Henry Sherlock

The genealogy followed in this site starts from one man, Henry Sherlock.

Henry was was born in Belfast in about 1824, to Thomas Sherlock and Mary Brown (maiden name unknown).

Henry married Mary Coburn in Belfast about 1854. Mary, born in Belfast about 1832, was the daughter of Thomas Coburn , a merchant tailor and Margaret Doherty.

The Griffith Evaluation of rateable property 1848-64 ( Belfast municipal borough of, circa 1860 ) show a Henry Sherlock leasing from Thomas Jackson, a house and yard with a rateable annual valuation of 17 pounds at 10 Frederick Street Belfast. ( Parish - Shankill. City ward - St Ann's. city sub district - Townparkes). Was this our Henry?

In 1860 Henry would have been about 36 years old and married with a couple of children.

There is also a Mary Sherlock leasing from Cornelius O'Neil , a house and yard rateable at 3/10/0. 8 Conway Street, Townparkes, Smithfield, Shankill. Perhaps she was our Henry's mother?

In Adairs Street Directory of Belfast Antrim 1860 there is an H Sherlock at 106 Crumlin Place who was a butter merchant.

Perhaps this is our Henry ?

Four children were born to Henry and Mary in Belfast, Thomas Biggar 1856, Mary Houston 1859, Josephine Isabella 1861 and Henry Cooke in 1863. Henry and his family sailed for Auckland sometime between Henry Cooke's birth and William Bruce

Coburn's birth which was recorded in Auckland 19 th February 1865.

The family was supposedly involved in some shipping venture. This venture was not successful. Their names as yet have not been found on any of the available passenger lists which may indicate they paid their own way or came independently.

The fifth child William Bruce Coburn was christened at St James Presbyterian Church Wellesley Street, Auckland as was Benjamin Gilbert in 1869 and George Washington in 1870. Henry's occupation is recorded as a painter. Robert Stephenson was born in 1873.

The Wises New Zealand Post Office Directories have recorded the following addresses and occupations.

1872-3 Auckland Commercial, painter , Albert Street.

1875-6 Henry , painter, &c, Albert st

1878-9 Hobson St east side a painter and paperhanger.

1880-81 Henry is in Hobson Street near the Wellesley st intersection , a painter.

1883-84 show Henry living in Nelson st. on the west side near the Wellesley street intersection. Occupation a painter.

In 1884, 2nd November Henry Cooke, a clerk, married Emily Baird at St Thomas Church, Auckland in the presence of John McKiblian Robinson, a Master Mariner, of Victoria St, Auckland and Mary Moore, Victoria St, Auckland. On the marriage certificate father Henry is an accountant.

The 1874/5 electoral roll for Auckland City West shows Henry ( No.1492) residing in "Albert st, household , dwelling."

The year I887 sees the family sailing for Melbourne. Melbourne at this time was flourishing as an economic centre and New Zealand's wheat, wool and land prices were declining. The Great Depression would soon be upon them.

The following dates and Directories List events in the families lives.

1889 Wises Directories 225 Flemington Rd. Nth. Melbourne.

1891 Death of daughter Mary Houston. " Minnie" aged 32 years died of acute pertonitis and is buried in Melbourne General Cemetery.

1894 Death of wife Mary. Mary is buried with her daughter.

1899 Federal Referendum Henry is at 77 Park Street, North Melbourne, aged 75 years, a contractor.