John E Bennett

Historical Text for descendants of Mr John Edward Bennett and Miss Eleanor Dorothy Duncun
Submitted by Michelle Douch, <michellebray2-at-bigpond-com>

Notes for Mr John Edward Bennett
John Edward Bennett Senior was born in England. After arriving in Australia, he married Dorothy Duncan. In 1837 he left Sydney for Gundaroo and lived there for twenty years. Then he came to Bummyumbla, now Undowah, to manage for Mr Packer. He subsequently purchased this property, which he afterwards sold and established a business in Bombala. Later on, he left to live in the Bega district. John Bennett had four sons, Harry, John, Alfred and Frederick, and six daughters, Emily, Clara, Carrie, Alice, Nellie and Polly. His son, John Edward Bennett Junior, married Margaret Badgery and he selected land at Bibbenluke, which he called "Exeter". His grandson, John Irvin, now owns this property.

Notes for Miss Clara H Bennett
Mrs Thomas was a long time resident of Bibbenluke.

BDM Bombala Times 1912-1920 page 17 28/8/1914
Mrs John Thomas died at a private hospital at Dulwich Hill on Saturday last, aged 62 years, and a long time resident of Bibbenluke. A husband, nine sons and one daughter, are left to grieve. Burial took place at Rookwood Cemetery on Monday.

Notes for Mr John Edward Bennett
John Bennett, the son of one of the district's very earliest pioneers, John Edward Bennett of Bummyumble was successful in winning in a ballot, a homestead selection of 320 acres at Bibbenluke in 1905. He had previously had a produce merchants store in Bombala.
As a farm "Exeter" was eminently suited to his purpose as it possessed a very large proportion of arable land, which is unusual in Bibbenluke.
For the balance of his lifetime he made a good and comfortable living from the farm by the growing of crops. Wheat, barley and oats were his main crops. He erected large barns and therin stored his hay which he cut up into chaff to sell to the teamster. Grain stored in bins until the best time came round to sell.
He gradually accumulated plant and machinery until he was completely independent, even possessing his own threshing machines, which was unusual for a small farmer, the work usually being done by itinerant contractors.
His proudest possession was a steam engine which he purchased new through the firm Massey Harris. This engine provided the power for his various types of machinery. It was afterwards purchased by O'Hare of Currawong, and is today in the Apex Park at Bombala, painted in gay colours for children to admire and climb about on.

Notes for Mr Lindon Latimer Thomas
Bombala Herald 17th August 1909, has the item: Mr L Thomas and Mr A Michie report having trapped over three thousand rabbits on the Creewah property in the last six weeks".
Book: A Big Lookout page 99 and 104
Indicates the love of sport that Linden had with a photo of the football team, which he Captained, and an editorial on the Bibbenluke Cricket Team.
On moving to Pambula Linden purchased several blocks in Oregan Street, these were bought with money left to him by his Aunt Garnock.
Book: News & Notes Bombala Times 1921-1925 30/9/1921 page 13
Mr Lin Thomas has resigned his position as Postmaster at Bibbenluke and is going on the land at Pambula.
Registration No: 8510
MARRIAGE:
Owen Thomas was Best Man

Notes for Mr Edward Percy Thomas
Edward and Mary Ann lived in Eden for awhile. Edward suffered many injuries in World War 1 and died shortly after returning from injuries that he had received.
Registration No: 7733
Registration No: 2744

Notes for Mr George David Thomas
Registration No: 8066

Notes for Miss Caraline Elizabeth Thomas
Registration No: 8528

Notes for Mr Owen L Thomas
As told by Stella Brown (nee Thomas).
She believes her uncle Owen married a lady called Flo Smith.
She also stated that he had his own freight business in Penrith NSW. He would cart freight to the markets in Syndey. Two of his sons went to war in Changi (not Lloyd).
Owen was best man at Linden and Margaret Thomas's wedding.
Registration No: 27388

Mr Lloyd4 Thomas. Notes: As told by Stella Brown (nee Thomas) age 94 years. Lloyd was a lovely boy who had a mole either on his face or neck. Stella can remember her Aunty Flo telling him to have the mole looked at. One Saturday while Lloyd was still quite young he played a round of golf with his Doctor. The Doctor suggested that Lloyd have the mole off. A couple of weeks later Lloyd died. Stella can not remember what from, but said he was still young, because he had died before the war.

