Doug Denmead, the grandson of Florence Ada Denmead (nee Clement), contributed to some parts of this page. Note that there was another Denmead family in Geelong that was not related to this family.
There is a village called Denmead in Hampshire, near Porstmouth.
According to that Wikipedia page, Denmead was owned in 1316 by the Bishop of Winchester, who leased it to various tenants. It became referred to as a 'manor' in 1449, when it was owned by William Wayte. When Wayte's grandson died, the lands were divided amongst various other members of the family and Denmead was passed down.
The village of 'Demnead' in the Hambledon Hundred, shown in the centre of this extracts from John Speed's map of Hampshire, 1611
The village of 'Demnead' can be seen in the extract of John Speed's map of Hampshire which was published in 1611.
This information would appear to suggest that the people who became Denmead may have taken on the name of the town where they lived, unless Denmead was coincidentally a Palatine name.
According to an Ancestry thread dated April 2001 (edited September 2005) by a Michael Denmead, the Denmeads were German 'Palatines'.
Michael noted that Palatines were Protestants who lived in the lands in Germany that were controlled by the Elector Palatine. The Palatines started to leave war-ravished Germany and travelled in British ships to England from May 1709 (during the reign of Queen Anne). Apparently the majority who ended up in England apparently came from the regions outside it and some were actually Catholic.
There is no evidence yet to show that Denmead was a Palatine name although some Denmeads also ended up in Ireland suggesting a common connection.
Some of the Palatines were eventually dispersed to Ireland and parts of England. Most of those who went to Ireland returned. Names of Palatine origin, such as Switzer, Hick, Ruttle, Sparling, Tesky, Fitzell, are dispersed throughout Ireland. An overview is provided on this Wikipedia page.
Some Palatines migrated to New York and from there moved to New Jersey and Pennslyvania. It is not known if the Denmeads in America are from these lines.
Whether of Palatine origin or not, this site notes that the earliest Denmead family relating to the family on this page can be traced back to Somerset.
William Denmead was born around 1740, possibly in Nunney, Somerset. (If connected with the Palatines, his parents would have been born around the time of the migration to England). He married Hannah Williams on 25 April 1763 in Frome, Somerset, England. The only child known was John Denmead (bap 22 April 1764, Frome).
Mary Quinnel was baptised on 12 January 1775 in Stoughton to Thomas Quinnel and Elizabeth Asten, who had married on 14 August 1770 in Stougton.
John Denmead married Mary Quinnel on 31 January 1793 in Stoughton, Sussex, England. They had three children:
Anne Kent/Kemp was born 5 November 1813, the daughter of William Henry Kemp and Ann. She may be the Anne Kemp who was born to a man named William. She was baptised at Liverpool in 1814.
Neither Nathaniel Denmead nor Anne Kemp have yet been found in the 1841 census.
Nathaniel Denmead, then aged 45, married Anne Kemp at Shoreditch (London), UK on 12 July 1842.
Nathaniel and Anne Denmead appear to have lived briefly in Leatherhead, UK, where they had three children. They then made the decision to migrate as 'bounty' passengers to the new Australian colonies.
Nathanial Denmead (said to be aged 42), Anne Denmead (aged 34) and three children (Ann, William and James) arrived in Victoria on 13 January 1849 on board the Manchester which had left London on 14 September 1848 and Plymouth on 28 September 1848. The Argus of 16 January 1849 noted the arrival of the Manchester, a ship of 600 tons under Captain Forsyth. It noted that the passengers were Mrs Reid, Miss Forsyth and Dr Thompson, Surgeon Superintendent, along with the 236 bounty passengers. These passengers (including Nathaniel Denmead along with 30 other family men - the rest were single men and women) wrote (or perhaps were named in) two letters to the Captain and Dr Thompson, the Surgeon Superintendent, that were published in The Melbourne Daily News. The first, dated 12 January 1849 and written on board the Manchester 'off Williamstown' stated:
We the undersigned, emigrants from England to Port Phillip, having now, in health and safely reached the end of our voyage in the ship 'Manchester,' under your command, cannot leave that ship without making this feeble attempt at showing that we have understood and appreciated the exertions made by you and the officers and men under your command, to promote our comforts and happiness, and to maintain peace and order amongst us. Of the many privileges we have been allowed we are also sensible. For these kindnesses and privileges, as well as for the uniform gentlemanly bearing and conduct of yourself and officers towards us, we beg humbly and respectfully to tender you our most sincere thanks and well wishes. That a pleasant voyage through life may be yours, that that life may be a long, pleasant, and prosperous one, that when it comes to an end, it may be in the haven of lasting felicity, are the prayers and sincere wishes of Sir, Your grateful and obedient servants.
