Frank Charles Garner (1879 - 1954)

Ancestors

Biography

Frank Charles Garner was born in 1879, in Deptford, Kent, England, the eldest child of George James Garner and Elizabeth Holliman, with his birth being registered in the 1st Quarter at Greenwich.^[1]

On the 3rd April 1881, the 2-year-old Frank was living at 28 Arabin Rd, Deptford. Home at the time were his father: George (26), a carpenter; and his mother: Elizabeth (31).^[2]

In 1880, Frank's maternal grandfather, Charles Holliman, died in December. Just a few years afterwards, his maternal grandmother, Martha, and his aunt Cecelia, and uncle John, and his own parents, he and his sister, Elizabeth, decided to emigrate to Queensland, Australia, where his other maternal uncle, William, had been living for some years. And so it was that in 1883, the Holliman three, and the Garner four, packed up what they could take, and embarked on the Nowshera heading for Australia. Unfortunately for hopes of a fresh start in a new land, his 20-year-old uncle Samuel died aboard ship while still almost a month out of port. The extended family minus one arrived in Queensland on the 14th September.^[3]

It is known that Frank's parents, and siblings all returned to England, but nothing has been found to show that Frank went with them and then returned, especially as he had found employment – and love and marriage – and was quite settled.

Frank Charles Garner and Matilda Annie Tregenza were married on the 21st October 1903, in the Central Methodist Church, Charters Towers, by the Rev. A. Hutchison.^[4] They were to have five children, two daughters, and three sons:

1. James Charles (1905–?)
2. Frank Newton (1906–1981)
3. Elizabeth Maude (1910–1995)
4. George Douglas (1912–?)
5. Annetta Mabel (1917–?)

GARNER—TREGENZA

An interesting ceremony took place at the No. 1 Methodist Church, Charters Towers, on Wednesday, 21st October, when Mr. Frank CharIes Garner was married to Miss Annie Tregenza.

The bride was dressed in white silk, and the orthodox wreath and veil. The bridesmaids were the Misses B. and M. Tregenza, dressed in cream and blue Indian muslin with picture hats en suite, each wore gold neck chains, the gift of the bridegroom. Masters Ted Bennion and James Tregenza dressed in navy serge suits and white vests, acted as pages. An extensive list of the wedding gifts was also noted.^[5]

From at least 1903 Frank was registered to vote as a resident of Charters Towers. In 1928 he was employed as the accountant at Mrs B Jenkins's, School Street, Charters Towers. During the 1930s he and various members of his family were resident at Rutherford Street, Charters Towers, his occupation given as mercantile manager. In 1943 he and Annie were recorded with daughter Annetta, while sons Frank N (a truckdriver) and George D (a labourer) were living at Towers Street, and Slater Street, respectively. Recorded with Frank N was his wife: Sarah Isabel née Shepherdson.^[6]

From 1949 to 1954 Frank, an accountant, and Matilda were living at 8 Cambridge Street, Nundah, a little north of Brisbane proper, where they were registered to vote for the Division of Lilley, Subdivision of Nundah.^[7]

In 1953 Frank and Annie celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary – an event that was reported in the Northern Miner in Charters Towers.

GOLDEN WEDDING

GARNER—TREGENZA : On October 21, 1903, at the Central Methodist Church, Charters Towers, by the Rev. A. Hutchison, Frank Charles Garner to Annie Tregenza.

Present address, 8 Cambridge Street, Nundah, N.E. 3, Brisbane.^[8]

Frank Charles Garner passed away on the 1st June 1954, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, aged 75 years.^[9] After the funeral, his remains were cremated at the Mt Thompson Crematorium.

GARNER.—The Relatives & Friends of Mrs. M. A. Garner & Family of 8 Cambridge St., Nundah, formerly of Charters Towers, are invited to attend the Funeral of her beloved Husband & their Father, Mr. Frank Charles Garner, to leave the Funeral Parlour, 45 Adelaide St., City, after Service commencing To-morrow (Wednesday) Morning at 10.45 o'clock, for the Crematorium, Mt. Thompson. — CANNON & CRIPPS LTD., A.F.D.A., Funeral Directors.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration —England & Wales births, deaths and marriages registrations, General Register Office United Kingdom, Southport, England, HM Passport Office online search Births: Name: GARNER, FRANK CHARLES; Mother's Maiden Surname: HOLLIMAN; GRO Reference: 1879 M Quarter in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 939
2. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1881. Class: RG11; Piece: 735; Folio: 62; Page: 31; GSU roll: 1341171. Civil Parish: Lewisham; County/Island: London; Country: England; Registration District: Lewisham; Sub registration district: Lewisham
3. ↑ Immigration — Queensland State Archives Immigration Indexes, 1848-1972. Name: Geo Garner, Age: 28; Name: Eliza Garner, Age: 32; Name: Frank Garner, Age: 4; Name: Bessie Garner, Age: 1. Arrival Date: 14 Sep 1883; Arrival Place: Queensland, Australia; Ship: Nowshera; Title: Assisted Immigration 1848 to 1912; Page number: 312; QSA Item: 18480; Microfilm: Z1960; Microfilm 2: M1699
4. ↑ Marriage Registration — Queensland State Government Births, Deaths, Marriages Marriage Registration details: Frank Charles Garner; Event date: 21/10/1903; Event type: Marriage registration; Registration details: 1903/C/1273; Spouse: Matilda Annie Tregenza
5. ↑ Excerpt from Wedding Announcement — "GARNER—TREGENZA." The North Queensland Register (Townsville, Qld. : 1892 - 1905) 2 November 1903: 58. Web. 12 Sep 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84416861>.
6. ↑ Voter Registration — Australian Electoral Commission; Electoral rolls various years including 1903, 1925, 1931, 1936, 1937, & 1943.
7. ↑ Voter Registration — Australian Electoral Commission; Electoral rolls 1949 – 1954. Name: Frank Charles Garner; Gender: Male; Electoral Date: 1954; Electoral Place: Nundah, Lilley, Queensland, Australia
8. ↑ Newspaper Notice of Wedding Anniversary — "Family Notices" The Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld. : 1874 - 1954) 20 October 1953: 4. Web. 12 Sep 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article81648935>.
9. ↑ Death Registration — Queensland State Government Births, Deaths, Marriages Death Registration details: Frank Charles Garner; Event date: 01/06/1954; Event type: Death registration; Registration details: 1954/B/2143; Mother: Elizabeth Holliman; Father/parent: George James
10. ↑ Funeral Notice — "Family Notices" Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 - 1954) 1 June 1954: 8 (CITY FINAL). Web. 12 Sep 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217155021>.

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