Keith Henry “Harry” Avery

Keith Henry Avery known as Harry was the 2nd of three children born to Robert  and Ellen Sarah Avery nee Goldsmith.

  • Oscar Clyde Avery born 20 Nov 1903
  • Keith Henry Avery born 21 June 1906
  • Gwendoline Edith Avery born Scottsdale, 30 December 1909

Harry was born in St Helen’s, a fishing town on the east coast of Tasmania. On his birth certificate, it says his father was a miner.

From April 1904, his parents ran a boarding house with Ellen doing most of the inside work and Robert doing the labour work outside. But in 1915, Robert passed away leaving Ellen to bring up three young children. During the war years, Ellen was very involved in local functions, especially the Red Cross and the soldiers that returned.

Both Oscar (1919) and Harry (1921) had qualified for admission into state high school – each year only 12 students from St Helens qualified.

It was now that Ellen moved them to Hobart. There was a grand farewell from the residents of St Helen’s on 4 February 1921.

The first official mention of Ellen and her family living at 160 Goulburn Street, West Hobart, was 1923 in the Post Office Directory.

Present day 160 Goulburn Street where Harry lived after moving from St Helens.

In 1921, Harry was apprenticed with Harris and Marsh and trained as a tin smith. It was a six-year apprenticeship.

On 17 February 1921, Harry registered as a cadet in the Royal Australian Naval Reserves. He was living at 160 Goulburn Street according to his papers. His mother Ellen was at 298 Bathurst Street and was doing domestic duties. Harry was only 5 feet 3 and a half inches tall and was a plumber’s apprentice.

His original rating was cadet signal, presumably this included semaphore and wireless telegraphy. He was part of the 40th Battalion in Hobart.

In the first year he served just over 5 days with military training. In 1922, he served 17 days again military training. On 1 July 1922 he was transferred from 40th Battalion to Naval.

Harry was thrown from a motor cycle and put in hospital from injuries in November 1923 and this absence is noted in his naval records.

In 1923 and 1924, Harry served many full day, half day and quarter days in naval training. His record says satisfactory ability, efficient and very good character.

On 29 May 1924, he was medically examined and found fit for the Citizen Naval Forces.

From 25 February 1925 until 13 March, he served on HMAS Tasmania. In 1926, he spent 16 days at the Naval Drill Hall in Hobart. He also spent 17 days in July on HMAS Marguerite. In October 1927, he spent 17 days on HMAS Swan which was based in Launceston. In April 1929, he spent 5 days training at the Naval Drill Hall and his final training mentioned on records was in October/November 1929 at the Drill Hall.

In September 1924, he was promoted to signalman, then in August 1926, promotion to leading signalman and finally in November 1927 to yeoman of signals.

Harry at Williamstown dry dock HMAS Swan

When Harry finished his apprenticeship, he received a great reference from Harris and Marsh company.

Harris Marsh reference 1927

By the 1928 electoral roll, Harry, a sheet metalworker, and Oscar, a clerk were still living with their mother in Goulburn Street. In 1929 electoral roll, a William Wyatt was also living at 160 Goulburn Street. He was a labourer and part of the Royal Australian Naval reserves.

During this time, William Wyatt married Irene Smith and had a child together, Robert Wyatt known as Bob. But in early 1930’s, William left the marriage and went to New South Wales.

Harry became Bob Wyatt’s foster father even though he considered Ellen, Harry’s mother, as his foster mother from the early 1930’s. Harry once told Bob, that he was his mother’s saviour as she had lost a son, Oscar, in 1930 and her only daughter, Gwen, in 1929 with diphtheria and she was very depressed until she had to look after him.

Oscar and Gwen Avery possibly

By this time, Harry was working at Cadbury’s Chocolate Factory in Claremont, Tasmania. Harry had met an old man on a tram who suggested Cadbury’s would be a better and cleaner place to work instead of the Zinc Works.

In 1936, the electoral roll only had Ellen and Harry living at 160 Goulburn Street.

Harry married Violet Grahame Masterton in 1937 and lived at 192 Main Road, Moonah almost opposite the fire station. A picture of the bride and her attendants was in the local paper.

