Minister of Carcoar; they had issue four children, two of whom died in infancy. See his separate blog on this blog-page.
3. Alexander SPENCE; born at Owen Street, Hulme, Manchester, 7 June 1839; he died at 28 Owen Street, 10 February 1841, of Measles (both events Registered at Chorlton). Possibly buried in the Rusholme Road Cemetery, Chorlton Row.
4. An un-named son; born 27 December 1841, at about the half-way point of the voyage out to N.S.W.; died aged 5 hours, and buried at sea.
5. Esther SPENCE, born at Balmain, 29 May 1843, and baptised at Saint Philip's Parish Church, Sydney, by Rev William COWPER; she died at 126 Palmer Street, Woolloomooloo, 7 July 1876; she was married at 126 Palmer Street, on 2 November 1869, Nathaniel NEALE, Customs Locker; no issue.
Of the six deceased children that Thomas mentioned in 1857, the balance of unidentified children, two boys and one girl, were either born in Manchester (possibly about November-December 1837, or about September-October 1840) or in Sydney.
An Alice SPENCE was buried at Rusholme Road Cemetery, Chorlton upon Medlock, on 5 September 1841, aged 8 months (so born about December 1840), late of Hulme, grave number 305, death from diarrhoea, parents not named in the burial register.
Rev J.D. LANG buried in Sydney a Thomas SPENCE, 7 July 1854, an infant, parents not identified.
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Thomas SPENCE was my great-great grandfather.
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THOMAS SPENCE'S NEPHEWS AND NIECES.
[A] Robert SPENCE, born at Dunfermline, 31 July 1804; went to Manchester; Carpenter in Salford; married at Eccles, 1838, Alice GRISDALE; they emigrated to N.S.W. on the ship "Ayrshire" departing Liverpool, July 1841, with his wife and three sons; Carpenter, Botany road, Redfern, 1847-51; ditto, George Street, Redfern, 1864-1870; Builder; he died at Wells Street, Redfern, 11 February 1879, aged 74, and was buried at Devonshire Street Cemetery (later re-interred at Rookwood, Presbyterian, Section 5C, Plot 4480); his wife Alice died at George Street, Redfern, 24 September 1856, ditto; they had issue:
1. Alexander SPENCE, born at Salford, December quarter 1838 (Volume 20, Page 683); Carpenter; N.S.W. Railways, 1880's; he died at Jane Street, Penrith, 9 June 1885, aged 45 years, and was buried at Emu Plains; he was married at South Sydney, 8 June 1867, to Mary Ann FREEMAN; she died at High Street, Penrith, 14 October 1915, and was buried at Kingswood; they had issue:
a. Horace Alexander SPENCE, born at Redfern, 3 April 1869; he died at Kalgoorlie, 15 November 1936; he was married firstly, at Burwood, 29 August 1891, to Maria E. HEWITT, with issue:
i. Alexander SPENCE, born at Penrith, 5 September 1892; he died at Adamstown, 9 September 1970; he was married at Manly, 3 March 1918, to Alice STYLES; she died at Adamstown, 23 November 1967; they had issue.
ii. Florence J. SPENCE, born in 1894; died at Murrurundi, 1894.
They were divorced in October 1899 (Maria was married secondly, at Burwood, 1901, to Godwin MARWOOD, and died in 1923); Horace was married secondly, at Southern Cross, W.A., 26 December 1900, to Lavinia Emily HARRIS, with further issue:
iii. Ethyl Gladys Coral SPENCE, born Northam, W.A., 1901; she died 8 November 1910, aged 9 years.
b. Ethel Elizabeth Alice SPENCE, born at Redfern, 1870; Secretary, Penrith branch of the Red Cross Society; she died at Lethbidge street, Penrith, 29 January 1935, and was buried at Penrith General Cemetery (Kingswood); she was married at Penrith, 16 September 1891, to Henry Frederick SMITH; h died on 23 October 1937, aged 77; they appear to have had two sons who died in childhood.
c. Iris Adele SPENCE, born at Redfern, 1871; living with her widowed mother, at High Street, Penrith, 1903-09; she died thee, 19 June 1919, and was buried at Kingswood; unmarried.
d. Royal Dugdale SPENCE, born at Redfern, 26 March 1873; Compositor, at Henty, 1913, Penrith, 1915, Griffith, 1919, and Collarenebri, 1935-36; he died at Penrith, 27 March 1940; unmarried.
e. Daisy Florence SPENCE, born at Redfern, 1875; she died at High Street, Wauchope, 1 September 1950, a widow, and was buried at Penrith General Cemetery; she was married at her brother's residence, Duke Street, Kalgoorlie, 10 April 1902, to William Oldmeadow JONES, of Newcastle, Baker; they had issue:
i. Iris Alice JONES, born at Midland Junction, W.A., 1903.
ii. Vivienne JONES; living 1950.
iii. Douglas JONES; living 1950.
f. Sydney Cleveland SPENCE, born at Redfern, 1 October 1876; W.A. Government Railways; First A.I.F.; in England, February 1935, May 1936 & March 1940; he died at Leicester, England, 1 February 1949; he was married firstly, at Northam Wesleyan Church, 10 January 1900, to Amelia Millicent GOUGH; she was a storekeeper, Maylands (Perth), 1925, 1928, 1934; she died at Mount Lawley, Perth, 19 March 1942, aged 64, and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery (Baptist); they had issue:
i. Daisy Amelia SPENCE, born at Northam, 1901; only surviving daughter, 1942.
ii. Samuel Cleveland SPENCE, born at Kalgoorlie, 1903; Clerk, with his mother, 1925, 1928; only surviving son, 1942; he died at Mount Lawley, 12 May 1960; he was married at Perth, 1929, to Edith FOX; she died on 21 December 1989, aged 83, and was buried at Karrakatta; no known issue.
iii. William Alxander SPENCE, born at Kalgoorlie, 1905; he died there, 20 April 1908, and buried Methodist Portion, Kalgoorlie Cemetery.
iv. Stillborn daughter, interred at Kalgoorlie Cemetery, 12 July 1912, as "... child of Mrs Syd SPENCE" [Cemetery Register].
f. Vivian Charles SPENCE, born 1878; he died at Redfern, 1880.
g. George Freeman SPENCE, born and died at George Street, Redfern, 1879.