The Captain and Surgeon's reply, wishing the emigrants well, was also published in the same paper.
Based on the death details of their third child James Kemp Denmead, it appears that Nathaniel and Anne Denmead travelled to Adelaide, South Australia very soon after arriving in Geelong, Victoria. After the death of James, they then returned to Victoria to live in Geelong where they had two more children:
The South Australian Register of 13 March 1850 reported the following in relation to the granting of licences to various hotels, including 'The Billy Barlow':
'A person named Nathaniel Denmead complained that soldiers and prostitutes from that house were in the habit of using the rear of his premises for the most obscene purposes, and because he complained of the practices he was subjected to many annoyances. In one instance filthy water was thrown purposely to annoy him. His children had been frightened and his wife horrified at the scenes they witnessed. On last Saturday the carpenters were putting up some work, and his children picked up a few pieces of wood which he produced; the blackman in possession of the house threatened to bring an action against him for robbery. Mr Giles said it was not necessary to say any more. The Police Commissioner warmly protested that no report reached him of such misconduct. Mr Smith said there were two departments in the house, the Hotel department under the applicant and his wife, and the Bar under the person referred to. Mr Denmead, recalled, said he had complained to several policemen, but not to the Inspector. He pointed out Sergeant Eames. The policemen always appeared willing to protect him. By Mr Smith— Had not previously complained to a Magistrate. Sergeant Eames stated the house entertained persons until late hours, but he had no complaint against its conduct. Mr Smith was addressing the Bench energetically, but Mr Giles declared the Bench could not afford the time. The Justices were unanimous in refusing the licence.
The South Australian of 15 March 1850 also reported on the story:
Frederick James Coppin, Billy Barlow, Currie street and Light Square (late the Sir Robert Peel.) A person named Nathaniel Denmead a coppersmith and tinman, appeared to oppose the licence. He brought with him his two children, a girl and a boy of about seven and eight years old, and stated that he had resided next door to the house till he was absolutely driven from it by the disgraceful scenes his children were constantly witnessing and the repeated annoyances to which his wife and him self were subjected. He had taken the house of Mr Fox, but at the end of the first week had occasion to complain to the agent, who called for the rent, that he feared he was living next to a bad house. Soldiers, and others of the lowest grades, were its only frequenters, and their companions were women of abandoned character. We cannot follow him through his description of their conduct. Suffice it to say, he represented it as the worst which could disgrace a house of the vilest character. The least of his annoyances were the drunken sots, who, tumbling out of the bar when they could no longer support themselves, lay against his door and under his windows, till he called the police to remove them in trucks. A black man, who had charge of the inn, answered his remonstrances with abuse and threats, and boasted that he would make it a worse nuisance still. He purposely caused dirty water to be thrown in front of his house, and in every other manner insulted and annoyed him, till he had been obliged to remove from a place where he could neither live in comfort nor in decency. Mr Tolmer said this was the first he had heard of it. He wished the complainant to name the police man to whom he had spoken. He really did not believe what the man said. Mr Giles remarked that the police report of the house was unfavourable. The Chairman called on the applicant to answer the charges. Mr F. Coppin said the barman was a trustworthy person, recommended by his brother, and was answerable for any thing that had taken place. Mr Smith, on behalf