Liverpool Asylum for the infirm and destitute, NSW

[hensher]

Does anyone know anything about this place? Henry Hensher, most probably one of my ancestors, was there in 1877. Looks like he arrived 1870 on the Flying Cloud (from England I would think) and was a gardener. Why would he be there, apart from the obvious as in the name, he was admitted by the manager. Might there be more records or info anywhere perhaps? Many thanks!

[rosball]

Hi hensher,
    There are records at the NSW State Archives.    I can photograph them for you when next I am there (but it probably won't be until after Christmas).

Ros

[majm]

Hi there,

The NSW State Archives website includes information about the Liverpool Asylum as its records are on Open Public Access.  https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/liverpool-state-hospital-and-home-guide  The opening remarks on that linked page include
_{Liverpool Asylum was originally established as a branch of the Sydney Benevolent Society in 1851. The Sydney Benevolent Asylum website has an index to Sydney Benevolent Asylum admissions and discharges 1857-1900 available online.}
You will also notice that the Liverpool Genealogy Society Inc prepared some of the indexes that NSW State Archives displays on their website.   Here is the Liverpool GS live link https://liverpool-lgs.wixsite.com/website

Find and Connect can be helpful too https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/nsw/biogs/NE01512b.htm

Local History background including details about some of the men who found shelter there : https://www.weekendnotes.com/liverpool-old-mens-asylum/

Does anyone know anything about this place? Henry Hensher, most probably one of my ancestors, was there in 1877. Looks like he arrived 1870 on the Flying Cloud (from England I would think) and was a gardener. Why would he be there, apart from the obvious as in the name, he was admitted by the manager. Might there be more records or info anywhere perhaps? Many thanks!

JM

[majm]

For those without immediate online access to the image of the Admissions and Discharges for LA, but who may well have greater knowledge about LA's history and record keeping ....  I read that : Henry Hensher, aged 38, born England, Church of England denomination, was admitted to the LA facility on 18 December 1877 by the Manager.  Many/most admissions were on the Manager’s authority.   Henry advised that he had arrived per the ship, Flying Cloud in 1870, and was a Gardener.  Others on the same admission sheet were noted as Blacksmith, Miner, Baker, Chemist.    There is no date of Discharge for Henry.

The LA’s Surgeon Superintendent Weekly Report shows that on September 16, 1878,  that Henry HENCHER aged 39, Died.   NSW BDM online deaths index : Henry HENCHER, aged 39 years, died Liverpool, registered Liverpool District.   #6766/1878.  It also drills down to 16 September 1878.  https://austcemindex.com/cemetery?cemid=1705.  The cause of death will be recorded on civil registration held at NSW BDM.   

NSW BDM historic certificates can be quite expensive, and NSW BDM has licenced transcription agents who offer an excellent service for family history purposes, and at this time of the year, there can often be ‘specials’.  Also, as the index for Henry’s death registration does not display either parents names, it is likely that there’s scant family history info on the actual registry, so the expensive certificate may be an ‘overspend’.  See: https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,300394.0.html

JM

[majm]

Queensland State Archives online passenger lists include
William HENCHER aged 28, per Flying Cloud,  August 1870, from Liverpool, England. He is only one with that surname listed on that voyage.  His passage is 'Assisted for Maryborough"  no further details on that list, so no place of birth, no marital status, no occupation, ... just name and age.

These historic Qld State Archives passenger lists are readily available on line no charge.

JM

[Ruskie]

Great information JM.

There is a slight anomaly in the estimated years of birth (arrival vs admission and death) though this is not uncommon.

I had a brief look at the England 1861 census for a Henry Hensher, and a Henry Hencher, as it is possible his surname could vary. There are not many of them so it would be easy enough to check them all. The problem is, that despite leaving from Liverpool, there is no indication on the Australian records of where he came from. The surname may even have a Germanic ring to it. 

With that in mind, and because you said he was “probably” one of your ancestors, can I ask how you arrived at Henry? Are you descended from one of his children for example? Sometimes it is worth looking at other family members and searching “sideways.”

[hensher]

Many thanks for all your help everyone. Because Hensher is such an uncommon name and most with that spelling descend from 2 brothers in the 1700s in London and the south east of England, I tend to look for any instances of the name. Henry is one of the common forenames and I have a few gaps for various Henrys. Several in the family were adventurers and ended up in South Africa, US, Canada and Australia. My great grandfather William Edmond Hensher was a gold miner and died in Africa. I believe he had a mining company in Australia in the early 1880s. However most Victorian Henshers were clay tobacco makers And I think that Henry in the Liverpool Asylum may well have been a Hencher!

[Ruskie]

Yes, Hensher is an unusual name. I noticed the distribution of the surname when I looked for the family in the 1861 census.

If two brothers in London are the first record you have of anyone with that surname, have you explored the possibility they may have been Huguenots? There is a lot online about the subject, but this is quite informative, and gives a few ideas on where to look for more information:

https://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/tracing-huguenot-ancestors/

I would suggest that there are likely to be several variations of the surname so check Hensher/Hencher/Henscher and any other variants as spellings were more flexible in the past.

Are you doing, or have you considered, a one name study?    https://one-name.org/surnames_a-z/

[hensher]

Yes! Various branches of the family have always been told we are from Huguenots but I can't find that elusive link!! Our name is supposedly from Hennechart, but there are Hanchards back to the late 1600s, some recorded as Hansher or Hensher from Picardy in France. I am doing a one name study really, tho I haven't given it the name. I have researched the children of Samuel and William and their lines. There is also a Henry, another brother who was examined in Bethnal Green in 1867, aged 88 but he is proving particularly elusive!!