When William James Henley was born on 16 March 1870 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, his father, John William, was 28 and his mother, Hannah Eliza (nee Bright), was 25.
William James Henley
Gender Male
Baptism Date 07 Sep 1870
Baptism Place Bristol, St Augustine the Less, Gloucestershire, England
Father John Henley
Mother Hannah
When he was 13, William James Henley arrived in Queensland, Australia on 5th June 1883 from Bristol with his family as part of the Assisted Immigration Scheme. His father John was a carpenter.
William James Henley and Mary Jane Scott married in the Bible Christian Church, Clifton Terrace, Red Hill on 22.5.1889 by Benjamin Rounsefell when William was 21. Their witnesses were Joseph Waltisbuhl and Alice Scott (older sister of Mary).
At the time of their marriage William was a bootmaker and Mary a boot machinist. William lived in Cochrane Street, Red Hill and Mary lived at Lower Clifton Terrace, Brisbane. Once they were married they lived in Baroona Road, Paddington.
Apparently William and his brother, Charlie, owned most of the suburb Graceville and simply sold land when they needed money. William was also a saddle maker and a barber. William was also very musical and was the Band-Master in the Moreton Regiment and arranged all their music.
William and several of his relatives travelled to Western Australia by camel for the Big Gold Rush. They found no gold and survived due to William’s ability to cut hair. They returned via a cattle boat.
William died on the 14.11.1934 aged 65 from silicosis or “The Widow Maker” caused by the dust of the quartz pits at the gold mines.
His wife Mary Henley (nee Scott) died on the 3.6.1940 aged 70.
The Six Children of William Henley and Mary Jane Scott:
- William Harry (born 19.12.1889 m. Bessie CUMES)
- Elsie May (born 8.8.1892 m Denis O’SULLIVAN on 23.12.14)
- Lillian Mary Hannah (1895 – 22.6.1954 aged 59 m. Stanley HORN)
- Charles Victor John (1889 m. Olive STONE died of Paget’s disease)
- Clifford Eric Scott (1906 m. Cecilly WAGNER)
- NORMA HELENA EMILY (20.12.1909 m Henry William CHAYTER)
- William Harry Henley
was Dux of Milton State School. As a young man he was running to catch a tram, slipped and a tram wheel crushed his instep. The ambulance wheeled him by handcart to Brisbane General Hospital where the foot was sewn back on. He developed gangrene and his leg was amputated above the knee. Harry went on to become an accountant and the Company Secretary of James Campbell’s. After suffering a nervous breakdown following a medical condition called thyrotoxicosis Harry resigned from Campbell’s and bought a shop – the first of many. He played golf, loved fishing, shooting and was also the Secretary of the Queensland Cricket Association (which is probably how his sister Norma met her husband). Harry married Bessie Cumes and had three sons : Sydney, Bert (who was in Changi during the war) and Len (father of Patsie).
- Elsie May Henley (born 8.8.1892) went to the Milton State School. She married Dennis (“Dinny”) O’Sullivan at Church of England Grammar School and Norma was a flower girl. They had six sons : William Dennis (5.1.1916 – 15.9.1988, marriede Suzanne Munns), John Clifford (10.5.1918 – 5.1987 married Mona Conquest), Harry Jeremiah (Jerry) (9.3.1920 married Mary MacKenzie), Des (who died at the age of 9 from diptheria 24.2.25 – 24.5.1934) Dennis Charles (2.10.1922 married Florence Conquest) and Brian Timothy (born 13.12.1929 married Ann Langan).
- Lillian Mary Anna Henley married Stanley Horn and had three children : Mabel, Charlie and Dorothy. Lillian died 22.6.1954 aged 59 of breast cancer.
- Victor Charles John Henley married Olive Stone (who was a kleptomaniac!). He died of Paget’s Disease.
- Clifford Eric Scott Henley was dux of Sherwood State School and won a full scholarship to Brisbane Grammar. He studied accountancy and was Queensland manager of Manufacturers Mutual Insurance. He played excellent tennis and formed a team with his equally talented tennis playing sister, Norma, called “The Myalls”. Cliff married Cecily Wagner.
- Norma Helena Emily Henley married Henry “Rollo” CHAYTER.