h. Coral SPENCE, born at Bullanaming Street, Redfern, 20 August 1880; Penrith Public School, July 1889; she died at Strathfield, 16 July 1944, and was buried at Penrith General Cemetery, Kingswood; she was married at High Street, Penrith, 26 September 1907, to Harmony Ernest PHILLIPS; he died at Penrith, 4 July 1940; they had issue:
i. Royal Dugdale Harmony PHILLIPS, born at Wellington, 6 July 1908; he was married at Penrith, 26 December 1934, to Clarice Nepean MESSER; with issue.
ii. Heather Coral PHILLIPS, born at Wellington, 1911; she died at Goulburn, 1912, aged 10 months.
iii. Mary Adeline PHILLIPS, born at Goulburn, 25 June 1915; she was married at Strathfield, 26 February 1944, to John Alfred LUTON; with issue.
iv. Sydney Arthur PHILLIPS, born at Goulburn, 28 October 1917; 2nd A.I.F. (P.O.W. in Germany); he was married at Ashfield, 29 March 1947, to Frances Isobel PARKES; they had issue.
j. Alice Garton SPENCE, born at Penrith, 1882; she carried on her mother's newsagency in High Street, Penrith; she died at Penrith, 7 November 1951; unmarried.
k. stillborn female, 1883.
l. Lisle Freeman SPENCE, born at Penrith, 19 March 1884; Teacher in Mudgee; Picture Theatre Proprietor in Penrith; he died at Springwood, 4 April 1972, and was buried at Eastern Creek; he was married at Mudgee, 7 August 1907, to Beatrice Mabel McCALLUM; she died on 7 February 1976; they had issue:
i. Beryl Beatrice SPNCE, born at Mudgee, 23 December 1908; she was married at Penrith, 9 November 1933, to Allan Walter PATMAN; they had issue.
ii. Douglas Alexander SPENCE, born at Mudgee, 1910; Schoolteacher; he was married to Valda Joy (-?-); they had a son.
iii. Bruce Archibald SPENCE, born at Mudgee, 1911; Theatre Manager in Penrith; he was married at Penrith, 1939, to Nancy Corona JONES.
2. Joseph SPENCE, born in Manchester (or Wakefield?), 1840; he died on the voyage out to N.S.W., 7 October 1841, on day 88 of the 107 day voyage, an infant.
3. Jane SPENCE, born in Sydney, 7 March 1842; she died on 11 May 1842, an infant.
4. Robert SPENCE, born at Chippendale, 5 September 1843; Carpenter, Waterloo, 1871; ditto, Grafton Street, Goulburn, 1894; went to W.A. in 1894; he died at Kalgoorlie, 4 January 1913; he was married in St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Sydney, 6 March 1867, to Mary (Ann) SKELTON; they had issue:
a. Alice E. SPENCE, born at Redfern, 1867; she died in 1867, after her clothes cught fire in kitchen, and was buried at Balmain Cemetery.
b. Robert Alexander SPENCE, born at Redfern, 1869; Fitter; he was married at Wickham, 26 October 1897, to Aurelia FREDERICK; she died in January 1946, and was bured at Sandgate Cemetery, 24 January; they had issue:
i. Robert A.C. SPENCE, born and died at Wickham, 1898, and buried at Sandgate, 11 May.
ii. Aurelia SPENCE, born and died at Wickahm, 1899, and died 9 May.
iii. Violet I. M. SPENCE, born at Lismore, 1900.
iv. Alexandra Caroline May SPENCE, born at Wickham, 1902; living at Newcastle, 1938.
v. Marcia Hazel Joyce SPENCE, born at Wickham, 1908; with her parents, 1935.
vi. Christian Robert G. SPENCE, born at Wickham, 1911; he was married at Wickham, 138, to Marjorie Catherine CRIDLAND.
vii. Thomas H.R. SPENCE, born and died at Wickham, 1916, and buried at Sandgate, 21 June, aged 14 days.
c. Arthur Edward SPENCE, born at Redfern, 1871; Railway Porter, Goulburn, then Newtown; he died at Longdown Stree, Newtown, 10 July 1933, the widow surviving; he was married at Camperdown, 9 October 1896, to Henrietta LEEDHAM (it may have been a second marriage?); she died at Ryde, in 1897; they had issue:
i. Roy SPENCE; he was married at Marrickville, 1921, to Doris M. HEALY; they had issue.
Arthur married again, at Newtown, 1902, to Janet BENNETT, by whom he had further issue:
ii. William Maurice SPENCE, born at Newtown, 1903; he died in Canberra, 26 July 1951, and was buried at Woden Cemetery; his wife was Minerva.
iii. Thelma P. SPENCE, born at Newtown, 1904; she died there in 1917.
iv. Arthur Edward Gordon SPENCE, born at Newtown, 1906; Clerk; he was married at Wickham, 1940, to Violet Euene ELLIOTT.
v. Robert A. SPENCE, born and died at Newtown, 1910.
vi. Bernice Janet Mary SPENCE, born at Newtown, 1911; she died in Canberra, 11 September 1996, and buried at Woden Cemetery; she was married firstly, at Newtown, 1935, to Harold M. MICHAEL; probably divorced (?); she was married secondly, about 1950, to Bernard Villiers FRYER, by whom an infant daughter, born and died in Canberra, October 1951; Bernie died in July 1970.
vii. Iris Alison SPENCE born at Newtown, 1933; died in Canberra, 14 September 163; unmarried.
d. Jessie Maud SPENCE, born at Farnham, near Stuart Town, N.s.W., 22 June 1873; she died at Belmore, 23 November 1947; she was married at Goulburn, to Gordon Tennyson STEWART; Brassfitter; he may have died at Lakemba, 31 August 1934, or at Bankstown, 1939; they had issue:
i. Mona Vivienne STEWART, born at Goulburn, 8 June 1898; she died at Croydon, 16 April 1963; she was married at Redfern, 1916, to William George GIBB; Clerk; they had issue.
ii. Eric Carlisle STEWART, born at Goulburn, 3 February 1895; N.S.W. Railways; First A.I.F.; he died at Sydney, 11 May 1950; he was married at Waterloo, 10 December 122, to Elsie Annie ALEWOOD; she died on 28 July 1977, and was buried at Woronora Cemetery; they had issue.
iii. Nellie Maude (Helena) SEWART, born at Enmore, 18 June 1902; an Opera Singer, who adopted the name Helena to avoid confusion with her famous namesake; she died at Katoomba, 2 May 1966; she was married in England to Richard BROMLEY, Music Professor; he died at Katoomba, in July 1948.
e. Esther Alfreda SPENCE, born at Stuart Town, 1 July 1875; she died at Strathfield, 5 June 1969, aged 90 years, and was buried at Rookwood; she was married firstly, at Burwood, 1900, to William T. ROCHE; they had issue:
i. Christobel ROCHE, born and died at Parramatta, 1900.
