Henry Emery Kinder (b 1881)

parents Enoch Kinder & Matilda Maud Crask


born 20 November 1881, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia[1]
died 18 November 1950, Auburn, Victoria, Australia[2]
buried 21 Nov 1950, Springvale, Victoria, Australia[2,6]




Henry Emery Kinder

Henry was generally known as Harry and was born on 20 November 1881 at his parents’ home at 31 Evelyn Street, St Kilda.  Interestingly, his birth was not registered until 6 January 1882[1].  Why such a delay?  He was named after his mother's brother, Henry Emery Crask who had died 15 years earlier.


Henry Emery's birth certificate


Harry was a Driver for Globe Taxis who were headquartered in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria at the time.  Globe Taxis later became Yellow Cabs.  Ken Kinder remembers that Harry drove the very first Yellow Cab down Swanston Street, Melbourne.  Harry also attended the petrol pumps and changed tyres at Globe’s South Melbourne and Malvern centres[7].


Jane Roffey



Jane Roffey photos courtesy of Patricia Sharpe


Jane Roffey was born in 1881 in Echuca, Victoria[8].

Jane’s parents were John Anthony Roffey and Elizabeth Mary (aka Matilda) Jolley.  Jane and a number of her siblings were born in Echuca on the Murray River which forms the state border between Victoria and New South Wales.  Her family later lived in Port Melbourne and later moved to South Bunyip, Victoria.  In Jane’s later life, some of her relatives lived in the area of Kilsyth, Victoria, approximately 30 km east of Melbourne in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges.

Click here to learn more about the Roffey family.


Harry Married Jane Roffey

Harry and Jane were married on 24 February 1903 at the Free Christian Church which was located at 448 Queen Street, Melbourne, Victoria.  The church no longer exists and the site is covered by the Queen Victoria Market.  The Free Christian Church was well known for not asking too many questions and offering marriages to couples of different faiths.  Click here to read more about this church.



Henry and Janes marriage certificate

Their marriage certificate states that they both lived at 18 Duke Street, Prahran and Harry worked as a Storeman.  After their marriage, Harry and Jane lived initially in the St Kilda area but moved around a lot.  According to references 4 and 5:-

Years(s)
 Address
 Harry's Occupation
1903-1910 at 64 Rosamund Street, St Kilda Labourer
1910
 48 Marlborough Street, St Kilda
1914
 209 Carlisle Street, St Kilda
 Chaffeur
1915 26 Marlborough Street, St Kilda
1916 22 Waterloo Street, St Kilda
1917-1921 38 Andrew Street, Prahran Motor driver
1924
 14 High Street, Malvern
 Motor driver
1925
 12 Evelina Street, Toorak
1931
 176 Malvern Road, Malvern
 Labourer
1936-1943
 10 Osborne Avenue, Malvern
 Labourer
1949
 35 Bloomfield Road, Auburn
 Garage attendant

After Harry passed away in 1950, Jane continued to live at 35 Bloomfield Road.


Evelyn, Marlborough, Rosamund Streets, St Kilda
Waterloo Street, St Kilda

When they were living in Waterloo and Andrew Streets, Harry’s sister, Frances Ruby and her young son, Kenneth Francis lived with them.  During this time, Kenneth became best pals with Harry and Jane’s son Bill (William Leslie George).


Passing On

Harry died on 18 November 1950 at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

He suffered from lung cancer for some years and the development of secondary cancers ended his life. 

He was cremated at The Necropolis, Springvale, Victoria (now Springvale Botanic Cemetery) and interred on 21 November, grave reference DOD-15-N4-1-10[6].

Harry's Last Will was made out on 8 November 1950.  He was probably very sick and in hospital at the time.  He bequeathed all of his property and goods to Jane and appointed his son-in-law, James Harry Vardon as his Executor.

Probate was granted on 3 January 1951.  Harry left a small estate comprising the house and land at 35 Bloomfield Road, Auburn valued at £1,000 and personal savings of £37.9.2[10].


Jane died on 7 June 1960 at Camberwell, Victoria aged 79 years.  She was also cremated at The Necropolis and interred on 9 June in the same grave as Harry[6].



Children of Henry Emery and Jane Roffey

Henry and Jane had 7 children together:-

Henry John Carrington b 1903
He was always known as Jack. Jack married Florence May Balchin in 1926.

Amy Elizabeth Matilda b 1904
Amy died as a young girl of only 4 years of age in January 1909.

Eleanor Florence b 1906
Eleanor married James Harry (Jim) Vardon in 1933.

William Leslie George (Bill) b 1908
Bill married Doris May Cleak.

Albert Emery b 1909
Nothing known

Eric and  Raymond Percival – twins b 1911
Died very young


Harry and Jane also adopted Jean Fawkner and raised her as their own[9].




References
  1. Henry Emery Kinder b1881 birth certificate
  2. Henry Emery Kinder b1881 death certificate
  3. Henry Emery Kinder b1881 & Jane Roffey marriage certificate
  4. Australian Electoral Rolls 1903-1980
  5. Sands & McDougall Directories
  6. Springvale Botanic Cemetery records
  7. Kenneth Francis Kinder - personal communication
  8. Victorian Births, Marriages and Deaths Register
  9. Jean Fawkner personal communication 6 Nov 2001
  10. Henry Emery Kinder b1881 probate documents