of the applicant, explained that there were two departments in the house. Mr Coppin conducted the hotel, and resided there with his wife-it was not likely that any irregularities were permitted there. The bar was wholly under the charge of the black man, whom he would produce for their Worships satisfaction. It must be remembered there were scenes at all public houses which a landlord could not control. Mr Edward Stephens -Then we most root them out. The Chairman-The Bench are unanimous in refusing the licence. Mr F. Coppin-On what ground? The Chairman -The bad character of the house. Mr Tolmer called the complainant again, and questioned him. He pointed out Serjeant Eames as the only police-officer present to whom he had spoken of the house. That was not till Saturday last-, when he came to the police office and complained to the magistrate. He had spoken to other constables, whose names he did not know, when drunken men were lying about his door. They had promised their attention, and had done, he believed, all they could to assist him. He had not requested I them to lay an information against the house, Sergeant Eames said he had heard nothing of the matter till he saw the complainant at the police office on Saturday. He knew that bad hours were kept at the honse, but in other respects he believed it to have been conducted in a fair way. Mr Smith urged that his client had had no previous notice of these complaints. He had but lately come into the house, which had been badly conducted before, and he had done much towards improving its character, though of course it mast take some time to effect a thorough change. He still wished the Bench to examine the barman. The Chairman said they had had accounts of the house from several private sources of information. Mr Smith-Then will your Worships give permission to apply again next quarter ? Several Magistrates-No ; no. Refused, without leave to apply again. We may as well finish the episode of Denmead at once. About an hour afterwards he rushed into Court, scared and breathless, to announce that since his last appearance, a grim warrior- a private of the 11th, had waited on him in his new premises, rowing vengeance for his having denounced the beloved resort of heroes and their dames. The soldier had retired to the inn to muster his comrades, and the informant in momentary dread of his return claimed the protection of the Court. Captain Litchfield dispatched two policemen with orders to effect the capture of the doughty knight. James Creech, Union Inn, Weymouth-street. Captain Berkeley stated that the applicant was in a constant state of drunkenness. The Chairman said, the. report before the Bench of his character-he meant for want of sobriety was not such as to justify them in entrusting him with a licence. Refused.
The South Australian Register of 16 March 1850 noted the name of Nathaniel Denmead, a tin and coppersmith of Currie Street, among many hundreds of men who indicators their support for Mr John Stephens, a journalist and a tradesmen, who was at the time being criticised for the publication of 'special' obituary notices of deceased colonists '(that being an open question on which individuals will continue to differ)'.
The South Australian Register of 9 May 1850, as well as the Adelaide Observer of 11 May 1850, reported that Nathaniel Denmead had appeared as a witness in a court case involving a local auctioneer, accused of having sold stolen lace. Nathaniel Denmead stated that he had visited the auction room in the latter part of January and had seen with a basket of lace 'cards' presented for auction. He purchased one card of lace for 6d, noting that he thought the lace was damaged or that 'some tradesmen was driven to sacrifice his property by some emergency'. The article then noted that 'In consequence of what his wife said on seeing the lace, he resolved to keep it as he expected to hear more about it'. When he heard that the lace was stolen, he determined to seek the original owner, going to several shops. It was the owner of the last shop who claimed it was his.