In March 1938, Harry was involved in a car accident in Hobart. Harry and his wife, plus another passenger, appeared as witnesses at the inquest of the death of Robert Elliston in North Hobart. The coroner declared it an accidental death as Elliston stepped off the kerb with his head down.

In July 1938, Harry was a groomsman at his sister-in-law’s marriage to Rupert Bryant Carr.

At the Christmas social event for Cadbury’s Chocolate Company in 1939, Harry was one of many employees who presented a musical item. His friend John Kean, who had been the passenger in the accident in 1938, also presented at the social.

Jack Keen, Mervyn (Dumby) Morey, Roy Lipscombe, Harry Avery

Harry was not expected to take part in the war as he was working in a protected industry. Cadbury’s chocolates were sent to all soldiers often during the war and can be seen on many of the advertisements of that time period. During this time period Harry would make camouflage nets for the war effort.

Harry making nets later in life (not during war)

On Monday 12 February 1940, Cadbury’s company held a picnic at South Arm for its employees. Harry was noted as coming second in the obstacle race. There were a few other unusual events if you read the newspaper article.

It also looks like Harry was treasurer of the Engineering department at Cadbury’s as he was mentioned in an article organizing a Christmas social event.

Cadburys football team, Harry Avery sixth from left in front row

In July 1941, another of his sisters-in-law married and Harry was an usher this time. Again, at a wedding in January 1942, Harry was an usher. The surnames of the bride and groom have also been mentioned in other newspaper articles about Cadbury’s.

Harry enjoyed the outdoors and would often go camping using ridge pole tents for shelter. He would usually take Bob and other friends from Cadbury’s on these adventures.

Harry, Bob and Mr Williams playing accordion, camping at Primrose Sands.

Harry built his wooden dinghy in the back yard at Moonah and Bob recalls helping him to rivet the planks. Mrs Avery used to take Bob to visit her son and his wife who he called Topsy. Harry would run them home in his car. His garage was only a shed with a curtain to protect the car from the weather. Harry had room inside that he used as a workshop and it was here that he made stencils for Jones & Co. Some time later Harry deserted Topsy and returned to live with his mother in Goulburn Street. Violet was granted a decree nisi for an undefended divorce case in April 1953.

Harry had re-joined his mother at Goulburn Street by the time of the 1949 electoral roll where he was still identified as a sheet metal worker.

Harrys favourite crayfish catch photo

In 1952, Harry’s mother passed and was buried with her brother in Cornelian Bay Cemetery. Harry and Bob put a bereavement notice in the local paper thanking friends and relatives.

Harry won fifth prize in the Sandy Bay Football Club raffle in September 1953.

The house at Goulburn Street was too big for just the two of them so it was at this time that Harry purchased a house at 6 Brent Street, Glenorchy and both Bob and Harry lived there.

Bob remembers that Harry let him drive his utility when they went to look at the house there and as they left Bob (aged 19 at the time) backed into a Hydro pole. Fortunately it was only a slight bump with very little damage.

Bob married in 1954 and his family grew up at Brent Street. Harry lived there with the family as well.

Harry with Bob’s daughter Suzanne

In July 1961, Harry married Joyce Unice Harwood. This was a second marriage for them both as Joyce had been married to Darrell James King from Geeveston area of Tasmania but he died in 1948. It was at the time of this marriage that Harry sold the Brent Street property to Bob who borrowed the money to pay the original purchase price paid by Harry back in 1952.

Harry, Joyce and her sister then lived in two units at Conneware Crescent in Berriedale.

Harry and his second wife Joy

Harry and Joyce lived their final years  at Wakehurst Road in Austins Ferry.

Under the house at Austins Ferry, Harry had a fantastic shell lighthouse which Bob’s children always asked for him to turn on so they could see the flashing light. He also had a great collection of shells. Harry loved his garden and had bountiful raspberry canes against the fence at this house.

Harry and Joyce were invited to many events relating to the Wyatt family.

