written in reply to a message:
Subject: dennett family
To: ngairedith
From: sarah970ken
Date: 2013-09-09 21:44:28
... hi ngarie my name is sarah (name supplied) im searching for henry Edward Dennett family can you help me he married hilda mary Collins they lived in napier and hastings they had two daughters ruby Emily Dennett, hilda Dennett and I think they had a son George or that might be hildas brother im not sure they are my ggggrandparents if you could help that would be great thank you


HENRY EDWARD DENNETT (1870-1952)
was born 22 October 1870, the 5th of 12 children of William Young DENNETT (1845-1928) from Hobart, Tasmania & Catherine 'Kate' WOODS (1848-1918) from Newcastle, New South Wales

* HENRY'S FATHER was a son of William Henry DENNETT (1813-1882) from Sydney, NSW & of Margaret McVILLEY (1817-1898) from London (both died in Beechworth, Victoria)
* HENRY'S MOTHER was a daughter of Daniel WOODS (1814-1893) from County Kildare, Ireland & of Catherine HAWTHORN (1811-1897) from Tipperary, Ireland (both died in Australia)

* HENRY'S FATHER'S SIBLINGS (born in Hobart) were:
1836 - Caroline Elizabeth Dennett
1838 - Emily Louisa Dennett
1840 - Margueritta Mary Dennett
1843 - Joseph Henry George Dennett
1845 - William Young Dennett
1848 - John Thomas Dennett
1851 - Edward Mark Dennett
1853 - Mary Dinah Dennett
1855 - Maria Evangeline Dennett
1857 - Ann Marian Dennett
1859 - Catherine Emma Dennett
1861 - Elizabeth Maria Dennett

* HENRY'S PARENTS, William & Catherine married 14 June 1866 in New Zealand
- their children were:
1867 - 1897 Margaret Dennett
1869 - Emily Dennett
1870 - 1952 Henry Edward 'Harry' Dennett (aka Thomas Topping)
1872 - 1919 Frederick William 'Fred' Dennett
- buried Chacarita Cemetery, Buenos Aires
1877 - 1927 Linda Agnes Dennett
1879 - 1971 Rose Violet Edith Dennett
1884 - 1899 Ruby Catherine May Dennett
- At Hastings, on December 16th 1899, Ruby Catherine May, youngest daughter of W. Y. Dennett, aged 15 years. Private interment

NOTE
Henry's father, William Young Dennett, was a Hotel Keeper and an Auctioneer in Hastings. He was also the Mayor of HASTINGS 1899-1906
... taken from that link (visit for a photo of him): Mr. William Young Dennett first entered the Hastings Borough Council in the year 1898, in the following year was elected Mayor, and has five times since occupied the civic chair. He was born in Hobart, Tasmania on the 4th of October, 1845, and spent some years on the Victorian gold-fields. In the early sixties he took part in the rush to the Otago diggings, and, later, joined the A troop of the Colonial Defence Force, under Captain Lassier, and proceeded to Hawke's Bay, where he was stationed at Peka Peka, and other military posts. Soon afterwards Mr. Dennett enlisted in the Napier militia, saw active service at Omaranui, and in other engagements, and for some years subsequently was a member of the Napier Rifles. He was afterwards engaged in survey work on the coast between Napier and Gisborne, and then started a cab service between Napier and the Spit. He then took over, the Central Hotel in Napier, and was afterwards manager of the Masonic Hotel. He subsequently engaged in hotel-keeping at Havelock North, and, later, in Hastings, where he built the Albert Hotel, and then conducted the Carlton Club Hotel. Mr. Dennett finally established himself as an auctioneer, financial, insurance, land, and general commission agent, and has been appointed agent for the State Fire Insurance, and is Registrar of Electors. He is a life Governor of the Napier Hospital, has been for many years a member of the Hawke's Bay United Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, a director of the Hawke's Bay and Star-Bowkett Building Societies, a trustee of various Friendly Societies, a trustee of the Hastings Technical School, and a staunch supporter of the Church of the Sacred Heart. Mr. Dennett is married, and has, surviving, five children, one daughter being married to Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, M.H.R.

