Second Generation  

2. Henry DENHARD [15773] (Henry¹) was born in 1854 in Stepney London England, was christened in 1854 in St Mary Whitechapel Stepney London England, died on 29 Nov 1911 in Wellington Wellington New Zealand at age 57, and was buried in Karori Cemetery Wellington New Zealand.

General Notes: Born in Stepney, London, England in 1854. Christened at St MaryWhitechapel, Stepney, London,
England (month not noted).

Of Denhard Bakery, Wellington. Possibly Denhard Bakery in Greymouth first.
Married Elizabeth McNEILL (nee AUSTIN) in 1885.

(From notes written in 1981 by Rita Hollings, nee Clegg)

"Henry DENHARD was a younger son of a German family who had been established in London as Bakers for some time.

The name was originally 'DENHARDT' but in NZ the 'T' was dropped.

Henry had emigrated first to the goldfields of Australia but, presumably having no luck there, he came on to try the goldfields on the West Coast of NZ. He apparently gave up the chase for gold and, going back to the family tradition, set up a Bakery in Greymouth. The business flourished but, as the story goes, he supplied bread to the miners during all their strikes so that when some years later he left the West Coast and came to settle in Wellington, he had very little money.

Henry DENHARD took over the care of the Elizabeth McNEIL and her family when Alexander McNeil 'disappeared'. Whether McNeil deserted his wife and children will never be known but he possibly went down with his ship. It was many years before McNeil was legally presumed dead, and Henry Denhard and Elizabeth Ann Austin were finally able to marry in 1885.

In the meantime, Reginald & Louise were born, and later came Henry junior and Caroline.

Denhard rented a 2-storey house in Upper Willis St with a shop in front, living quarters behind and upstairs, wood-fired brick ovens, delivery cart, and stables at the rear. It was a lovely happy home, although as achild I did hear of a stormy incident when Elizabeth Ann was discovered by Henry looking at a photo of McNeil which she had hidden away from him. Of course, that trouble passed away.

The Willis St Bakery was about a block above the pesent Settlement Restaurrant. It was demolished some years ago. Denard Co. had bought the property when the business was made into a private company incorporating two other bakeries and was sold when later it became a public company.

Some of my earliest memories are of holidays at the grandparents' place in Willis St. Grandad Denhard had a 'His Masters Voice' gramophone, the old cylinder type with a horn, plus many beautiful records. All the family was musical. "

Henry died in 1911 in Wellington, and is buried in Karori Cemetery.
"In Loving Memory of Elizabeth Ann, beloved wife of H DENHARD, died30Dec. 1907 aged 66 yrs.
'Though thou art gone fond memory clings to thee.'
Henry DENHARD, beloved husband of above d. 29 Nov. 1911 aged 70."
(Area 01, Block A,Row 5, Plot 051)
In same plot, eldest son, Reginald d. 1926, and grandson, Victor JohnHenry CLEGG d. 18 May
1899 ag. 16 months.

Will filed 19 Dec. 1911 in Wellington Ct - Baker. Probate No. 14222 -Wellington Archives.

Henry married Elizabeth Ann AUSTIN [14888] [MRIN: 6485] in 1885 in New Zealand. Elizabeth was born about 1841 in Northern Ireland, died on 30 Dec 1907 in Wellington Wellington New Zealand aged about 66, and was buried in Karori Cemetery Wellington New Zealand.

Children from this marriage were:

   10 M    i. Reginald DENHARD [15783] was born about 1875 in New Zealand, died on 06 Feb 1926 in Wellington Wellington New Zealand aged about 51, and was buried in Karori Cemetery Wellington New Zealand.

+ 11 F    ii. Louisa Margaretha DENHARD [15784] was born in 1877 in Greymouth Westland New Zealand.

   12 M    iii. Henry Conrad DENHARD [15785] was born about 1884 in New Zealand.

General Notes: Uncle Henry, after going off to the Boer War very young by falsifying his age, was the hard-working uncle. He not only worked in the bakehouse,but also drove the horse and cart delivering the bread.

Many weekends he took me 'his little pet' out in the gig, and we went up the old Hutt Road. Sadly these excursions came to an end when he got a girl-friend, Louie, whom he later married.

Married Louisa DAVIS in 1910 in NZ.

In 1919 lived in Wellington South.

Henry married Louisa DAVIS [15787] [MRIN: 6487] in 1910 in New Zealand.

+ 13 F    iv. Caroline Mary DENHARD [15786] was born in 1886 in Greymouth Westland New Zealand, died on 03 Aug 1969 in Wellington Wellington New Zealand at age 83, and was buried in Karori Cemetery Wellington New Zealand.