After the divorce, she married secondly, at Newtown, 19 February 1916, to Thomas Charles BURY; Butcher.
f. Thomas Tilden SPENCE, born at Stuart Town, 14 August 1877; Bookmaker's Clerk; he died on the Victoria Park Golf Course, Brisbane, 25 August 1938, his ashes taken back for burial at Karrakatta; he was married at East Coolgardie, 1913, to Elsie Emily Gilmour MARTIN; she died at Nedlands, Perth, 11 July 1966, aged 77 years; they had issue:
i. Robert Samuel SPENCE, born about 1914; Clerk; Manager; he died at Nedlands, 24 May 1977, aged 63; widow Hazel Elizabeth surviving; issue unknown.
ii. Marjorie SPENCE; she was with her parents in Brisbane, August 1938; she died in America; she was married to Captain PLUMMER, U.S.A.F., with issue two daughters, one born in W.A., the other probably in the U.S.
g. Harriet Ethel SPENCE, born at Stuart Town, 1879; living at Randwick East, 1939; she was married at Goulburn, 6 August 1898, to John Joseph Thomas COOPER; Machinist; he died at Ivy Street, Randwick, 2 October 1921, and was buried at Randwick Cemetery;they had issue:
i. Wilton T. Jasper COOPER, born at Goulburn, 1900; Tram Conductor; he was married at Rockdale, 1923, to Daisy M. WILSON; they had issue.
ii. Jack Spence COOPER, born at Goulburn, 1902; Tram Guard; he was married at Randwick, 1931, to Ivy M. GENDLE; they had issue.
iii. Gladys Ivy COOPER, born at Goulburn, 1904; she died in 1934, after childbirth; she was married at Randwick, 1930, to Arthur E. HALES; they had issue.
iv. Marjorie T. COOPER, born at Goulburn, 1905; she possibly married Leo V. MORRISSEY.
v. Mildred E. COOPER, born at Goulburn, 1908; she died there, 1910.
vi. Lewis Alexande COOPER, born at Goulburn, 1910; he was married at Petersham, 1933, to May ASHTON; they had issue.
vii. Heather Jean COOPER, born at Goulburn, 1912; she was married at Randwick, 1936, to her deceased sister's widower Arthur Ernest HALES.
viii. Mary L. COOPER, born at Goulburn, 1916; possibly, as Mary Lovell COOPER, died at Newport Beach, 12 December 1946?
ix. Rex Albert COOPER, born in 1920; Able Seaman, R.A.N.; died on 20 November 1946, as a crew member of the Cruiser H.M.A.S. Sydney, when she was sunk by the German Merchant raider Kormoran (alias Steiermark) off the W.A. coast; unmarried.
h. George Alfred SPENCE, born at Stuart Town, 1881; he may have gone to W.A. with his father, and died at Wooroloo Sanitorium, near Mundaring, 9 November 1925, aged 44, and buried at Karrakatta Cemetery; unmarried.
j. Venetia Ellen SPENCE, born at Stuart Town, 18 March 1884; she was married at Petersham, 1910, to Roy Joseph P. NORMAN; Baer; they had issue:
i. Hollister Ralph Bernard NORMAN, born at Annandale, 1911.
ii. Wynter Reginald NORMAN; perhaps the same as Hollister Ralph?; he was married at Balmain South, 1933, to Grace L. CAMROUX; with issue.
iii. Olga Phyllis Patricia NORMAN, born at Annandale, 1912; she was married at Waverley, 1938, to Robert McArthur McDOUGALL.
vi. Rex E. NORMAN, born at Ashfield, 1916.
k. Irene Allison SPENCE, born at Goulburn, 29 December 1886; she died at Kogarah, 11 September 1972; she was married at Canterbury, 1 January 1912, to Arthur Ernest SMITH; he died atkogarah, 18 June 1974; they had issue:
i. Esme Mary Maud SMITH, born at Annadale, 26 March 1912; she died at Canberra, 17 June 1985; she was married at Hurstville, 11 June 1938, to John BLUE; they had issue.
ii. Joan Allison SMITH, born 15 December 1921; she died at Sutherland, 15 March 1980; she was married firstly, to Glen Harold MARR; he died at Kogarah, 26 May 1958; they had issue; she was married secondly (or in reverse), to William SIDWELL.
l. Margaret Grisdale Harding SPENCE, born at Goulburn, 21 January 1890; she may have married Edward TURNER, both living in 1933?
5. Mary Ann SPENCE, born at Redfern, 1845, a twin; she died on 23 December 1939, aged 94, and was buried at Rookwood [Old Anglican, Section AAA, Plot 220]; she was married at Scot's Church, Sydney, 24 December 1866, to Joseph JULEFF; Ironfounder; he died on 24 June 1926, aged 87 years, and was buried ditto; they had issue, including:
a. Alice Elizabeth JULEFF, born 1867; she died at Stanmore, 10 March 1947; she was married at Picton, 1890, to William Brodie JOY; Clerk; he died at Stanmore, 17 September 1930; they had issue:
i. William B. Forster ROY, born 1891; Civil Engineer, 1947.
ii. Reginald j.A. Marcus ROY, born 1897; he was married at Petersham, 1920, to Ethel W, BOTHAMLEY.
iii. Noel Bruce ROY, born 1906; he was married firstly, at Ashfield, to Jean TRANT-FISCHER; and secondly, at Petersham, 144, to Christina Gowans Bay ROSS.
iv. Alice Daphne ROY, born 1910; she was married at Petersham, 1920, to John T. FISCHER. b. James Ernest JULEFF, born 1870; Tramway emloyee; living 1939; he was married at Rylstone, 1895, to Rachel Mary TOLHURST; she died at St Leonards, 11 January 1938; they had issue, born at St Leonards:
i. Eleanor V. JULEFF, born 1895; she was married at Chatswood, 1924, to Albert J. CRAIG.
ii. Jeffery E. JULEFF, born 1898; he was married at North Sydney, 1925, to Eileen M. BYRNE.
iii. Robert JULEFF, born 1900.
iv. Donald Spence JU:EFF, born 1906; he was married at Woollahra, 1936, to Daphne Alice BAILEY.
v. Marjorie Evelyn JULEFF, born 1910; she was married at North Sydney, 1937, to Franklyn Lindsay WALKER.
vi. Dulcie Grace JULEFF, born 1914; she was married at North Sydney, 1939, to Charles Sidney LAWSON.