On 16 May 1850, the South Australian Register referred to the case of the stolen lace, noting that:
The purchaser was a very busy person rejoicing in the name of Nathaniel Denmead, whom we remember to have seen figuring in a charge against a victualler before the Licensing Bench in March last. This general dealer was not content with purchasing the lace at a very low price (some sixpence per card), but his suspicions being excited that all was not right, he dutifully kept it, and went round to severnl shops for the purpose of finding its former owner. ... It is true enough, however, that Mr MacCabe, on these trumpery grounds, was brought as a felon before the Bench, and in his person a respectable tradesman was, momentarily, branded with a charge of receiving stolen goods. He was so charged on the belief of Mr Inspector Litchfield, founded on the very excitable suspicions of Mr Nathaniel Denmead. ... We submit to his Worship and our vigilant Inspectors that the greatest carefulness in enquiry is necessary before bringing a charge of felony against a respectable citizen— we would hint to the Messrs Robin that articles purchased at their warehouse, and paid for, may possibly find their way into the auction rooms of the town — we would warn Nathaniel Denmead to be a little more cautious how he allows that very busy imagination of his to overpower his natural good taste and sense of propriety. It he hunt after a bargain at a public sale, and is lucky enough to procure one, he had better not again cause the unfortunate auctioneer whom he honours with his custom to be dragged before a magistrate for having foolishly knocked it down to a ' suspicious tinman.'
The Adelaide Observer continued the story on 18 May 1850:
William Belcher, storekeeper in Hindley street, sworn. Knew nothing about the iace produced. Nathaniel Denmead brought it to witness, and said that he had bought some lace very much like it, for sixpence. Conversed with him about the nuisance of night auctions. Gave no information to the police. Knew nothing about the case. Charles Robin, draper, sworn-The cards of lace produced were the same, or similar to those at last examination, at least he thought so. Having so many like them, could not be sure. Denmead had called upon witness with one of them, and a policeman stood at the door. Did not know who sent Denmead to him. Could not tell if £50 worth of goods had been stolen from his shop. Did not tell Nathaniel Denmead, as that person had sworn, that he lost tbe cards from his shop. Could not say he bad been robbed. Said at last examination that he had been robbed, because he had sold no such cards of lace under four or five shillings each. The low price and the manner in which Denmead came to witness in the first instance caused the suspicion in his mind. Mr John Jones had called on Saturday on witness. Four months since Jones bought a parcel of parasols and lace of witness to sell again. Sold the cards of lace at 4s. and 5s. each to Jones. Denmead made a plausible tale about his being influenced by the highest feelings of duty "as a man to a man." Suspected he (Denmead) was only the tool of the pawnbrokers. The Police Commissioner said there was no case. Mr Hanson expressed bis deep regret at the course pursued towards his highly respectable client. The police, instead of laying an information, ought to have made enquiry. All would have been found fairly entered in Mr MacCabe's books. His client was of unexceptionable character ever since he had resided in the colony, and, on a trumpery and vague suspicion, had been dragged as a felon before the Bench. He had opened his books voluntarily and rendered all the assistance in his power to the police. His Worship said that Denmead had sworn that he saw ten cards sold, and Mr MacCabe had denied, to the police, having ever sold them. Mr Hanson-In defendant's absence his books were shewn, and on his return were shown for three weeks back. It was impossible for a person to remember an article when he sold three or four hundred nightly. His Worship-Mr MacCabe had referred to his book and then denied having sold them. From the beginning be did not consider Mr MacCabe had shewn a readiness to assist the investigation ...
The Adelaide Times of 16 and 17 August 1850 reported the case of a shoemaker, Edward Rowlands, who was charged with stealing property from the store of a John Robin Harris at Currie Street on 15 August, after Harris left the store with others in charge. Nathaniel Denmead, reported as a tinman of Currie street, was called as a witness and stated that he had seen the man passing his window heading towards Harris' store. The article stated:
(Denmead) Saw two women then pass, and afterwards two men, each grasping some thing under his left arm. The men walked very hurriedly. Lost sight of them at the Wellington Inn. The prisoner was then dressed in the same manner as at present. The two men seemed anxious to conceal the parcels behind them, as they passed the light of his window. This witness gave his evidence in so prozy, round-about, and bombastic a manner, that nothing like a connected tale could be made out of his story. It consisted of nothing but "the inner man" this, and the "outer man" that; and vice versa, until nobody could distinguish the one from the other; but the above was the meaning of his evidence as far as we could comprehend it.