HENRY EDWARD DENNETT married 16 September 1891 to:
HILDA MARY COLLINS (1870-1917, born the day before him)
- daughter of Thomas COLLINS (1844-1873, of the 65th Regiment of Foot, died aged 28 and buried in Old Napier cemetery) & Elizabeth WILLIS (1845-1908), who married in Auckland in 1863. Elizabeth next married George Edward Carter TOOP in 1874. Elizabeth next married Thomas William BROADFIELD in 1883
Daily Telegraph, 19 September 1891 DENNETT-COLLINS, On September 16, at the Catholic Church, by the Rev Father Symthe, Hastings, Henry Edward, eldest son of W. Y. Dennett, to Hilda Mary, second daughter of the late Thomas Collins

The children of HENRY and HILDA:
... 1
1892 - 1970 William Henry Dennett
- born 1 August 1892
- William married Elizabeth CONNOR in 1914
Otago Daily Times, 3 September 1917 ... A serious accident befell a young married man named William Dennett whilst out for a spin on a motor cycle (states the Gisborne Times). In the dip near Ormond his machine swerved and he was thrown into a ditch on the side of the road. The young man was rendered unconscious and he was removed to the Ormond Hotel. A doctor found that he was suffering very severely from shock and, in addition, had lost the use of his lower limbs. The extent of his injuries to his back was not yet known, but a good deal of internal haemorrhage was manifest

... 2
1893 - 1931 George Frederick Dennett
- born 10 August 1893
- George married Lillian Florence 'Lily' CLEARY in 1916
Poverty Bay Herald, 22 January 1917 DENNETT - At Gisborne Hospital, on January 20. Lillian Florence, beloved wife of George Dennett, aged 22 years. Deeply regretted (Napier and Hastings papers please copy)
- she is buried at Taruheru cemetery, Gisborne
- George was called up in the Sixth Ballot in April 1917, when he was a Steward of Crawford Rd., Kaiti, Gisborne. He served in WWI as Rifleman 57046 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, Reinforcements J Company. He embarked from Wellington 26 July 1917. His wife Lily had died 6 months prior & his mother Hilda 3 months prior. His next of kin was listed as his sister Miss Ruby Dennett c/o W. Dennett, Crawford Rd., Kaiti, Gisborne. This leads us to believe his father, Henry Edward Dennett, was not around at that time (see timeline)
- George next married Myrtle Catherine Alice CHAPMAN (1905-1995) in 1929
- a daughter of Frederick George CHAPMAN & Julia Elizabeth ROBERTSON

... 3
1895 - 1968 Sydney Edwin Dennett
- born 28 August 1895
- he was called up in July 1917 when he was a Steward at New Plymouth
Hawera & Normanby Star, 4 September 1917 ... As the sequel of a fracas at the Grosvenor Hotel on Saturday evening (reports the Taranaki Herald), two young men, named Sydney Edward Dennett and David O'Neill. were arraigned on charges of using indecent language and refusing to leave the hotel when requested by the proprietor (Mr E. McGinty). In addition, Dennett was charged with assaulting Gustave Suhr by striking and kicking him, and with striking Mr McGinty in the eye with his clenched fist. There was no doubt he was guilty of a perfectly unjustifiable assault and was fined 5 and costs 12s, for the assault on Suhr, 1 of it to be handed to the injured man (default one month's imprisonment); for assaulting McGinty, 3 and costs 12s (default, 14 days); refusing to quit, 2 (default, 14 days). With regard to the indecent language, accused would be sentenced to one month's hard labour
Hawera & Normanby Star, 30 August 1921 GISBORNE SUPREME COURT ... Sidney Dennett, charged with theft of clothing. He was acquitted

