Henry Edward John Dench
"The plot deepens. You never know what you will unearth!"
Henry Dench was born in 1826 in Poplar,
the suburb around the
East and West India Docks in London.
His
parents were Henry Dench, a dock keeper, and Cecelia Dench nee
GREEN.
Henry Dench arrived 1851 in Canterbury, New Zealand. He did not arrive on the Travancore, that was another Edward Dench. In early 1852, Henry went to Victoria for gold. Henrietta followed him to Melbourne. Married 1852 at St Peters Church, Melbourne. "Harry" Henry E. J. Dench married Henrietta Amelia BENNETT in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1852. Victoria Early Church Records, Book 4, No 2960 1852.
Following children of Henry and Henrietta from the Victoria Pioneers Index 1837-1888 Emily Frances Dench born 1854 Sandhurst Dench (male) born 1856 Sandhurst Dench born 1856 Sandhurst Amelia Sarah Dench born 1857 Sandhurst Frances Celia Dench died 1857 1yr old Sandhurst
Henrietta Bennett, b.16 March 1834 Bromley, Kent, England (outer
borough of London) to John and Frances (nee Freeman) Bennett. She was one of eight
children including a brother, Charles Bennett b. 4 Feb. 1838, and a sister,
Ellen. Ellen
Eliza Bennett b. 23 Jul. 1828, Bromley, arrived at Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on
the "Isabella Hercus" January 4,
1856. I have not been able to find how Henrietta Bennett arrived in
Otago or Henry Dench in Lyttelton in 1851. Usually the earlier an immigrant
arrived in NZ the easier it is to locate the name of their arrival vessel. It
took me years to prove family oral history that William Palmer and Ellen Bennett
met on board the Isabella Hercus and a couple of months later married in
Christchurch. Ellen's name was on the passenger list but not William's. Turns
out William worked his way out as a steward. We found William Palmer's discharge
certificate, certificate of character, as well as Ellen Bennett's passenger
contract at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch. Maybe Henry Dench came out as
a crewman!!!
Jan. 1853. NY. We have advices from Auckland, New-Zealand, by way of London,
to Sept. 14. The attractions of the Victoria gold fields were beginning to be
felt in an extended degree, many of the small storekeepers and tradesmen being
about to sail to Australia.
Henry and Henrietta and children returned to NZ, and purchased land at Wellington, went back to Melbourne. Returned to Otago and headed for Gabriel's Gully for gold.
Miner's Rights Number Name Date Location Province Country 3572 Henry DENCH 27 Sept 1861 Tuapeka Otago New Zealand
Again arrived in Lyttelton but in 1862. Settled Port Chalmers. Appears in the Port Chalmers electorate from 1866. Henry Dench served the community with devotion as a member of the Port Chalmers Borough Council 1868-9, Mayor of Port Chalmers 1871-3, a Justice of the Peace and a publican. He established a restaurant later turned into the "Jerusalem Hotel" often known as "Dench's Hotel". He also owned the Chick's Hotel at 2 Mount St, Port Chalmers and the "Crescent" (now Careys Bay Hotel). Mount Street was at one time the business centre of Port Chalmers. He was a staunch member of the Church of England and organised the province-wide appeal which, resulted in the erection of an English style church large enough to accommodate three-hundred people in 1874 probably on the half-acre corner of Scotia Street. Reference: Port Chalmers: Gateway to Otago by H. Bowman and a letter held by Otago Settlers Museum.
Unassisted Immigration to Victoria
Index of Inward Passenger Lists for British, Foreign and New Zealand Ports 1852-1923
from NZ on the Aeolus July 1854
Dench Henry Mr
Dench Henrietta Mrs
Dench Henrietta I
Hotels & Licensees 1861 - 1865 For Hotels in Inner
Dunedin
Jerusalem Coffee House - Mount St, Port Chalmers 1864 Dench, Henry
Suggested Reading:
The Rothesay News - August 2000
Bricks and Mortar - by Lois Galer. An Otago Daily Times Publication pre 1996. Article Hotel of Notoriety and Intrigue
Harry was gifted a painting by Lieut. William Goldie, in 1870. Henry Frederick Dench, their son, born 1853 and died 1935 Melbourne. H.F. was secretary of the Pt. Chalmers' fire brigade between 1876 and 1880 when he had to call upon the services of the brigade to his burning house on May 3, 1880. Reference: Port Chalmers and its People by Ian Church.
Dench died 23 May 1890 at Mansford Town, near Port Chalmers. His obituary appeared in the Evening Star 24 June 1890. W.H. Mansford arrived 1848 on the 'Victory'. Purchased land and established a store in the higher areas of what is now known Careys Bay formerly called Mansfords Bay.