c. Joseph Thomas JULEFF, born 1872; Stove-maker; he was married at Newtown, 1897, to Ada Evelyn NEWLANDS; he informed his mother's death, 1939.
d. Robert JULEFF, born 1875; he died on 20 October 1900, aged 25 years, and was buried in his parents grave.
e. William Henry JULEFF, born 1878; Stove-maker; he died at Blakehurst, 11 September 1951; he was married at Newtown, 1906, to Elsie Agnes RILEY; living 1939; they had issue:
i. Leslie Malcolm JULEFF, born at Marrickville, 1907; he was married at Marrickville, 1937, to Edith Norman POWELL.
ii. Elsie Wilson JULEFF, born at Ashfield, 1915; she was married at Canterbury, 1944, to John Patrick REYNOLDS.
f. Ethel Pearl JULEFF, born 1880; living 1939.
g. Ruby Lillian JULEFF, born 1883; she died at Chatswood, 1929; she was married at Petersham, 1914, to Hector Kenneth MACKENZIE; Builder; they had issue:
i. Kenneth C. MACKENZIE, born at Marrickville, 1915.
ii. Robert E. MACKENZIE, born at Chatswood, 1918.
h. Aubrey Clifton JULEFF, born 1885; Stove-maker; Director of Juleff's Ltd; he died at Strathfield, 8 September 1922, and was buried at Waverley Cemetery; he was married at Petersham, 1922, to Clarice Adele LAND, of Strathfield.
j. Mary Ann Gladys JULEFF, born at West Street, Petersham, 27 May 1888; living 1939.
6. Margaret Jane SPENCE, born at Redfern, 1845, the other twin; at 58 Douglas Street, Stanmore, 1906, with her four younger children; she died at "Glenmavis," Abbotsford Road, Homebush, 2 October 1927, aged 82, and was buried at Waverley Cemetery (C. of E.); she was married at Burton Street, Sydney, 2 November 1867, to George GARTON; Boilermaker; he died at Waterloo, 1893; they had issue:
a. Alice Grisdale GARTON, born at Redfern, 1868; she died at Waterloo, 1881.
b. Franklin George GARTON, born at Redfern, 1871; Boot Manufacturer; he died at 4 Grenville Street, Randwick, 28 May 1924, and was buried at Waverley Cemetery; he was married in Sydney, 1903, to Alice HILL.
c. Robert Sydney GARTON, born at Wellington, 1873; Boot manufacturer; he died on 29 June 1946, and was buried at Waverley (Section 19 Ordinary, Plot 4268); he was married at Marrickville, 1922, to Sarah Miller FUREY; they were at "Goldsborough," Gordon Avenue, Randwick, 1928.
d. Violet Hardinch B. GARTON, born at Redfern, 1878; Book-keeper, with her mother, at 58 Douglas Street, Stanmore, , 1906; she was married at Marrickville, 1912, to John ASTON; they were living at 23 Charles Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne, 1924; both living 1927.
e. Mildred Grisdale GARTON, born at Redfern, 1880; she was married at Marrickville, 1905, to John JOHNS; Manufacturer; both living 1927.
f. Leslie Harold GARTON, born at Botany, 1 September 1882; Commercial Traveller; he died in Sydney, 1935; he was married at Tamworth, 1918, to Ruby Violet GRAHAM; they were at 4 Ooldea Flats, Matilda Street, Bondi, 1928.
7. Esther SPENCE, born at Chippendale, 10 August 1847; she died on 25 September 1911; she was married, 1870, to Adam Paterson WARDROP; Compositor; he died on 2 September 1914, aged 70; they had issue:
a. William Slayter WARDROP, born at Redfern, 1871; Packer; of Goodlet Street, Surrey Hills, 1906-21; he died at Redfern, 1928; he was married in 1896 to Barbara May ROBERTSON; they had issue:
i. Alice May Stella WARDROP, born in Sydney, 1898; Linotyper, 1921; she was married at Chatswood, 1925, to Charles W. DELAVERE.
ii. Clarence A.P. WARDROP, born in Sydney, 1905; he died at Redfern, 1931.
b. Robert Spence WARDROP, born at Redfern, 1873; Clerk; he was married firstly, in Sydney,1894, to Mary Wright ROYLE; she died at Ashfield, 1935; they had issue:
i. Alfred Robert WARDROP, born in Sydney, 1895; Commercial Traveller; he was married at Ashfield,1918, to Ellen May WINTLE.
ii. Percival Charles WARDROP, born in Sydney, 1897; Litho Artist; he died at Curl Curl, 27 February 1960; he was married in Sydney, 1920, to Vera POLLE.
iii. Nellie WARDROP, born and died at St Peters, 1899.
iv. Amy L. WARDROP, born in Sydney, 1900; she was married in Sydney, 1925, to Charles B.E. COHEN.
v. Valma G. WARDROP, born at Redfern, 1902; she was married in Sydney, 1923, to Horace A. MITCHELL.
vi. Victor R. WARDROP, born in Sydney, 1905; he was married in Sydney, 1928, to Nancy SMITH.
vii. Elsie M. WARDROP, born at Ashfield, 1907; she was married at Petersham, 1924, to George P. PETERS.
viii. Jack Reginald WARDROP, born at Ashfield, 1913; he was married at Burwood, 1944, to Irene Ellen STEED.
c. Mabel WARDROP, born at Redfern, 1875; she died at her residence, 98 Wentworth Street, Randwick, 15 June 1941; she was married in Sydney, 1893, to James William Belmore BARDEN; Trainer; he died 20 April 1931; they had issue:
i. Hilda Mabel BARDEN, born at Warialda, 1894; living 1941.
ii. Laurie Shiel BARDEN, born at Inverell, 1896; she was married at Randwick, 1920, to Herbert A. WOLFE.
iii. James William BARDEN, born in Sydeny, 1897; he as married in Sydney, 1920, to Kathleen Ruth BROWN.
iv. Charles Albert BARDEN, born in Sydney, 1900; Jockey; he was married at Randwick, 1922, to Maisie Alice FLINT.
v. Maggie Irene BARDEN, born in Sydney, 1901; living 1941.
vi. Linda Doris BARDEN, born at Randwick, 1904; she was probably dead before 1941; she was married at Randwick, 1928, to Norman A. WATSON.
vii. William A. BARDEN, born at Randwick, 1906; he was maried at Randwick, 1930, to Valerie G. HARDING; living in 1941.
viii. Claire A. BARDEN, born at Randwick, 1910; she was married at Randwick, 1932, to Francis E. KILLION; living 1941.
ix. Vera Helen BARDEN, born at Randwick, 1915; she was married at Randwick, 1939, to Leonard Louis LANGFORD.