... 4
1897 - 1955 Thomas Henry 'Harry' Dennett
- born 5 August 1897
- Harry was a witness at his father's trial of 10 June 1914 (see below). He declared he was a pantryman at Strand Cafe, "residing with his parents in the railway reserve, Whataupoko"
- he was called up in the Seventh Ballot in May 1917, when he was a Salesman of Napier. He served as Private 34041 with the Otago Infantry and was listed as 'Dangerously Ill' in Oct 1917, and later, still dangerously ill but progressing favourably & removed from the dangerously ill list in November
- Thomas Henry died 1955 aged 57

... 5
1899 - Ruby Emily Teresa Dennett
- born 2 August 1899
Evening Post, 18 January 1915 ... SERIOUS MOTOR ACCIDENT GISBORNE, 17th January a serious motor-car accident occurred about 11 o'clock on Saturday night at Taruheru, a few chains beyond the western boundary of the borough. It appears that Mrs H. Dennett and her two daughters, Ruby aged 15 and Tiny aged 8, were alighting from Mr H. Bennie's bus, in which they had travelled from town. They had alighted from the bus and Mrs Dennett was paying the driver. The girls started to cross the road and did not notice the approaching car, driven by August Zenker, which came along and ran down Ruby Dennett. The unfortunate young lady was dragged some distance under the car, which swerved into the fence. Medical aid was summoned, and the girl was removed to a private hospital. She is in a precarious condition, and it is feared that she has sustained serious internal injuries
- Ruby had a son on 19 November 1916, Leo Howard 'Lal' Dennett (1916-1999). I believe he was brought up as a child of Hilda's (see her headstone photo below)
Poverty Bay Herald, 20 March 1917 ... Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., was occupied for some time to-day investigating an affiliation case, Ruby Dennett (Mr Burnard) v Howard Webby (1892-1980), of Hastings (Mr Coleman). After hearing a good deal of evidence his Worship adjudged the defendant the father of the child and made an order for 10s a week maintenance and for payment of 14, incidental expenses, 6 past maintenance and 3 3s costs
(Leo was a Baker & became the father of 9 children. He died 1 June 1999 aged 82 & is buried at Opotiki)
- Ruby married Donald Peter McCALLUM (1899-1957) in 1919

... 6
1906 - 2007 Hilda Muriel Elizabeth 'Tiny' Dennett
- born 24 February 1906
- Hilda married Horace Sydney 'Horry' McKee (1895-1984) in 1923
- she died 11 June 2007 aged 101 and is buried Plot 36, Section 114, Area Middle Ridge Beam at Wharerangi cemetery with Horace.
The HEADSTONE INSCRIPTION:
In loving memory of
Horace Sydney (Horry) McKEE
Loved husband of Hilda (Tiny)
died 15 May 1984 aged 88 years
Loved father
Hilda Muriel Elizabeth McKEE
Loved wife of Horace (Horry)
died 11th June 2007 aged 101 years
Loved mother of
Raymond, Kenneth & Colin

... 7
1911 - 1911 Mildred Veronica Dennett
- born 29 April 1911
- Mildred died 20 May 1911 aged 3 weeks
- she is buried Plot 1342, Block MKF at Makaraka cemetery. Gisborne


TIMELINE for Henry Edward Dennett
Daily Telegraph, 2 April 1892
... HASTINGS COURT - Henry Dennett and George Hastings were each fined 1s and 7s costs for allowing one horse to wander

New Zealand Herald, 11 October 1894
... NAPIER - William Frederick Dennett and Henry Dennett, alias Thomas Topping, were committed for trial at Hastings yesterday, on a charge of feloniously breaking into the Hastings Post Office. Bail was allowed
- the Hastings post Office Burglary (the list of stolen items was a safe, stamps, money, letters, a watch and other property with a value of 139 3s 2d, property of H. A. Cornford the Postmaster General (2013 equivalent of $25,280))
Daily Telegraph, 15 February 1895 Summary of the Evidence

Southland Times, 18 January 1902
... NAPIER - William Start and Henry Dennett have been committed for trial on a charge of assaulting and robbing an elderly man