Port Chalmers Old Cemetery Row 4 Plot 47 H Dench: The headstone, a decorative white marble slab, on the family plot reads: In loving memory of Henry E.J. Dench died at Mansford Town 23 May 1890 aged 64 years. And his wife Henrietta Bennett died ?17 March 1886 aged 52 years; [7 Feb 1886] Emily Frances died 17 March 1855 aged 6 months; [6 Minutes] Frances Celia died 18 May 1857 aged 21 months; Frank Charles died 11 January 1864 aged 10 weeks; Edward Sidney died 21 Sept. 1868 aged 16 months; Amelia Sarah died at Auckland July 21 1901 aged 43 years. Charles Edward died at Cambridge, Auckland, 15 May 1902 aged 29 years. Peace perfect peace. Base: Rose L. Bentham 29 Sept. 1930 aged 65 years Charles R. Bentham 15 June 1933 aged 29 years. God is Love. Reference: "The Town Clerk" Port Chalmers, NZ Dunedin Cemetery Database DENCH HENRY E J Age: 64 Years Date of Death: 23 May 1890 Last Address: MANSFORD TOWN, PT CHALMERS, DN Funeral Director: Cole & Springer Cemetery: PT CHALMERS OLD Location: Block R4 Plot 0047 Date of Burial: 25 May 1890 DENCH HENRIETTA BENNETT Age: 52 Years Date of Death: 7 Feb 1886 Cemetery: PT CHALMERS OLD Location: Block R4 Plot 0047 Date of Burial: 9 Feb 1886 Occupation: Married DENCH CHARLES EDWARD Age: 29 Years Date of Death: 15 May 1902 Last Address: Cambridge Cemetery: PT CHALMERS OLD Location: Block R4 Plot 0047 Date of Burial: 25 May 1902 Place died: CambridgeFrom burial register:
Dench, Henrietta wife of Henry
Died :7 Feb 1886, aged 52 years of paralysis
Resident of : Mansfords Bay, Port Chalmers.
Born: Bromley, Kent, England.
Last came from: Wellington NZ
Lived: 35 years in Province.Why did the children die? A lot of sadness for Mrs. Bennett. The family was attended by Dr. R. Urquhart from 24 April 1863. I am looking for any information on Henry E.J. Dench, his wife Henrietta Bennett and Captain John FAIRCHILD who commanded the government steamer 'Luna' and later the 'Tautanekai' and the 'Hinemoa' a government coastal trader. The 'Hinemoa' would berth at Port Chalmers on its lighthouse runs to deliver supplies. What is Dench family / Fairchild connection? Henrietta Bennett's niece Frances Henrietta Palmer arrived from Christchurch to help her at the hotel in the late 1870s. Frances's daughter was named Hinemoa after this vessel.
Chick's Hotel
Henry Dench had a three-story hotel, with twenty-six guest rooms on the top floor, built of local volcanic basalt known as bluestone in a 'Romanesque' style about 1877 on the original Port Chalmers jail site so part of the goal is included in the hotel's basement. In 1880, George Henry Chick became the owner and hotelkeeper. George Chick b.19 April 1847, Somerset, England came to Port Chalmers as a second steward on the ship Challenge in July 1869. He m. Ellen WARRY 23 Nov. 1871 Dunedin also from Somerset. He was drown at age forty-seven on the night of 29 Oct. 1894 along with his brother-in-law William Charles Warry, age 37, when the 1023 tons, Union Steam Ship Co. of NZ vessel, SS Wairarapa on the way from Sydney to Auckland wrecked at Great Barrier Island in thick fog with the loss of 135 lives. George had gone to England to find his brother-in-law and to bring him back to Port Chalmers. They never made it! No body was found so no death certificate was issued for them. His widow and family continued in the pub business until 1938. The building still stands with evidence where shackles had been removed and stories of men tipsy men being shanghaied. The Port Chalmers Museum, Beach St., Port Chalmers has the photograph of H.E.J. Dench and the Otago Museum has a photo of G. Chick.
Note: There was another Henry Dench who was the manager of the Bank of Otago, now BNZ at Mosgiel (about 1895), maybe related to Jack and Elsie Dench of Waimate, South Canterbury. I am interested in Elsie's family. Elsie's parents where William (Bill) ASHWORTH who wed Frances Louisa BRAY, daughter of Frances H. Palmer and James Bray. James Bray arrived on the 'Otaki' at Lyttelton on 8 February 1876. Frances H. Palmer was the daughter of Ellen Bennett and William Palmer.
New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, 1 February 1854, Page 3
Shipping Intelligence.
ARRIVALS. January 25-—Schooner Elizabeth, 8 tons, Warren, from Otaki.
Same day — Schooner Maria Elizabeth, 15 tons, Hood, from Queen Charlotte Sound. Passengers —Messrs. M'Donald, Walker, Heberley.
January 29— Barque Eliza, 150 tons, Walker, from Sydney. Passengers — Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Patterson Messrs. Beauchamp, Sutcliffe, S. Water. J. Williams.
January 30 —Scooner Scotia, 103 tons, Baitlett, from Melbourne.
DEPARTURES.
January 26—Ship Camatic, 632 tons, Smart, for Madras. Passengers — Dr. and Mrs. Johnston, Capt. Chesney.
Same day — Schooner Mary Ann, 15 tons, Woodgate, for Wanganui.