Joyce passed away in 1980 and is buried at Cornelian Bay.  Harry passed away on 20 December 1996, aged 90. He is also buried in Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium.

Have I found Caroline Bryant?

When I write the biographies of my ancestors, I try to make sure I have records for their birth and names of parents as well as siblings. This sometimes involves a lot of research. If they were born in Tasmania, then the records are nearly all digitized.

But I am now researching my great great grandmother Caroline Chandler nee Bryant. I have researched her life in Tasmania:

  • her arrival with her mother in 1856 at age 17
  • her marriage in 1859  at age 22 then birth of her children
  • her death in 1919 in her 80th year

But I have yet to find out when and where she was born exactly back in England.

Clues to finding her birth

  1. Her mother was Charlotte Bryant – from arrival records into Tasmania – January 1856
  2. Her father was Dr Bryant – from death notice as Chandler
  3. Her sister was Esther Julia Winter nee Bryant – Robert Winter was informant at Caroline’s marriage
  4. On Esther’s marriage in 1852, a Caroline Bryant was witness. Father: Henry Bryant – surgeon Couple living Barclay Street
  5. The Winter family and his parents were sponsored by Charlotte Bryant – arrival records into Tasmania – December 1856
  6. She possibly had a younger brother called Charles who was supposed to come with them to Tasmania

Clues from census records

1841 census at Tottenham, parish Saint Pancras

  • Henry Weight 35 surgeon yes – born in parish
  • Charlotte Bryant 35 – no
  • Henry Bryant 9 – yes
  • Caroline Bryant 3 – yes
  • Emily Bryant 1 – yes

1851 census at 40 Barclay Street, Saint Pancras

  • Charlotte Bryant – Head – unmarried – 46 – dressmaker – born Arundel, Sussex
  • Julia Bryant – daughter – unmarried – 23 – house servant – born St Pancras, Middlesex
  • Henry Bryant – son – unmarried – 18 – jeweller – born St Pancras, Middlesex
  • Caroline Bryant – daughter – unmarried – 12 – scholar – born St Pancras, Middlesex
  • Charles Bryant – son – unmarried – 7 – scholar – born St Pancras, Middlesex

So from these clues Caroline could be born in 1837-1839 in St Pancras parish.

I checked the Free BMD website putting Caroline Bryant from Sep 1837 to Dec 1839 and the county of Middlesex.

Only one result so I ordered the birth certificate: St Pancras volume 1 page 273

  • Superintendent Registrar’s District – Saint Pancras
  • Registrar’s District – Tottenham
  • 1838 Birth in district of Tottenham in county of Middlesex
  • 9 June 1838 quarter before 8 Clock? at No 21 Warren Street
  • Caroline – girl
  • Father Henry Bryant a servant
  • Mother Charlotte Bryant formerly White
  • Registered 17 August 1838 by John Wells?? registrar Joseph Journey Supt Regd??

Looking at all the addresses mentioned in records: Warren Street, Cleveland Street, Barclay Street are all in Saint Pancras district and what is now Fitzrovia and Somers Town area and are only about 800 metres between them.

Readers: Do you think I could safely say this is my Caroline? Or do I need to find the births of the siblings to prove it is same parents? Would it be possible for Henry Bryant to become a surgeon between Caroline’s birth in 1838 and Esther’s marriage in 1852? Henry was a shoemaker at Esther’s birth in 1827 and living at Cleveland Street. Henry the brother also says his father was a surgeon when he married in 1851.

John DAVEY

John Dav(e)y was born 21 Jan 1834 as the 4th out of 12 children. His parents were John Dav(e)y (1800-1874) and Mary Anne Jennings (1807-1883). He was born at Clyst Honiton, in the county of Devon in England. A year later, his older brother Thomas passed away aged 7. In 1836, another brother was born and given the name Tom. In 1837, he lost another sibling Mary his oldest sister.