The Adelaide Observer of 20 December 1851 recorded that Nathaniel Denmead, along with many other passengers, left Adelaide for Melbourne on 17 December 1851 on board the Tamar schooner. The absence of a reference to the rest of his family suggests that he may have travelled to find a suitable place to live and work in advance of leaving South Australia.
The South Australian Register of 3 April 1852 carried a notice stating that 'All claims upon Mr Nathaniel Denmead, for rents, merchandise or otherwise will be paid by Mr Alfred Atkinson, Solicitor, King William street, if found correct; and all debts due to Mr N Denmead are requested to be paid forthwith to the said Alfred Atkinson.'
This owuld suggest that Nathaniel Denmead and family had decided to leave Adelaide by that time.
The following notice appeared in The Argus on 28 October 1854:
NOTICE is Hereby Given, That I, Nathaniel Denmead, of Moorabool street, In the town of Geelong, in the colony of Victoria, Ironmonger, have by an Indenture dated the twenty-third day of Octobor, one thousand eight hundred and fifty four, and made and executed in pursuance of an act of the Governor and Council of New South Wales, mode and passed in the fifth year of the Reign of Her present Majesty, intituled as an "Act for the further amendment of the Law, and for the better advancement of Justice," and of an act made and passed In the seventh year of the Reign of Her present Majesty, intituled "An Act for giving Relief to Insolvent Persons, and providing for the administration of Insolvent Estates, and to abolish Imprisonment for Debt" conveyed and assigned all my estate, property, and effects to the undersigned James Nicol, of Geelong, in the said colony of Victoria, merchant, and Alfred Richard Reed, of the same place, Ironmonger, for the benefit of all my creditors, and such Indenture was duly executdd by me, the said Nathaniel Denmead, and my said trustees, in the presence of John Sleath Hill, Esq., one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace in for the said colony, and the same is now lying for inspection and execution at Messrs. A. R. Reed and Co.'s, Ironmonger, Moorabool street, Geelong. Dated this twenty-third day of October, In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four. (Signed) NATHL. DENMEAD. JAMES NICOL. ALFRED R REED. Signed in the presence of John B. Hill, JP.
The Age (Melbourne) of 27 November 1854 noted that Nathaniel Denmead, an ironmonger from Geelong, had surrendered his estate. It noted that 'his insolvency is attributed to the general depression of trade and pressure by a creditor. His debts were £3,138, 11 shillings and 1 pence, his assets were £6,344, 19 shillings and 2 pence'. The Argus on the following day carried a notice from the Insolvency Court regarding Nathaniel's estate.
In an article about the visit of Sir Henry Barkly to Geelong, The Age (Melbourne) of 24 March 1857 noted that a range of local Geelong gentlemen were presented to Sir Henry including Nathaniel Denmead, said to have been a former 'midshipman to Admiral Viscount Nelson'.
According to The Argus of 27 October 1857, Nathaniel Denmead appeared in the Involvent Court in 1857. The article noted that (Nathaniel's) estate 'had sold ten shillings in the pound, and that he had been allowed to carry on his business with the view of paying his creditors in full, but as the business having fallen off since that period ... he was unow unable to carry out his engagement. The creditors had, however, signed a release and did not opppose the present application'. The certificate was granted.
Anne Denmead died on 8 April 1865. The Geelong Advertiser's death notice on 10 April 1865 noted that she was the beloved wife of Nathaniel Denmead and was 52. It noted that the funeral would leave her residence, Nicholas Street, Chilwell. She was buried on 10 April 1865 at Geelong Eastern Cemetery in the Presbyterian section, Old, Row X, Grave X. This area of the cemetery appears on the Geelong Cemeteries Trust site map to have no headstones and many other names are listed, hence 'Grave X', 'Row X'.