Bombala Times - News and Notes page 24 31/3/1916
Private Bruce Thomas was home on final leave on Saturday, and left again on Monday. He has only been in training a short time, having entered Liverpool camp 7th February. Prior to enlisting he was studying theology at the Sydney University, and was in charge of the Presbyterian Church at Helensburg.
BDM Bombala Times 1912-1920, page 38 27/4/1917
Private Bruce Thomas, of Bibbenluke, has been wounded and is in the First Southern General Hospital at Burningham.
After coming back from the War, Bruce and his girlfried, a nurse at Bombala Hospital, parted. Bruce stated that he wished to return to Scotland. On hearing this, his brother Linden, who had a paddock of potatoes ready for harvesting, suggested that if he wished to harvest the potatoes he could use the money to buy his ticket to Scotland. Bruce sold the potatoes to the men on the railway line at Bombala.
Dorothy Nairn's parents put Bruce through Cambridge University.
Bruce and Dorothy met during the 1st World War when Bruce was convalescing in Scotland. They lived and farmed in Fife at Rumgally near Cupar until about the late 1940's, when they left Scotland to farm in northern NSW, Australia. They lived at Eurigar, Shannon Brook, near Casino.
BDM Bombala Times 1921-1925
21/10/1921 page 9
The wedding at Rankeillor (Scotland) took place between Miss Dorothy Clare Nairn, youngest daughter of the late Sir Michael B Narin, Bart; and Lady Nairn, of Rankeillor, and Mr Bruce B Thomas, son of the late Mr John H Thomas, of Bibbenluke, NSW, Australia. Since Mr Thomas came to the district he has taken a keen interest in sport. He took part together with Miss Nairn in the recent tennis tournament at Cupar, where he proved himself a strong player, and he also has assisted the first eleven cricket team, where his smart fielding has been commented upon. The newly married couple are to reside at Rumgally. The Rev. WE Beattie, Monimail UF Church, officiated at the ceremony which was held in the saloon of the mansion-house. The bride was given away by her brother, Sir Michael Nairn, Bart: Dysart House. There were no bridesmaids, and Major R S Nairn, of Leslie House, was groomsman. Included in the long list of wedding presents we noticed the following:- Bride to Groom, Gun: Lady Nairn-Household Linen, table silver, clock and cheque; Sir Michael and Lady Nairn-antique oak chest and chair; Major RS Nairn-2 seater "Rover" motor car.

Notes for Mr Vincent Frederick Thomas
Registration No: 6972
Told to me by Stella Brown (nee Thomas)
After John Henry died, his house, next to the Hotel in Bibbenluke, was occupied by his son Vincent Frederick, a baker. Vincent operated a bakery from the house and unfortunately the house was burnt down.

Notes for Miss Marjorie Mary Bennett
Her grandmother was Mrs Badgery.

Notes for Miss Stella Mary Thomas
Registration No: 12657
Stella was an only child.
MARRIAGE:
Bridesmaid - Dorothy Edith Flannery
Best Man - George Vincent Brown

Notes for Mr David Thomas
David served in the RAF during World War II. David and his wife, Betty, emigrated to Australia and also farmed outside Casino. When his mother died (Dorothy) he retired from farming due to a bad back and has since lived at numerous address' close to Sydney.

Notes for Miss Joselyn Thomas
Jocelyn went to school in Scotland and emigrated with her parents to Australia.
Jocelyn and Atholl farmed in Old Bonalbo, west of Casino. He died in the 1960's of cancer and Jocelyn ran the farm for many years and brought up their three children. Duncan, the son, now runs the farm.

Michelle Douch, <michellebray2-at-bigpond-com>

JOHN EDWARD BENNETT,J.P. was born in England in 1821 and arrived in Sydney in 1831. He attended St Phillips School, Wyndham, which was under the management of Dean Cowper, and studied for a period of between five and six years. In 1837 he left Sydney for Gundaroo, near Lake George, where for about twenty years he followed the occupation of farming, during the first six years of which he was apprenticed to Mr. Packer, afterwards becoming the manager of that gentleman's station on Monaro. This property was subsequently disposed of to Mr Galloway, from whom Mr. Bennet purchased the whole for a few hundred pounds. Our subject then secured, in conjunction with Mr. Waterson, a valuable station, of which he eventually, became sole proprietor. Selling out he proceeded to Bombala, where he established a business, carrying it on most successfully for a few years. He subsequently bought different properties, one of which he disposed of to the immense advantage of the A.J.S. Bank. Mr. Bennet afterwards settled in Wolumla, in the Bega district, and purchased the business of Mr. Henry Fowler J.P. This he now conducts. Mr. Bennet's premises contain over 20 rooms, and are valued at something like 2000 pounds, which it is his intention to shortly open as a general store. He was created a J.P. in 1870 and when 28 years of age, married a daughter of W. Duncan, at one time connected with the Supreme Court.(ends)

John Edward Bennett married Ellen/Eleanor Dorothy Duncomb on 9 Apr 1849 in Scots Presbyterian Church in Sydney. Ellen/Eleanor's father David Duncomb was born in Jamaica in 1784, where his father was a planter and magistrate, and David was raised in England by his mother's parents after her death when he was two years old. He and his wife Mary Anne nee Wright came free to NSW in 1822 aboard the 'Minstrel'. He held various positions in NSW but never with the Supreme Court. Some of his positions were Manager of Alpha Farm at Kurnell, Chief Clerk in the Surveyor General's Office, Coroner in the District of Windsor Judicial Department, and Sheriff's Bailiff at Goulburn, where he died on 8 Jan 1848 and is buried in an unmarked grave.

Descendants of John Bennett

Michelle Douch, <michellebray2-at-bigpond-com>
Barbara Adams <dad95624-at-bigpond.net.au> 22.11.06
Recompiled from the new Monaro Pioneers database by Ian Harvey: 7.03.08
with additional information supplied by:
Noel Cantrill <insearch199-at-yahoo.com> 2.07.08