January 28 — Schooner Salopian, 40 tons, Douglass, for Ahuriri. Passengers —Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson, Miss Cameron, Mrs. Collins.
January 30— Schooner Gipsy. 8 tons, Riley, for Wanganui.
Same day — Barque Belle Creole, 267 tons, Henton, for Melbourne. Passengers —Messrs. J. and S. Pilcher Mr. and Mrs. Harrington and three children, Mrs. Scott and four children, Mrs. Speedy and four-children, Mr. and Mrs. Dench, H. and J. Syraons, W. Clapham, S. Cleckett, D. Corkery, W. Henderson, H. Lezge, J. Delaine, J. Walker, B. Short, I. Plimmer, A. Heese, J. Onion, P. Corkery, Mary Connell Same day —Schooner General Palmer, 8 tons, for Rangitikei.
Evening Post, 23 July 1872, Page 2
PORT CHALMERS. 23rd July.
Dench was re-elected Mayor with a majority of 35 votes over his opponent M'Dermid.
Evening Post, 17 July 1873, Page 2
PORT CHALMERS. 16th July.
Mr Hugh McDermid, M.P.C., has been elected Mayor without opposition. Mr Dench, the retiring Maytor, intimated his intention of standing as councillor for the High Ward.
Evening Post, 2 August 1873, Page 2
PORT CHALMERS. 1st August.
The result of the municipal elections is as follows : — Mr M'Kinnon defeated Mr Dench, the ex-Mayor, by 16 votes for the High Ward.
Evening Post, 13 April 1878, Page 2
PORT CHALMERS.
12th April. The election has been keenly contested. The returns give Green 269, Dench 179. One booth has yet to send in returns. The result of the contest is all in favor of Green. The official declaration of the poll will be made on Tuesday.
Evening Post, 3 May 1880, Page 2
DUNEDIN. 1st May.
A fire on the premises of H. T. Dench, Port Chalmers, on Saturday morning, totally destroyed the building and furniture, the inmates having a narrow escape. Insurances — £2OO on the furniture and £2OO on tho building in the Union office. The loss is estimated at £l5O. The holder of a mortgage on the property had another insurance of £6OO in the New Zealand.
Evening Post, 12 June 1890, Page 2 Death
DENCH- On the 23rd May, at his residence. Mansford's Bay, Port Chalmers, after a long illness, Henry E. J. Dench, ia his 65th year ; deeply regretted.
North Otago Times, 24 February 1893, Page 3
TEACHERS' EXAMINATIONS. (BY TELEGRAPH.) Wellington, February 22.
Tho following are tho results of the teachers' examinations for tho Otago district : Passed Class D. — Violet Eliza Martha Dench.
8th Feb 1878 Hawkes Bay newspaper
Marriage DENCH-GIBSON Something rare, if not altogether new, in connubial alliances has taken place in Port Chalmers. The Otago Daily Times describes it as a "very interesting marriage." It took place at Holy Trinity Church, in the presence of a very large number of spectators, when Mr Henry F DENCH., J W of the Port Chalmers Marine Lodge, No 947, E C.., was united to Miss GIBSON, a daughter of a well known member of the Lodge. A dispensation from the R W D G M., permitting the brethren to appear in Masonic clothing had been obtained, and the W M with the officers and brethren of the Lodge, were present. On the arrival of the bridal party a wedding march was played by Bro. BOTT, organist of the church, and the bride, attended by ten bridesmaids (daughters of the W M and several P M's of the Lodge, including three of the bridegroom's sisters), moved up the aisle to the front of the altar, where the ceremony was very impressively performed by the Rev Lorenzo MOORE, incumbent of the church. After the marriage, the W M., Bro C De L GRAHAM, presented the bride, in the name of the Lodge, with a very elegant bouquet of white and blue flowers, the centre forming a square and compass, together with a silver hilder appropriately engraved.==============================
No more of Australia! My arms are too old;
And my back is too stiff to go digging for gold.
Yet old as I am, and though wealth I may crave,
My heart is too young to enlist for a slave;
Let youth in its heat be adventurous still,
And scramble for nuggets as fast as it will,
I'll cling to my friendships, my home, and my health,
And live upon little, and think it is wealth.
I've always had bread in the land of my birth,
And a shilling to spend for my need or my mirth;
And gold, though 'tis good, as I'll never deny,
Is rather too dear if with life we must buy.
So give me a crust in my own native land,
And I'll breathe its dear air while I'm able to stand,
And wish all the diggers, whoever they be,
To be joyous as I, with a spirit as free.
And yet, fortune speed them! the young and the bold!
There's virtue in daring, there's glory in gold;
The greater the portion who wander away,
The better for those who've determined to stay;
While rocking their cradles, far off and forlorn,
They'll cradle an Empire - a giant new-born.
Success to their labours, wherever they roam,
And long may the nuggets come glittering home.
P.B., August, 1852==============================
Poem courtesy of Tony Dalton from his GGGPa's Scrapbook.
Sometimes history should be kept to yourself.©1999 - 2008 Olwyn Whitehouse