William Henry Denmead married Hester Eliza Brain (1840 - 1914 (VIC BDM Ref 5742, the daughter of William Brain and Ann Mell)), in 1868 (VIC BDM Ref 1250). William and Hester Denmead had the following children:
Nathaniel Denmead was noted in the Geelong Advertiser of January 1870 as one of a long list of 'burgesses' writing in support of the nomination of GH Hitchcock to be Councillor for the Villamanta Ward in Geelong.
Ann Denmead (born abt 1843) married (John) Bamford Bebee (born c.1823-1884) in Geelong in 1871 (VIC BDM Ref 2085). Bebee was born around 1823 in Huntingdonshire, England, to John Bebee and (unknown) Selby. Bebee was the gardener of Roseneath Station, Casterton, in South Western Victoria. According to the link, the land between Warrock and Nangeela on the Glenelg River was taken up by Messrs Matthew Gibson and James Jackson in October 1840, and named the run 'Roseneath'. Bamford Bebee was recorded as the gardener at Roseneath from 1874.
Bamford and Ann Denmead had the following children:
Nathaniel Denmead died on 8 May 1874 aged 74 or 78. The notice of his death in the Geelong Advertiser of 18 May 1874 states that he was a tinsmith and that his funeral would move from his son's residence in Aberdeen Street, Geelong, on Sunday 10 May at 3 PM 'for the New Cemetary' - later known as the Geelong Western Public Cemetery. He was buried in the Church of England section, plot CoE-1-0048.
(John) Bamford Bebee died in Casterton in 1884, aged 61. (VIC BDM Ref 3929). He was buried at Casterton Old Cemetery, in Casterton, Victoria. His grave is unmarked. A board at the entrance to the cemetery shows the names of individuals without headstones including Bamford.
Ann Bebee signed the 1891 Womens' Suffrage Petition. Ann Bebee nee Denmead died at Casterton, Victoria in 1892 and is buried next to Bamford in an unmarked grave. She was survived by her sons John Bamford Bebee, Walter Nathanial Bebee and her daughter Violet Denmead Bebee.
Florence Ada Clement was the third child and daughter of Richard and Margaret Clement. She married Henry Nathaniel (Harry) Denmead, a builder/cabinet maker, on 12 December 1906 at Aberdeen St Baptist church. They were both aged 31 years at the time. (Source: Marriage certificate). Witnesses to the marriage were Edward Harris, Isabel J Clement and C. T. Seeley.
Harry Denmead was the son of William Henry Denmead, a tinsmith/plumber, who lived and worked from a two story timber building in Aberdeen St, north side, near the Baptist church, not too far up the hill from 'Little Scotland' and the old Clement butcher shop. In his earlier years, Harry lived in Barwon Heads and apparently worked at a wool scouring operation, possibly called 'Muns' (James Munday's Geelong Tannery on the Barwon River at South Geelong?), on the Ocean Grove side of the Barwon River (before there was a bridge).
Harry and Florence Denmead had three children:
The children grew up at 5 Noble Street, Barwon Heads, in a small corrugated iron clad house, and went to school in a spring cart. The town was subject to flooding from the Barwon River and when that happened the children were ferried to school by the baker's cart (or have a day off school!).
Some time later, Harry and Flo Denmead moved to 22 Aberdeen St, Geelong. They then moved to a new house at 110 Skene St, built by Harry. Their grandson Doug recalls that 110 Skene St was/is a solidly built house on brick piers, clad in cement sheeting, probably one of the early examples of using this material. There was an old timber wash house with a wood fired copper and photography darkroom at the rear of the house (a separate building) which may well have existed when an older house occupied the site. The wash house had old brick paving, very worn, and the darkroom had a bitumen floor.
For photographs of the family see this page.
Harry Nathaniel Denmead died on 28 May 1953. He was remembered as being a great photographer and a smoker with a stained white moustache. According to The Argus of 13 October 1953, the probate of his will was granted to his son William Richard Denmead of 91 Skene Road, Newtown, a foreman carpenter.
