Thomas Henty (1775 - 1839)

Born Jan 1775 in Littlehampton, Sussex, England

Ancestors

Husband of Frances Elizabeth Hopkins — married 2 Dec 1779 in Lyminster, Sussex

Descendants

Died 25 Oct 1839 at age 64 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

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Biography

Thomas was born in 1775. He was the son of William Henty and Jane Olliver. He passed away in 1839.

Thomas Henty, Esq. of West Tarring, co. Sussex, England, banker and farmer, was born January, 1775 ; left England on the ship " Forth of Alloway," for Launceston, Tasmania, and arrived at that place, April, 1831. At the commencement of the present century there were but six breeders of the merino sheep in England, of which Mr. Thomas Henty was one, having secured his blood at the sale of the flock of King George III, which were presented to that monarch by the King of Spain. Mr. Henty became very celebrated for his excellent breed of merino sheep, many from his flock having been sent to New South Wales. He m. Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Hopkins, Esq., by Philadelphia, his wife (she was b. at Poling, co. Sussex ; d. 8th May, 1848, aged 72 years and was buried at Launceston, Tasmania), and d. 25th October, 1839, at Launceston, Tasmania, aged 64 years, buried there. He had issue,

Sources

• Australian Dictionary of Biography. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/henty-thomas-2179
• A genealogical and heraldic history of the colonial gentry (in two volumes) by Burke, Bernard, Sir, 1814-1892; Burke, Ashworth P., ed, https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhera01burk/page/n21

Thomas Henty 1775-1839 & Frances Elizabeth HOPKINS 1775-1848 from West Tarring, Worthing, Sussex, England and Launceston, Van Diemen's Land Banker, Landowner & Settler.

Thomas HENTY, born 1775, Sussex, England, son of William HENTY and Jane OLIVER married Frances Elizabeth HOPKINS 2 Dec 1779 at Lyminster, Sussex. Frances Elizabeth HOPKINS born 1775, Poling Sussex, England, daughter of Joseph HOPKINS & Philadelphia PENFOLD. Thomas HENTY was a banker and landowner in West Tarring, Sussex. Family of Seven boys-Stephen, George, John, William, Charles, Edward, Francis and one daughter-Jane. Hearing of the Swan River settlement in Western Australia, where land was given away according to property introduced, he decided to set his sons up there, and in March, 1829, chartered and despatched the barque "Caroline" with his three sons, James, Stephen, and John carrying twelve laborers, six women, fifteen children, ten horses, ten cattle, and one hundred and fifty pure Merino sheep. Mr. Thomas HENTY, wife and family of Edward, Frank, Charles and Jane sailed from Sussex in October, 1831, in the "Forth of Alloway." They arrived Van Diemen's Land in 1832 and settled upon the Tamar. In 1833 he visited Western Australia and advised sons to give up settlement. Thomas HENTY died in 1839 at Launceston, Van Diemen's Land and Frances also died there in 1848. Thomas and Francis HENTY had the following family: James HENTY, b. 1800, Sussex, England; m. Charlotte CARTER; Thomas HENTY, b. 1802, Sussex, England; d. 1819; Henry HENTY, b. 1803, Sussex, England, d. 1804, Sussex, England; Jane HENTY, b. 1805, Sussex, England; m. Samuel BRYAN; Charles Shum HENTY, b. 1807, Sussex, England; m. Susan BONIFACE; William HENTY, b. 1808, Sussex, England; m. Susannah CAMFIELD; Edward HENTY, b. 1810, Sussex, England; m. Anna Marie GALLIE; Stephen George HENTY, b. 1811, Sussex, England; m. Jane PACE; John HENTY, b. 1813, Sussex, England; m. Eliza WHITFIELD; Francis HENTY, b. 1815, Sussex, England; m. Mary Ann LAWRENCE; Frances HENTY, b. 1817, Sussex, England; d. 1818, Sussex, England. Source : "Historic Souvenir of the Back to Merino and Henty Centenary Celebrations", November, 11th to 15th, 1937

Arrival of the "Caroline" at Fremantle from London, 1829 Time of Arrival: 12 October 1829 Nation: British From: London Master: Fewson No. of Tons: 330 No. of Guns: 6 No. of Men: 22

Passenger List Extract HENTY James 29 Single With bros. John and Stephen. [Departed 1832 for Tasmania.] HENTY John 16 Single With bros. James and Stephen. [Departed 1833 for Tasmania.] HENTY Stephen 18 Single With bros. James and John. [Married 1836 Jane Pace at Fremantle. Departed after marriage for Tasmania.]

West Tarring, Worthing, Sussex

An interesting historical and parochial note "Mrs. S. G. Henty, widow of the late Hon. Stephen G. Henty, of Victoria, Australia died recently at her home in Victoria, in her ninetieth year. The Hentys were the pioneers and founders of Portland, Western Victoria. Mrs Henty was the first white woman to set foot in the state of Victoria, and her son, Richard Henty was the first white child born in the Colony. The father of the four pioneering brothers was Thomas Henty, landowner and banker, of West Tarring, Sussex, who emigrated to Tasmania with his family in the ship 'Caroline', taking with him stock of all kinds, such as merinos from the flocks of George III, and blood horses from the stud of the Earl of Egremont. Although the Hentys intended at first to follow pastoral pursuits at Portland, they found both sperm and black whales so plentiful that Edward and Stephen went into partnership as whalers. In their first season they killed 61 whales and landed 300 tons of oil. The late Mrs. Henty went to Australia from Yorkshire, at the age of sixteen, with her mother, and became the wife of Stephen George Henty, who was for many years a member of the Legislative Council of the Colony. Mrs. Henty was a woman of remarkable type, and her interesting and romantic career and high character made her a personality of great distinction in the Colony. She was the grandmother of Mrs. Edward Starkey, of Tang Hall, York." The above note with its accompanying portrait is extracted from the 'Graphic' of April 7th, 1906. The portrait of Thomas Henty may still be seen in the south vestry of the Tarring Church, and a tablet over the vestry door has the following inscription:- "Sacred to the memory of Thomas Henty, the second son of Thomas and Frances Henty, many years resident in this Parish, who after having served in H.M.S. 'Minden' at the battle of Algiers under Lord Exmouth in 1816, proceeded in his ship to the East Indies where where the rupture of a blood-vessel occasioned his immediate return to this country and his subsequent death on 28th June, 1819, in the eighteenth year of his age. His parents now living in a distant land have placed this tablet to record their affection for his memory." This note is offered freely to the residents of the parish, hoping it may prove an interesting link between the ancient parish and the comparitively modern over-sea colony. April, 1906. Charles LEE, Rector.

Source : Article by Charles Lee, Rector, West Tarring, Sussex, April, 1906