H is for Henry. Henry Stanley REES

Henry Stanley Rees was born on 07 November 1879 in Thebarton, South 

Australia, where his father (Rees Coventry REES) was working at the time. 

He was my 1^st cousin twice removed, on my maternal side.

Map showing two suburbs Henry lived in, Adelaide, South Australia.

Henry Stanley Rees Birth Record. Ancestry.com South Australian Births Index Registrations 1842-1906

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     Sadly, I have only been able to find a few details about his life, but I want to record what I have, as he was a young man whose life was cut short when he suddenly experienced a terrible medical emergency.

    When Henry was born, the Rees family were living in a ‘First-class Cottage,’ with a passage, in the quick-rising suburb, New Thebarton (west of Adelaide).  In November 1884, they had moved to the next suburb, into a cottage near the Post Office in Mile-End.  Henry’s father Rees must have been doing all right as two years later in 1886, they were in a ‘New six-roomed house at Mile End, on Henley Beach Road, with stabling, coach house, and Man’s Room.’  I think probably built by his father Rees.

In 1889 they moved to Broken Hill, hoping for plenty of work near the big mine.  He must have earned money because by 1890 his father was financially able to build his own hotel. Next door he built an ‘office or stone shop with two rooms attached in a splendid position that must increase in value.’  

Merthyr Tydvil Hotel. Broken Hill. My photo 02 October 2016

    The hotel was established on the 5^th February 1891 as the Merthyr Tydvil,  (Named after his birthplace in Wales UK.) and R C Rees was the licensee for the next nine months. 

Possible due to his wife, Eliza’s ill health, the hotel and all else were listed for sale or lease in October, later that year. The advertisement described 318 Oxide Street address as comprising 13 rooms, stables, etc. on land 83 x 132. Stock, furniture, licence, &c. at valuation. 

 

    Eliza Rees nee Wells, Henry Stanley’s mother died shortly after on o6 February 1892, whilst in childbirth. The newborn baby daughter Violet May sadly only lived five weeks, dying on 16 March 1892. Cemetery records say Henry's mother Eliza was buried on 07 February and little sister Violet May was interred with her mother after death. 

 

    Friends were invited to attend Eliza’s funeral which left their residence in Thomas Street, for interment in the ‘New Cemetery.^’

Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW: 1888 – 1954) Saturday 6^th February 1892, p3.

 

    It would have been a sad, hard time for the family, losing wife and mother to seven children ranging from 3 to 16 years of age. Henry would have been 12 years old at that time. It was also a bad year in Broken Hill with the Big Strike and many miners losing their jobs. 

    Four years later, in 1896, his father travelled to Western Australia (WA) to the mines looking for work. He is listed as an unemployed architect.  He left the family in Broken Hill with three older sons (including Henry) working and providing for the family. The oldest daughter Alice Adelaide oversaw the house. Father also sent money home to support them all.

Thomas the second oldest child and the oldest boy joined his father in WA for a year.

  

    The only other article I have is about his bicycle being stolen.  It sounds like a special item of his, that I think he would have been his pride and joy.

  

    ________________________________________________________

     In the 1901 Electoral roll (11 September) Henry's place of residence is listed as care of the ‘Chilled Butter Factory’ in Broken Hill. He commenced work there at 17 years of age and was employed for twelve years.

    On Tuesday 25 August 1908, a notice appeared in the Barrier Miner, Broken Hill on page 3, for members of the Barrier LOL No 31 Lodge. A request to attend the funeral of the late Brother H.S. Rees, leaving Mrs Francis Lord’s (his sister, Alice Adelaide Rees) residence on the corner of Chapple and Iodide Streets, tomorrow at 3pm for the General Cemetery.  

Barrier Miner, Broken Hill. Tuesday 25th August 1908, p3. 

    A hospital report from Broken Hill states Henry Stanley died suddenly through the bursting of an abscess on the brain.  

Observer Adelaide Sat. 29 August 1908 p7. 'Broken Hill'

    I hope there were many friends there to mourn his passing, as the notice says he was well known in friendly society circles. 

 

Henry S Rees death record. Ancestry.com Aust Death Index 1787-1985

     Henry Stanley Rees was buried on 26 August in the General Cemetery at Broken Hill. Section O, Grave 80. Sadly there is no headstone.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Reference: 

House addresses are from -- 

The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide SA: 1867 – 1922) Saturday 16^th August 1879, p4.

South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA: 1839 -1900) Wednesday 26^th November 1884, p2.

The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA: 1867 -1922) Tuesday 9^th February 1886, p1

Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW:1888-1954) Tuesday 12^th March 1889, p3.

Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW: 1888 – 1954) Tuesday 11^th February 1890, p2.

Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW: 1888 – 1954) Thursday 29^th January 1891, p3.

Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW: 1888 – 1954) Thursday 13^thAugust 1896, p3.