Bush Advocate, 25 May 1904
... NAPIER SUPREME COURT - The second trial of Henry Dennett, Joseph Winters and James Hugh Cleary, on a charge of theft, and in which the first jury disagreed, is now proceeding

Poverty Bay Herald, 6 April 1906
... WAIROA - Edward Henry Dennett was sentenced to two months hard labour and James Jones one months hard labour for stealing a cheque for 3, the property of Rutene Tuhi. George Phillips, who tried to cash the cheque at their request, was discharged

Poverty Bay Herald, 5 March 1907
... Henry Dennett received 6 months imprisonment with hard labour for
STEALING from Florence Watson

Poverty Bay Herald, 25 October 1907
... A man named Henry Dennett, alias Topping, succeeded last evening in obtaining a little notoriety for himself, and this morning was called upon to answer four charges at the Police Court. For drunkenness he was fined 1 and 2s costs, or 48 hours imprisonment; damaging a pane of glass the property of the N.Z. Government, 10s and 2s cost, together with the amount of the damage, 10s or 48 hours; procuring liquor whilst under prohibition (second offence), 5 and 2s cost, or 30 days imprisonment; wilfully trespassing on the Poverty Bay Club premises and refusing to quit when ordered to do so, 10s and 7s costs, or 48 hours. Sergeant Williams reported that accused, whilst drunk, had trespassed into the Club where he fairly took charge of things for a time. On being ordered out he behaved most offensively and his conduct was a menace to the members of the Club present. Accused, who is a married man, was allowed 30 days in which to pay the fines, totalling 8 3s

Poverty Bay Herald, 30 September 1908
... Patrick Morris, alias McClusky, alias Cronin and Henry Dennett

Poverty Bay Herald, 19 December 1910
... "I have solemnly made up my mind to turn over a new leaf for the New Year," remarked a man named Henry Dennett, when charged at the Police Court this morning with having procured liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. The Magistrate remarked that defendant had made up his mind a good many times. He imposed a fine of 5, with cost 2s, in default 30 days imprisonment

Poverty Bay Herald, 10 February 1911
... John Ryan and Henry Dennett, alias Thomas Topping, on remand, were brought before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., at the Police Court this morning, on charges of procuring liquor whilst prohibited. They were both bound over in the sum of 10 each to come up for sentence when called upon

Manawatu Standard, 23 May 1912
... PALMERSTON NORTH SUPREME COURT - Henry Dennett, escaping from custody at Taihape

Poverty Bay Herald, 9 December 1913
... POLICE COURT - Henry Dennett failed to appear to answer to a charge of drunkenness, it being his second offence within six months. By his nonappearance he forfeited his 30s bail

Poverty Bay Herald, 10 June 1914
... CRIMINAL SUPREME COURT - With a display of clothing, bedding, crockery, cutlery, silverware, etc., the magistrate's Court-room this morning presented a remarkable appearance. The articles were exhibited in connection with the case against Henry Dennett, alias Topping, alias Davis; John Doran & Laing Frank Davis, who were charged that on or about June 2, 1914, at Gisborne, they did break and enter the dwelling-house of the late A. R. Muir and steal therefrom certain articles of the value of 15, the property of Allan Leonard Muir, journalist ...

Feilding Star, 23 June 1914
... GISBORNE SUPREME COURT - Henry Dennett was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment for receiving stolen property and was declared an habitual criminal


HILDA MARY DENNETT died 17 April 1917 aged 46
Poverty Bay Herald, 18 April 1917 DENNETT - At her residence, 75 Wainui Road, Kaiti, Hilda May, dearly beloved wife of Henry Edward Dennett, aged 46 years
- she is buried Plot 351, Block SEC1 at Taruheru Cemetery, Gisborne

PHOTO
HEADSTONE of Hilda Mary Dennett at Taruheru cemetery, Gisborne, See the notes at Ruby (child 5)