Edwin Edgecombe

Edwin Bennett Edgecombe Snr. was born in 1819 at St. Georges, London, Middlesex, England (another source gives Shoreness in 1818).  His parents were John Pengelly Edgecombe, a Baptist Minister, born in 1796 and died in 1865 and Elizabeth White Bennett who was born in 1798 and died in 1863.

Edwin arrived in South Australia in 1839 on the Hooghly.  He married in October 1840 at Holy Trinity Church to Elizabeth King who was born in 1820 at Headcom, Kent, England.  Elizabeth arrived in South Australia on the same ship as Edwin. 

He became a grocer in Hindley Street, where he was very successful, retiring in 1850.  He turned to mining speculation where he invested in the Enterprise, Wheal Maria, Mount Barker Creek and Montacute mines, but lost everything.

Shortly afterwards he turned to farming pursuits on the Gawler River, but in the same year 1852, he went to the Victorian diggings.  Unfortunately he wasn’t very successful and turned to farming again.  He sold his farm and began business at Kapunda, but the beginnings of Moonta mine took away trade.  He was then employed by Wertheim sewing machines as a travelling salesman. 

Edwin Bennet was elected Councillor for Munno Para West in 1859.

Edwin and Elizabeth had the following children:-

              Mary Ann was born on the 2 July 1841 at Adelaide.

              Ebenezer was born on the 6 Jan 1844 at Adelaide.

              John Wesley was born on the 9 Feb 1845 at Adelaide.  Died aged 1 year old.

              George Edwin was born on the 16 Dec 1846 at Adelaide.

              John Pengelly was born on the 22 May 1849 at Adelaide.

              Edwin Bennett was born in 1851 at North Adelaide. 

              Anna Elizabeth was born on the 23 Nov 1853 at Adelaide.

              Sarah Pearce was born on the 18 Nov 1856 at Gawler River.

              Thirza Maria was born on the 29 August 1858 at Gawler River.

              Thomas King was born in 1862 at Gawler River.  Died aged 1 year old.

He became a draper in Kapunda but the business did not do well and he became insolvent. He was before the court on several occasions as he tried to pay back his creditors.

An active Methodist, Edwin held services in his home (close to where the Angle Vale manse stood) before the Angle Vale Methodist church was constructed.  He became a trustee.

In 1859 a war scare in Europe saw the formation of many Volunteer Rifle Company’s throughout the state for defence.  On July 27th 1861 a company known as Gawler River Co was formed.  On the first day, 28 men took an oath before J.H Riggs JP and were sworn in; amongst them were E.B Edgecombe, Ebenezer Edgecombe and George Edgecombe.

Edwin Bennett Edgecombe died on the 5 October 1890 at Adelaide aged 71 years old and his wife Elizabeth died on the 29 July 1891 at Unley aged 75 years old.  He left behind a widow, three sons, two daughters and 28 grandchildren. 

Ebenezer was 26 years old married Mary Ann Murray aged 22 years old.  They married on the 17 February 1870 at the residence of James Nelson, Myponga.  Mary’s father was James Murray.  They lived in Gladstone where he worked as a blacksmith and kept a lodging house.  

Ebenezer and Mary had the following children:-

              Edwin was born in 1872 at Kapunda.

              Thomas was born on the 15 July 1873 at Kapunda.  Died in the same year.

              Mary Ann (Polly) Murray was born in 1875 at Kapunda.

              Alice was born on the 2 March 1877 in South Australia.

              George was born on the 10 Sept 1878 in South Australia.

              Eva was born on the 22 Feb 1881 at Gladstone.

              Arthur Bennett was born in 1883 at Norwood.  Died aged 1 year old.

              Ebenezer James was born on the 14 June 1885 at Norwood.

              William Murray was born in 1887 at Norwood.

Ebenezer died on the 1 November 1904 at Norwood aged 61 years old and his wife Mary Ann died on the 17 February 1923 aged 75 years old. They are both buried in Payneham Cemetery in the same grave.

George Edwin was born on the 18 December 1846.  He was a carter and hawker. He resided in Adelaide and Riverton.  When George was 29 years old he married Susan Hawke aged 25 years old.  They married on the 22 May 1876 at the residence of Mrs. Susan Hawke of Adelaide.  George and Susan had the following children:-

              Ethel Beatrice was born on the 18 Feb 1877 at Adelaide.

              Arthur Benney was born on the 14 Sept 1878 at Adelaide.

              Amy Hawke was born on the 23 Jan 1885 at Adelaide.

George Edwin died on the 12 January 1911 at Unley aged 64 years old and his wife Susan died on the 18 May 1908 at Adelaide aged 57 years old. They are both buried in West Terrace Cemetery, in the same grave.

John Pengelly was born on the 22 May 1849 at Adelaide.  When John was 27 years old he married Eliza Atkins aged 23 years old.  They married on the 8 November 1876 at the residence of the bride’s sister at North Adelaide.  They resided at Croydon.

John and Grace had the following Children:-

              Edwin Joseph was born on the 18 Sept 1877 at Adelaide.

              William John Clark was born on the 17 Aug 1879 at Norwood.  Died aged 8 years old.

              Leah Elizabeth was born on the 16 October 1881 at Adelaide.

              Mabel Florence was born on the 9 March 1884 at Adelaide.

              May Victoria was born on the 8 May 1887 at Adelaide.

              Ettie Myrtle Atkins was born on the 20 Jan 1890 at Adelaide.

              James Francis was born on the 27 Nov 1891 at Moonta Mines.  Died aged 23 years old.

              Laura Rose was born in 1893 at Adelaide.

              Clarence Ebenezer Bennett was born on the 24 April 1900 at Croydon North.

John Pengelly died on the 25 March 1906 at Day Terrace, North Croydon aged 56 years old and his wife Eliza died on the 18 July 1907 at Brompton aged 53 years old. They are both buried at West Terrace Cemetery.  He was a Baptist Minister.

Edwin Bennett Edgecombe Jnr. Was born on the 12 July 1851 at North Adelaide.  When Edwin was 26 years old he married Mary Ann Wilson aged 25 years old. They married on the 3 April 1878 at Adelaide. There is no record of children or death.

George Edwin Edgecombe’s son Arthur Benney Edgecombe was born on the 14 September 1878. When he was 34 years old he married Grace Chrystall on the 30 April 1912 at Adelaide. Grace’s father was Alexander Chrystall.  Arthur was an accountant. 

 Arthur and Grace had one child:-

              Eva was born in 1900 at Adelaide.

However Grace died on the 13 October 1922 aged 49 years old and is buried in Orroroo Cemetery.  When Arthur was 46 years old he married Amy Estrella Buckhurst aged 37 years old. They married in 1924 at Adelaide.

Arthur Benney died on the 5 September 1932 at Rose Park aged 53 years old and his wife Amy Estrella died on the 18 June 1968 aged 81 years old.