d. Mary Steel WARDROP, born at Redfern, 1878; she was married in Sydney, 1909, to Thomas F. MOODY; they had issue:
i. Frederick Thomas MOODY, born at Waterloo, 1911; he was married at Canterbury, 1936, to Muriel BROWN.
ii. Laurie A. P. MOODY, born at Annandale, 1913; he was married at Canterbury, 1936, to Doris May MURPHY.
iii. Harold R. MOODY, born at Annandale, 1915; he was married at Newtown, 1933, to Muriel P. LOVELL.
e. Percy Grisdale WARDROP, born at Redfern, 1880; Postman; he died at Marrickville, 19 June 1952; he was married in Sydney, 1905, to Florence May TREVOR; she died at Beverly Hills, 21 February 1956; they had issue:
i. Philip D. WARDROP, born in Sydney, 1905; he was married at Newtown, 1930, to Maria J. BUTTA.
ii. Leslie Adam Charles WARDROP, born in Sydney, 1910; he was married at Canterbury, 1940, to Doris May MURPHY.
iii. Doreen Josephine WARDROP, born at Marrickville, , 1918; she was married at Marrickville, 1941, to Harold Albert SMITH.
e. Alice Grisdale WARDROP, born in Sydney, 1882; living 1941; she was married at Redfern, 1909, to Alfred Richard BECKFORD; Fitter; he died at Ryde, 1938; the had issue:
i. Esther Jean Maxwell BECKFORD, born 1911; she was married at Ryde, 1938, to John Henry RIGBY.
ii. Laurie Isobel BECKFORD, born 1913, a twin; she was married at Ryde, 1938, to George Henry GEAR.
iii. Vivienne Rachel Grace BECKFORD, born 1913, the other twin; she was married at Ryde, 1940 to Leslie Victor MACKAY.
iv. Mildred V. BECKFORD, born 1915.
v. Constance Emily Ida BECKFORD, born 1917; she was married at Ryde, 1940, to Jack Leon WIDMAN.
f. Agnes Todd WARDROP, born in Sydney, 1887; she died there, 1888.
g. Albert Edward WARDROP, born in Sydney, 1890; Inspector, Water Reservoir, Botany; he was married at Paddington, 1909, to Laura Phillis COMBE; they had issue:
i. Phyllis J.E. WARDROP, born in Sydney, 1909; she was married at Parramatta, 1928, to Stuart MOODIE.
ii. Bernice I.M. WARDROP, born at Waterloo, 1911; she was married at Parramatta, 1934, to Leslie R. TAYLOR.
iii. Olga Elizabeth Constance WARDROP, born at Redfern, 1918; she was married at Parramatta, 1944, to Percy TAYLOR
8. Thomas SPENCE, born at Botany Road, Redfern, 15 April 1849; Engine Driver, N.S.W. Railways; of Craig Street, Goulburn, 1894; of Cumberland Road, Ashfield, 1903; of 27 Park Road, Granville/Auburn, 1921-1930; he died at 27 Park Road, Auburn, 24 May 1940, aged 90, and was buried at Rookwood (Presbyterian, Section 5C, Plot 4483); he was married at Redfern, 1876, to Harriet BARKER.
9. Joseph SPENCE, born at Redfern, 3 May 1851; he died before 1856, a child.
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[B] Henry SPENCE, born at Auchtertool, Fifeshire, 22 December 1812; Miner and Carpenter; he emigrated to Victoria on the ship "Charles Napier" departing Liverpool, December 1854, with his wife and children; he settled in Ballarat, but spent some time in Sydney in 1865; he died at Chisholm Street, Ballarat, 19 July 1886, aged 73, and was buried at Ballarat Cemetery [Presbyterian B, Section 1, Plot 46]; he was married at Inverkeithing, Fifeshire, 4 May 1833, to Jane BLACK; she died at Peel Street North, Ballarat, 11 April 1880, aged 79; they had issue:
1. Alexander Black SPENCE, baptised at Dunfermline, Fifeshire, 25 August 1833; Coal Miner; he was married firstly at Inverkeithing, after proclamations dated 27 March 1852, to Ellen DRUMMOND; they emigrated to Victoria on the ship "Marco Polo," arriving in Hobson's Bay, 4 July 1852; they settled in Ballarat, but by 1864, had moved to Sydney; Grocer, Botany Road, Refern, 1864-1904; he died at 5 Botany Road, Waterloo, 22 May 1905, aged 72, and was buried with his first wife Ellen, at Rookwood (Presbyterian Section 4, Plot 214); Ellen died on 22 May 1886; Alexander was married secondly, at Waterloo, 1889, to his first cousin Elizabeth Moody SPENCE, the widow of James MACDONALD, without further issue; by his first wife Ellen, Alexander had issue:
a. Henry SPENCE, born at Ballarat, 1854; he died at Newtown, 11 April 1891, aged 36, and was buried with his mother.
b. Margaret Temple SPENCE, born at Ballarat, 9 March 1856; she died at 90 Raglan Street, Waterloo, 29 June 1889, and was buried at Rookwood; she was married at Waterloo, 2 January 1884, to William HOWELL; he died at the Liverpool Asylum, 18 January 1910; they had issue:
i. Alexander Spence HOWELL, born at George Street, Waterloo, 13 February 1884; Railway Porter; he died at Dulwich Hill, 16 December 1970, and was buried at Woronora Cemetery; he was married, 17 September 1906. to Clara May THOMPSON; they had issue.
ii. Ellen Drummond HOWELL, born at Waterloo, 1888; she died in Sydney, 1978; she was married in 1930 to William FARRELL.
iii. Eva Myrtle Eves HOWELL, born at Alexandria Street, Waterloo, 1894; she died at Goulburn, 22 May 1979; she was married at Redfern, 1924, to Peter A. LAWRENCE; they had issue.
c. Archibald SPENCE, born at Ballarat, 1858; he died at Botany Street, Waterloo, 1 August 1878, aged 20, and was buried in his parents grave at Rookwood.
d. Jean SPENCE, born in Victoria about 1862; she died at 201 Abercrombie Street, Redfern, 19 September 1893, in childbirth, aged 31, and was buried at Rokwood; she was married at Redfern, 1892, to George D. NESBITT; they had issue:
Jean NESBITT, born at Redfern, September 1893, a week before her mother's death.
e. Janet SPENCE, born at ballarat, 1863; she died there in 1864, an infant.
f. Alexander SPENCE, born at Chippendale, 1865; he died at Rockley, N.S.W., 1866.
