Herbert Henry Small (1859 - 1952)

Born 4 May 1859 in Ryde, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Mary (Crossman) Small — married 28 Jun 1882 in West Kempsey, NSW, Australia

Descendants

Died 6 Feb 1952 at age 92 in Balmain, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import.^[1] It's a rough draft and needs to be edited.

Note

From The Daily Mirror, Thursday 28 June, 1951

Couple Celebrating 69th Anniversary

Their 69th wedding anniversary is being celebrated today by Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Henry Small, former schoolteachers, of 15 Jane St., Balmain. Mr Small is 92 and his wife 88. They were married in the Church of England, Kempsey in 1882. Their romance began when Mr Small commenced his career as a teacher at Ryde ans was sent to relieve at Kempsey. There he met and married Elizabeth Mary Crossman, a teacher at the same school. Mr. and Mrs. Small have five daughters, all living, but no sons. They are Mrs. F. M. Hatfield, keen C.W.A. Worker, Wollongong, Mrs. E. M. Boyer, Epping, now sightseeing in Scotland, Mrs. G. Montcrieff, West Wyalong, Mrs. J. M. Hamilton, Wagga, and Mrs. A. M. Taylor, who is District Registrar of Balmain, and lives next door to her parents. The couple have 16 grandchildren and so many great-grandchildren that they admit they have lost count. Happily married 69 years today they agreed this morning that the main thing needed to make marriage a success was give-and-take. Relative, old friends and well-wishers will be calling on the Smalls all day. But the couple said the grand party would be next year on their 70th wedding anniversary. Mr. Small is the great-grandson of Sgt. John Small, who was one of Governor Phillip's bodyguards. Sgt. Small was given a grant of land at Ryde, then called Kissing Point, and started an orchard with his wife, Sophie. The old homestead, “Williamdale” still stands a Bridge Rd., Ryde. Another descendant, Mr. Walter Small, live there today, and Mr. Small was born there. Mr. Small is the eldest living Small of the third generation of the family in Australia. After Mr. and Mrs. Small were married in Kempsey, they went to Ramornie, South Grafton, and from there to Uralla, where they spent 13 years. Fort Street was another school at which Mr. Small taught. One of his pupils from there who has never lost tough with him is Rear-Admiral Sir Leighton Bracegridle, Official secretary to the Duke of Gloucester when he was Governor-General. Asked what he thought of modern schools, Mr. Small said he did not think the cane was used enough today. He thought there was not enough discipline in the schools. Mr. Small was teaching at Hunter's Hill School when he retired.

Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856 - 1861; 1863 - 1889; 1891 - 1954), Friday 21 April 1939. SPORT OF EIGHTIES Mr. H. H. Small's Memories Five Matches Against English Cricketers Prominent in the sporting, educational and political sphere of Armidale, and Uralla in the eighties and early nineties, Mr. Herbert H. Small, of Balmain, is renewing acquaintances at Armidale. He and his wife, who is a daughter of the late Aaron Crossman, are holidaying with Miss A. Crossman, of Faulkner-street. A great-grandson of John Small, doctor's chemist on Governor Phillip's staff with the First Fleet. Mr. Small is of the third generation of Australians. His grandfather, father and himself were born at Ryde. His grand-aunt, the late Mrs. Oakes, of Parramatta, was claimed to be the first white child born in Australia. Mr. Small, in an interview with a representative of the Armidale "Express," was able fo give interesting reminiscences of sport, politics and education in the New England district over half a century ago. His first experience of New England was when 57 years ago he travelled by stage coach to Uralla to take up the position of headmaster of the Uralla Public School. He was at Uralla 13 years. "I am proud of the children who went through the school during my term there." said Mr. Small. "Very many of them have prospered. Included in the pupils were Tommy Leece, who was in the infants at the school, went to the Post Office, and is now Chief Inspector, Roy Vincent, Minister for Mines and Forests. Herbert Vincent, editor of the Uralla Times," Teddie Sims, secretary of the Commonwealth Railways, Harold Crapp, a prominent wool buyer of Bathurst. Arthur Crapp, now a Methodist minister, Reg and Gus McAlister, chemists, of Guyra and Narrabri, Harry Lonsdale, Dumareq Shire clerk. Hubert McCrossin, postmaster at Launceston. Frank Young, Anglican minister, Bill Noakes, headmaster of the Armidale High school, Alf Purkiss, who was proprietor of the Armidale "Chronicle," Will Carroll, chairman of the Statistical Board of the Railway Department, and Bob Blanch, chairman off the Appeals Board of the Railway Department." Mr. Small said that he had been transferred from Uralla to Fort-street School, Sydney, and then to Sutherland. He had retired from the teaching service from Hunter's Hill. Keenly interested in politics from the time of his residence in Uralla. Mr. Small said that he had not regretted his unsuccessful attempts to enter Parliament. "It was good experience," said Mr. Small. "I found that you need plenty of intriguing and plenty of money. I had neither. The politics of to-day are nothing like the elections of the times when I was at Uralla. I remember a, candidate there promising to make Uralla a seaport town if he was elected. He was a sticker. He con-tested several elections, and on one occasion he almost beat the sitting member. Armidale's vote was all that, kept him out." Mr. Small mentioned that in his efforts to enter parliament, he had contested seats where the oppositon was particularly strong. He had opposed such men as Sir Thomas Bavin, Sir Thomas Henley and Mr. Loxton, K.C. Defeat at the polls did not dampen Mr. Small's enthusiasm. He was repeatedly called upon to assist in elec-tion campaigns, and helped many men to victory for the old Nationalist cause. Although he lived at Uralla. Mr. Small played most of his cricket at Armidale, and he recalled the old ground set in the middle of the Armidale racecourse enclosure. "There was an old pavilion." he said. "The pitch was merely chipped and levelled ground, covered with matting. We were told by the Englishmen that one wicket was as good as anything they had experienced on their tour, played five matches against English cricketers at Armidale, and I was very proud when I made 36 in my first match against Shaw and Shrewsbury's team. Afterwards I played against Stoddart's and Lilywhite's teams. "Some of the New Englanders of the day were Sam Kirke, Andy Mc-Credie, Bert Holden, Joe Slade. H. Antill, Bill Harden, George and "Cloudy" Marsh, Henry Marsh (now more renowned for his tennis writings), Harry and Arnold Crossman, Dave Claverie, Bob Morrison, Benson, Albert Godby, Harris, Synge, Ben Keys, Charlie Cooper and Poate. We had some great tussles." The beginnings of tennis at Armidale were recalled by Mr. Small, who said that he was a member of the old "Montrose" Club, which owned the first private courts in Armidale. They were situated on the old Crossman property and were the first asphalt, courts in the district. The "Montrose" four consisting of Mr. Crossman senior, his sons Harry and Arnold and Mr, Small, played many matches against the Armidale Club and teams from other towns. The Armidale courts of the time were merely chipped and levelled surfaces, but the primitive mature of the preparation did not prevent many excellent games. "Armidale and Uralla were very keen on athletics in the old days," continued Mr. Small. "I was able to run and I remember winning a good stake and a silvar cup at Armidale. It was my first and only entry to profes-sional running. I won at 100, 150 and 175 yards, beating all the champions. I was generously handicapped, and several sportsmen, who fancied my chances backed me at good odds." Mr. Small was also associated with the establishment of rifle shooting at Armidale and Uralla. He recalled that the first range at Uralla was near the late Mrs. Warwick's property. "We found a huge granite bluff and painted a target on it." he added. "It did us for quite a time. Mr. A. E. Bigg and Mr. Crossman came from Armidale to give us a start with the old Martini-Henry carbines, and we had plenty of good sport. The present range was established later." Mr. Small has not been in Armidale for 14 years, and Mrs. Small for 20 years. Both expressed pleasure at the progress made in the city. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/193660483

Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Thursday 7 February 1952. SMALL, Herbert Henry. - February 6, 1952, at his residence, 15 Jane Street, Balmain, dearly beloved husband of Elizabeth Mary and father of Ethel (Mrs. E. Hatfield), Muriel (Mrs. M. Taylor), Phyllis (Mrs. E. M. Boyer), Hazel (Mrs. G. Moncrieff), and Beth (Mrs. J. Hamilton), aged 92 years. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18257350

Sources

1. ↑ Small-1719 was created by Dom Swinkels through the import of William Small Descendants.ged on Mar 10, 2014. This comment and citation can be deleted after the biography has been edited and primary sources are included.

The Daily Mirror, Thursday 28 June, 1951 http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history/family-history.aspx

• NSW BDM,s Database
• Birth Registration 12285/1859
• Marriage registration 5151/1882
• Death Registration 2382/1952