Local church and graveyard at Clyst Honiton

Siblings

  • 1828 – Thomas – died in 1835
  • 1830 – Mary – died in 1837
  • 1832 – Selina
  • 1836 – Tom
  • 1838 – Herman – died in 1843
  • 1840 – Mark
  • 1843 – Luke (DNA match to a descendant)
  • 1845 – Herman
  • 1848 – Matthew Adam
  • 1851 – George
  • 1854 – Michael

Looking at the various births of John’s siblings some are born in Clyst Honiton, others in Heavitree and Clyst St George. The following is from Whites Devonshire Directory published in 1850 found on the relevant village pages at GENUKI.

  • CLIST HONITON, a village and parish on the east side of the river Clist, 4 miles E. by N. of Exeter, contains 467 souls, and 1760 acres of land.
  • The village of HEAVITREE, one mile E. of Exeter, has many neat houses, and is said to have derived its name from having been formerly the place of execution for the city.
  • CLIST ST. GEORGE, or Clyst St. George, a scattered village and parish, 1½ miles E by N. of Topsham, and 4 miles S.E. of Exeter, has 370 inhabitants, and 1001 acres of land.

In the 1841 English census, the family, including the children Selina, John, Tom, Hermon and Mark, were living in the village at St Georges Clyst. John senior was a carpenter.

By the 1851 census, John senior was aged 45 and his occupation was a master carpenter. John junior was an agricultural labourer. Living at home with their parents and John were Mark, Luke, Herman and Matthew. They were living in South Wonford in the parish of Heavitree.

John junior set sail on barque Wanderer under a bounty immigrant scheme. The ship master was John Woodcock. They left London 31 October 1854, the Downs on 3 November 1854, finally arriving in Hobart Town 13 February 1855. A total of 182 souls arrived safely from England and Scotland.

According to the shipping records John was 20 years old, religion Church of England and he could read and write. His occupation was farm servant. George Meredith was the name of the person on whose application John was sent out. Three other single men were also employed by George Meredith who would be reimbursed by the government for part of the cost of the bounty ticket.

John was occasionally mentioned in the ‘Meredith papers’ which are housed in the State Library Archives in Hobart.  He was recorded last at ‘Cambria‘ in January 1857.  His wages at this time were 7 pounds and 10 shillings per quarter.

Marriage and children

John Davey and Annie Dixon were married at the Manse at Evandale, Tasmania on 18 July 1859. John was a bachelor aged 26 while Anne was a spinster aged 18. Witnesses to the marriage were Hannah Dixon and William Costley.

Over the next 29 years until John died, the couple raised seven sons and five daughters to adulthood. They lived in English Town, near Evandale, Tasmania. The photo shows the newspapered walls inside the house as taken in 1987.

 

  • 1860 – William John – grandmother Mary was the informant from Evandale
  • 1861 – Mary Elizabeth – father John, labourer from Nile was informant
  • 1863 – Hannah Selina – father John, labourer
  • 1865 – George – father John, farmer
  • 1867 – Emma Louisa – father John, labourer
  • 1869 – Adam – father John, farmer from Camperdown
  • 1872 – Charles Wesley –
  • 1873 – Frank Thomas aka “Thomas” –
  • 1876 – Samuel Percy aka “Frank” – John Griffin, constable from Deddington was informant
  • 1878 – Harry – father John, farmer from Blessington
  • 1880 – Eliza Amy – Adam Burston, constable Deddington
  • 1885 – William – George Wills, constable Deddington
  • 1885 – Ellen Anne –

Searching through the Tasmanian Names Index, the births of Charles, Frank and Ellen Anne are not found.

Sometime in the 1870’s John’s younger brother George also immigrated but he headed to New Zealand.

On 6 May 1873, John was charged with larceny and spent three months in gaol in Launceston. A report of the crime was written up in the local paper and he was named in the police gazette for 1873.

In February 1874, his father John senior passed away at Heavitree, Devon, England. His mother Mary Anne passed away in 1883 also at Heavitree.

John must have had a tough life in Tasmania as he worked for many farmers around the Evandale area and would have had to ride a horse or walk to get to each farm.

John passed away in 1888 aged 55 years old. He died from jaundice according to his death record. He left his wife Annie to bring up 6 children under the age of 15. What a sad Christmas in 1888!