g. Isabella SPENCE, born at Redfern, 1867; she died at 90 Kingston Road, Camperdown, 3 August 1940, and was buried at Rookwood; she was married at Glebe, 1890, to James Davis AUSTIN; Racecourse Detective; he died at Granville, 1944, aged 78, late of Lidcombe; they had issue:
i. Alexander J, AUSTIN, born at Glebe, 1890; living 1940.
ii. Doris AUSTIN, born in Sydney, 1893; dead before 1940.
iii. Vera M. AUSTIN, born at Glebe, 1897; she died at Petersham, 1918.
h. James A. SPENCE,. born at Redfern, 1870; living 1905.
j. Ellen Drummond SPENCE, born at Waterloo, 1874; she was married in Sydney, 1895, to Percival E.T. HUDSON; they had issue:
i. Percival HUDSON, born at Waterloo, 1895.
ii. Frederick S. HUDSON, born at St Peters, 1898.
iii. Thelma HUDSON, born at Rockdale, 1905.
iv. Clifford Charles HUDSON, born at Rockdale, 1910; he was married in 1939 to Edith Frances LEWINS.
k. Willie M. SPENCE, born at Waterloo, 1877; possibly Minnie, living 1893.
2. Jane SPENCE; born and died in Scotland, about 1835, an infant; named on her father's death registration.
2. James SPENCE, baptised at Dunfermline, 9 June 1837; Miner, Drummond Street, Ballarat, 1865-66; Engineer (Railways), Wyndham Street, Alexandria, 1880-85; he died at Alexandria, near Sydney, 23 January 1885, aged 46, and was buried at Rookwood [Presbyterian, Section 5B, Plot 5942]; he was married in Ballarat, 15 August 1860, to Janet DRUMMOND, (sister of Ellen DRUMMOND, the wife of his brother Alexander Black SPENCE); she died on 13 January 1890, aged 48, and was buried ditto; they had issue:
a. Margaret Temple SPENCE, born at Ballarat, 1862; living 1890.
b. Jane SPENCE, born at Chippendale, 1865, a twin; she died at Black Hill, Ballarat, October 1876, and was buried at Ballarat Cemetery.
c. Ellen SPENCE, born at Chippendale, 1865, the other twin; she died at her residence, 99 Ebley Street, Bondi Junction, 12 September 1941, and was buried at Waverley Cemetery; she was married at Redfern, 1889, to David DAVIS; they had issue:
i. Leslie S. DAVIS, born at Petersham, 1889.
ii. Reginald S. DAVIS, born at Newtown, 1891.
iii. Ellen M. DAVIS, born at Newtown, 1893.
iv. Horace DAVIS, born at Newtown, 1895.
v. Florence DAVIS, born at Newtown, 1898.
TO BE CONTINUED
3. Isabella SPENCE, baptised at Dunfermline, 20 June 1840; she died in Victoria, 1898, aged 58; she was married to Archibald BOWMAN; he died at East Ballarat, 1 November 1901.
4. Margaret SPENCE, baptised at Dunfermline, 5 July 1843; she died at Ballarat, 14 August 1920, aged 77; she was buried at Old Ballarat Cemetery [Presbyterian B, Section 9, Row 1, Plot 18]; she was married to William DRUMMOND; he died on 7 August 1896, and was buried with his wife.
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[C] Alexander SPENCE, born at Auchtertool, 1 March 1817; Miner; he emigrated to N.S.W. on the ship "David McIvor" from Liverpool, August 1854, with his wife and children; he drowned in Circular Quay, Sydney, 12 June 1865; he was buried at Devonshire Street Cemrtary, and re-interred at Rokwood, Presbyterian, Section 5C, Plot 4479; he was married at Inverkeithing, Fifeshire, 28 September 1838, to Elizabeth DEMPSTER; she died at Boundary Street, Alexandria, 2 December 1887, aged 68 years; they had issue, including:
1. Elizabeth Moodie SPENCE, baptised at Auchtertool, Fifeshire, 27 February 1839; she was married firstly, in Sydney, 1867, to James McDONALD, Grocer; he died at 5 Botany Road, Waterloo, 10 May 1888, aged 48, and was buried at Rookwood, Presbyterian, Section 1C, Plot 3299; they had issue:
a. James Alexander Spence McDONALD, born 1881; he died at Arncliff, 7 November 1945, and was buried in his father's plot; he was married in 1902 to Maude Home ADAM; she died at Kyle Street, Arncliffe, 30 April 1957; they were both buried at Rookwood, Presbyterian, Section 1C, Plot 3299; they had issue:
i. Elizabeth E. McDONALD, born at Waterloo, 1902; she was married at Kogarah, 1934, to Percy H. STAPLETON; both living 1957.
ii. James A. STAPLETON, born at Waterloo, 1904; living 1957.
iii. Donald George STAPLETON, born at Waterloo, 1906; Engineer; living 1957, with wife Constance Lorna.
iv. Dorothy May STAPLETON, born at Waterloo, 909; she was married in Sydney, 1937, to Norman Seddon BELLINGHAM; both living 1957.
v. Maud Jean STAPLETON, born at Waterloo, 1911; she and her husband Albert E. JONES were living 1957.
vi. Clyde Medlin STAPLETON, born at Redfern, 1914; he was married at Hurstville, 1941, to Betty Margaret MILLER; both living 1957.
vii. Keith G. STAPLETON, born about 1921; he and wife Roberta were living 1957.
b. Elizabeth Dempster McDONALD, born 1883; she was married at Redfern, 1906, to Charles Medlyn BARKL; he died at Haberfield, 26 November 1947; they had issue:
i. Elizabeth F. BARKL, born at Waterloo, 1907; she was married at Ashfeld, 1929, to Edmund J. CONRICK.
ii. Marjorie Maud BARKL, born at Waterloo, 1910; living with her parents, 1946.
iii. Maisie Dorothy BARKL, born at Petersham, 1914; she was married at Ashfield, 1940, to Edward Frederick CALCRAFT.
? Joyce Medlin BARKL; she was married at Ashfield, 1945, to Thomas William FERRIE.
Elizabeth was married secondly, in Sydney, 1889, to her first cousin, Alexander Black SPENCE, without further issue.