Alfred Denmead (born 1850, the son of Nathaniel Denmead), died on 20 June 1929. His obituary was carried in the Traralgon Record on 24 June 1929.
We regret to chronicle the death of Mr A. Denmead, of Traralgon, which took place on Thursday evening, at the age of 79 years. Deceased carried on a tin-smithing and plumbing business in Traralgon for many years, and some nine years ago sold out and retired. He was well-known and much esteemed by many friends. The late Mr. Denmead was born in Adelaide, South Australia, but the greater part of his life was spent in Victoria, where he lived for 60 years, 22 of which had been spent in Traralgon. Miss Denmead, Messrs A. W. and Frank Denmead are descendants of deceased, whose family consisted of five children. The remains of deceased were interred in Traralgon Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. The burial service was conducted by Rev. J. H. Blundell, and the mortuary arrangements carried out by Mr W. T. Armstrong, of Traralgon.
Alfred's death notice in the same newspaper on the same day read as follows: Denmead. On Thursday, June 20th, 1929, at his residence, Hotham Street, Traralgon, Alfred, beloved husband of the late Jane Denmead, and loving father of Alfred William, Charles, Arthur, Frank and Florence Adah. Aged 79 years. Alfred was buried at Gippsland Memorial Park in Traralgon, Plot WB-C008.
The photograph below shows Florence Denmead and her siblings outside a church in Geelong in the 1940s.
Florence Denmead (second from right) with her siblings (Isabelle/Belle Strong, Mabel Fagg, Les Clement, Flo Denmead, Margaret Aikman
Florence Denmead (nee Clement) died from a stroke after lingering for a few days, on 4 May 1963.
Florence Ada Clement was remembered by her grandson Doug as being 'absolutely, in my eyes, the best Grandma you could ever have'. She worked as a nurse and was a very strict Methodist who often would (attempt to) influence her grandchildren re the evils of drinking. For all her life she was remembered as being a very active and fit person and a great walker - for example, she would walk with a shopping cart down to Pakington Street in West Geelong for supplies. Florence retained her involvement with the Baptist Church all her life. She hand crafted chaff bags or jute aprons (as a specialty, made for charity). Her wood stove produced, according to Doug Denmead, 'the most wonderful cake sized soft ginger nuts, just the shot for a hungry school boy with a milk drink of course!'.
Florence Denmead (nee Clement) died on 4 May 1963 in Geelong and was buried at Geelong Western Public Cemetery, in NICH-WALL-05-049.
Alice Jean Denmead never married and lived in Geelong all her life. She worked in Melbourne as a bookkeeper (travelling the old 'red rattler' trains to and from Geelong), travelled widely, tutored her nephew when young, and died on 8 February 1991 aged 84. She was buried in Geelong Western Public Cemetery, Rose Garden 11, 266, Position 1.
Bill Denmead, who also took up carpentry, married Esta Jean nee Adcock (1910 - 2010, aged 99 3/4 years) and they had four children. Bill and his father worked together during the depression years restoring old houses, mainly in West Geelong. Later, Bill Denmead worked mainly for the firm J. C Taylor and sons, on large building projects most of his working life. Bill later built a house at and moved to 91 Skene Street, Newtown, across the road from his parents, on the site of two older houses. Skene St was once the main route to the Ballarat goldfields. A grocery store was located just next to Bill's house, then Park St, and the Gold Diggers Arms Hotel.
(Florence) Ruth Denmead married (James) Trevor Murphy. They lived in Denman Street, East Geelong, and had three sons. Trevor Murphy died on 7 May 1999 and was buried in the Geelong Eastern Cemetery in the Rose Garden 41, 18, position 1. Ruth died on 15 October 2000. She was buried in the Geelong Eastern Cemetery in the Rose Garden 41, 18, position 2.
Page created 1 November 2012, updated 28 May 2025 (additional details). Copyright © Andrew Warland. (andrewwarland(at)gmail.com)