2. Alexander SPENCE, baptised at Auchtertool, 14 February 1841; Stonecutter; Corporal, Highland Brigade; he drowned in the Free Corporation Baths, Woolloomoolo Bay, 2 January 1875, aged 33 years, and was buried at Devonshire Street Cemetery; he was married at Scots Church, Sydney, 10 April 1861, to Mary CAMPBELL; she died at Camperdown, 1911, parents Robert and Isabella; they were re-interred at Rookwood, Presbyterian, Section 5C, Plot 4479; they had issue:
a. Isabella Euphemia SPENCE, born at Chippendale, 1862; she died at Petersham, 6 October 1933; she was married at Redfern, 3 January 1884, to George Christopher SWINBOURNE; Bootmaker; he died at Petersham, 4 October 1937; they had issue:
i. George Christopher SWINBOUNE, born at Newtown, 1885; Salesman; he died at Yowie Bay, 4 November 1947, aged 62.
ii. John Alexander SWINBOURNE, born at St Peters, 1887; First A.I.F., 24th Battalion; he was married at Newtown, 1910, to Florence L.A. HOMAN; with issue.
iii. Eleanor Grace SWINBOURNE, born at St Peters, 20 April 1889; she was married at Petersham, 1922, to Ernest H. BENNETT; both living 1947.
iv. Alfred Campbell SWINBOURNE, born at St Peters, 20 May 1891; First A.I.F., 19th Battalion; killed in France, 14 November 1916.
v. Edward Clarence SWINBOURNE, born at St Peters, 1893; living 1933; died before November 1947.
vi. Harry Foster SWINBOURNE, born at St Peters, 16 February 1896; First A.I.F.; killed at Gallipoli, 25 April 1915.
vii. Robert Kimberley SWINBOURNE, born at St Peters, 18 February 1900; died there, 6 June 1901, an infant.
vii. Eric SWINBOURNE, born and died at St Peters, 1907, an infant.
3. Thomas SPENCE, baptised at Auchtertool, 20 April 1845; Engineer, Botany Waterworks; Locomotive Department, Eveleigh Railway Workshops; he died at 7 Boundary Street, Waterloo, 23 January 1903, aged 57 years, and was buried at Rookwood (Presbyterian, Section 5C, Plot 4479); he was married at Redfern, 30 April 1872, to Elizabeth Ann READ; she died at Alexandria, 26 January 1910, aged 78 years, and was buried with her husband; they had issue:
a. Susanna Pearce SPENCE, born at Waterloo, 1873; she died at Callan Park, Balmain South, 1 March 1932, and was buried at Rookwood; she was married at Waterloo, 1896, to Henry Alfred DYSON; Harness Maker; at 4 Wyndham Street, Alexandria, 1903-08; he died at Hurstville, 17 August 1947; they had issue:
i. Henry A. DYSON, born and died at Waterloo, 1898.
ii. Elizabeth S. DYSON, born at Waterloo, 1899; she died there, 1904.
iii. Letitia Hopley DYSON, born at Waterloo, 1901; she was married at Newtown, 1919,to Clifford VIDLER.
iv. Reginald Arthur DYSON, born at Waterloo, 1904; he was married at Kogarah, 1938, to Pearl Eliza DONNELLY.
v. Dulcie Mary DYSON, born at Waterloo, 1908; living 1932.
vi. Florence E. DYSON, born at Waterloo, 1911; she died at Annandale, 1922, aged 9 years.
vii. Maude Lillian DYSON, born at Redfern, 1913; she died at Rozelle, 1944; unmarried.
b. Elizabeth Dempster SPENCE, born at Waterloo, 1874; she died at the Cottage Hospital, Marrickville, 2 September 1922, late of 72 Denison Road, Lewisham; she was married at Waterloo, 1905, to Alfred BOWER; they had issue:
i. Elizabeth A. BOWER, born at Waterloo, 1905; she died at Bathurst, 1992, unmarried.
ii. George BOWER, born at Waterloo, 1908.
iii. Lily BOWER, born about 1913; living September 1922, aged 9 years.
iv. Florence BOWER, born at Newtown, 1914.
c. Esther Neale SPENCE, born at Waterloo, 1876, and named after her aunt Esther SPENCE, wife of Nathaniel NEALE; she died at 12 Fisher Street, Petersham 3 July 1930, and was buried at Rookwood (Presbyterian); she was married at Boundary Street, Waterloo, 28 October 1903, to William DAVISON; Tramway Engine Fitter; he died st Leicchardt, 23 June 1935, late of 41 Challis Avenue, Dulwich Hill; they had issue:
i. Thelma DAVISON, born at Waterloo, 1904; she died there in 1906.
ii. Jane Beaumont S. DAVISON, born at Waterloo, 1907; Carton Maker, with her parents, 1928, 1930; she died in 1991.
iii. Annie DAVISON, born at Petersham, 1910.
vi. William H.B. DAVISON, born and died at Petersham, 1913.
d. Florence M. SPENCE, born and died at Waterloo, 1877; an infant.
e. Alice Jane SPENCE, born at Botany, 2 July 1878; she die
4. Andrew SPENCE, baptised at Auchtertool, 13 May 1847; with his parents, aged 4, 1851 Census; he died before his family emigrated in August 1854.
5. William SPENCE, born Fifeshire, 1848-49; he was buried at Auchtertool, 6 July 1849, an infant.
6. William SPENCE, baptised at Auchtertool, 30 June 1850; Boilermaker; Railway Foreman, Emu Plains, about 1900; he died at his residence, Gough Street, Lemongrove, Emu Plains, 6 May 1923, aged 72, and was buried at Rookwood (Presbyterian, Section 5A, Plot 2877); he was married firstly, at Chalmers Street Church, Sydney, 22 January 1874, to Jane QUINEY; she died at 5 Boundary Street, Waterloo, 3 April 1892, aged 42, and was buried at Rookwood; William was married secondly, at St Peters, 1892, to Sarah ELLISON; he had issue by his first wife Jane:
a. Alexander SPENCE, born and died at Waterloo, 1875.
b. Alexander SPENCE, born at Waterloo, June 1876; he died at Redfern, 23 February 1880, aged 3 years 8 months, and was buried in his parents grave at Rookwood.
c. Sarah Ann Hange SPENCE, born at Waterloo, 1878; she died at Penrith, 4 December 1934; she was married firstly, in Sydney, 1899, to John William COLLESS; Farm and Rail Contractor; he died at Emu Plains, 25 November 1925, aged 52; Sarah married secondly, at Penrith, 1928, to John H. PAYNE; she had issue by her first marriage:
i. Alexander George COLLESS, born at Penrith, 1900; Dairyman; he was married at Waverley, 1940, to Gwendolyn Mary DUNGATE.
ii. Elma A. COLLESS, born at Penrith, 1902; she was married in Sydney, 1926, to Kieran BRENNAN.
iii. Kenneth COLLESS, born at Penrith, 1904; Farmer; he was married at Penrith, 1930, to May D. COOK.
iv. William S. COLLESS, born at Penrith, 1911; he was married at Rockdale, 1935, to Nella E.E. BROWN.
v. Sarah COLLESS, born at Penrith, 1918, a twin; living 1934.
vi. Jack H. COLLESS, born at Penrith, 1918, the other twin; he was married at Penrith, 1939, to Alice May HARVEY.
d. Charles Quiney SPENCE, born at Waterloo, 1881; Farmer; he died at his daughter's residence, 15 Albert Parade, Ashfield, 2 May 1932, aged 51 years, and was buried at Emus Plains (Anglican Portion, Row N); he was married at Emu Plains, 1900, to Ethel May ELLISON; she died at her residence, Western Road, Emu Plains, 12 August 1946, and was buried at Emu Plains; they had issue:
i. Jane Vera SPENCE, born at Penrith, 7 December 1900; she was married at Penrith, 1921, to Leslie C. DOLE.
ii. Herbert Thomas SPENCE, born at Penrith, 3 February 1903; he died at Penrith, 16 December 1916, ans was buried at Emu Plains.
iii. Dorothy MAy SPENCE, born at Penrith, 26 MArch 1905; she died at Russell Street, Emu Plains, 3 December 1968, and was buried at Emu Plains; she was married at Penrith, 1927, to Frank James BENNDELL (alias LINKLATER); Carpenter; they had issue.
iv. Ruby Victoria SPENCE, born at Penrith, 24 May 1907; she died 3 October 1977, and was buried at Emu Plains; she was married firstly, at Penrith, 1932, to Jack M. BLAIKIE; she was married secondly to William Thomas Andrew GIBBONS.
v. Ida Ethel SPENCE, born at Penrith, 1909; she was married at Penrith, 1932, to Alfred Ernest ALDER; Accountant; they had issue.
vi. Marjory Lillian SPENCE, born at Penrith, 18 June 1911; she was married at Penrith, 1937, to Alan Kenneth HATTER; Farmer; they had issue.
vii. Florence Dulcie SPENCE, born at Penrith, 1913; she was married at Penrith, 1937, to Kenneth George WOOD; Mechanic; they had issue.
viii. Effie SPENCE, born and died at Penrith, 1917.
ix. Charles William SPENCE, born at Penrith, 1 June 1920; he was married at Penrith, 1944, to Joyce R. COOPER.
x. Raymond George SPENCE, born and died at Penrith, July 1923, and was buried at Emu Plains.
xi. Isobel Mary SPENCE, born 12 February 1927; living at Emu Plains, 1946.
e. Elizabeth Dempster SPENCE, born at Waterloo, 1 January 1883; she died there, 7 January 1884, aged 1 year 7 days, and was buried in her parents plot.
f. Jane Alice SPENCE, born at Waterloo, 1884; Penrith Public School, January 1898; she died at her residence, 4 River Road, Penrith, 8 April 1969, aged 84, and was buried at Emu Plains; she was married at Penrith, 1910, to James Armour MAGRATH; Woolclasser; he died at Penrith, 14 August 1933; they had issue:
i. William Armour MAGRATH, born at Penrith, 1915; Butcher; Sergeant, R.A.A.F.; he was killed near Tumut, 15 December 1941, piloting an R.A.A.F. aircraft on aerobatic exercises; he was married at Penrith, 14 September 1940, to Heather DOOLEY.
g. William Davey SPENCE, born at Waterloo, 9 February 1887; Ironworker; Orchardist; Managed the G.P.S. Regattas at Penrith for many years, until his death in April 1961; he was married at Penrith, 1912, to Annie CATTELL; they had issue:
i. Nancy May SPENCE, born at Penrith, 13 December 1913; she was married at Penrith, 1937, to Arthur William GAVIN; Wharf Labourer, Emu Plains.
ii. Olive Etheline SPENCE, born at Penrith, 17 January 1916; she died in 1994; she was married firstly, at Penrith, 1937, to Arthur Edward LAKE;, of Drummoyne; they were divorced in the late 1940s; with issue; Olive married secondly, Oswald ADAMS.
iii. Gladys Isobel SPENCE, born at Penrith, 1918; she was married at Penrith, 1942, to Charles Bruce DOBSON; Panel Beater; R.A.A.F., 1943; they had issue.
iv. Betty Alice SPENCE, born at Penrith, 2 November 1920; she was married at Penrith, 143, to Thomas Charles MOTHERSDILL; they had issue.
v. William Walter SPENCE, born at Penrith, 1924; Clerk; he was married to Betty May RICHARDSON; they had issue.
vi. Maxwell John SPENCE, born at Penrith, 1930.
vii. Valma May SPENCE, born about 1932; she was married to John Meredith BOLTON; Clerk, of Emu Plains; they had issue.
h. Ida Martha SPENCE, born at Waterloo, 1888; she died at Penrith, 26 June 1959, aged 70, and was buried at Emu Plains; she was married at Penrith, 1917, to Simeon Henry WALKER, a widower; Shire Councillor and President; of Lemon Grove; he died 19 September 1941,aged 71, and was buried at Emu Plains; they had issue:
i. Simeon Spence WALKER; born 1919; he died 24 September 1921, aged 2 years 6 months, and was buried at Emu Plains.
ii. Donald Spence WALKER; he died 14 May 1966, and was buried at Emu Plains; he was married to Betty Baynard WALKER.
7. Robert SPENCE, born Fifeshire, 1853; died on the outward voyage, 1854, a child.
8. John SPENCE, born at Chippendale, 1855; Railway Carpenter; of Cecil Street, Ashfield, 1910-1920; he died at Emu Plains, 29 November 1921, and was buried at Rookwood (Presbyterian, Section 5D, Plot 786); he was married in 1877 to Elizabeth LYMAN; she died at Ashfield, 5 May 1920; evidently no issue.
9. Jane Alice SPENCE, born about 1858; she died at Marrickville, 1 June 1942, she was married at Waterloo, 1879, to George Anderson GIBB; he died at Enmore, 28 January 1920; they were buried at Rookwood (Presbyterian, Section 5D, Plot 733); they had issue:
a. Jane GIBB, born in October 1879; died 21 October 1879, an infant, and was buried at Rookwood (Presbyterian,Section 5A, Plot 2879).
b. James D. GIBB, born and died at Waterloo, 1889.
Hello! Mentioned in your hugely detailed story is Daisy Spence, later Jones, who was apparently my grandmother. My dad was Douglas William Jones and his father was William Oldmeadow Jones!
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