SPENCER, Enoch Harold
Born 11 May 1883; died 21 November 1918; buried 24 November 1918; age 35
Two brothers died of the flu in Wellington within three days of each other. They were Enoch Harold SPENCER of 5 Hugh Street, Newtown and Ernest Roland SPENCER of 12 Herald Street, Berhampore. Both were admitted to Wellington College Temporary Hospital from their homes and were buried in the same plot in Karori Cemetery.
Enoch was born on 11 May 1883 in Wellington, the eldest child of Enoch Spencer and Harriet HITCHENS. Harriet was born on 14 July 1862 in Wellington, daughter of Joseph Hitchens and Elizabeth BEVAN. His father was born on 10 May 1860 in Wellington, son of Edmund Spencer and Ann Frost SAUNDERS.
Born 11 May 1883; died 21 November 1918; buried 24 November 1918; age 35
Two brothers died of the flu in Wellington within three days of each other. They were Enoch Harold SPENCER of 5 Hugh Street, Newtown and Ernest Roland SPENCER of 12 Herald Street, Berhampore. Both were admitted to Wellington College Temporary Hospital from their homes and were buried in the same plot in Karori Cemetery.
Enoch was born on 11 May 1883 in Wellington, the eldest child of Enoch Spencer and Harriet HITCHENS. Harriet was born on 14 July 1862 in Wellington, daughter of Joseph Hitchens and Elizabeth BEVAN. His father was born on 10 May 1860 in Wellington, son of Edmund Spencer and Ann Frost SAUNDERS.
Enoch and Harriet were married on 12 July 1882 in the Wellington Registry Office and raised nine children: Enoch Harold (b1883), Alice Harriet Winifred b1884, Amelia Annie b1886, Edmond Joseph b1888, Ernest Roland b1889, Lionel Albert b1891, Ethel May b1895, Henry Gordon b1896, Leonard William Bevan b1901. In the early Electoral Rolls, Enoch is listed as a brickmaker, living at Wright Street, Mt Cook.
As the family was living in the Mt Cook suburb of Wellington, Enoch Jnr (known as Harold) and his siblings would have attended Te Aro Infants School and later Mt Cook Infants. From there the brothers would move to the Taranaki Street Boys’ School, while the sisters would go to Buckle Street Girls’ School.
As the family was living in the Mt Cook suburb of Wellington, Enoch Jnr (known as Harold) and his siblings would have attended Te Aro Infants School and later Mt Cook Infants. From there the brothers would move to the Taranaki Street Boys’ School, while the sisters would go to Buckle Street Girls’ School.
Enoch married Ellen MACKEY on 1 February 1908 in Wellington. Ellen was born in 1883 in Hokitika, daughter of William Mackey and Mary MONTGOMERY. Their children were Eileen Phillis (b1908), Mary Kathleen b1911 (who died aged 3 weeks), Harriet Winifred b1914, Harold Edmund b1917 (died 11 months later on 21 January 1918). In the 1911 Electoral Roll, Enoch's occupation was listed as furnaceman.
By 1916 Enoch and Ellen had moved to 5 Hugh Street, off Adelaide Road. When Enoch attested for World War 1 service on 27 June 1916 he listed his name as Harold Enoch, a driver for the New Zealand Carrying Company. He embarked from New Zealand on 16 October 1916 as a private, as part of the 12th Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion, F Company in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade; later in 1916 transferring to Canterbury Company serving in England. He returned to New Zealand on 7th March 1918 and was discharged on 10 May 1918 due to defective vision.
His son Harold died before his father had returned from war service and The Evening Post published a death notice on 23 January 1918 for him:
SPENCER – On the 21st January 1918, at his parents’ residence, 5 Hugh Street, Newtown, Harold Edmund, only son of Private Enoch Harold and Ellen Spencer; aged 11 months.
In November 1918 Enoch became unwell with influenza and was transferred to the Wellington College Temporary Hospital, Mt Victoria. He died on 21 November and was buried in Karori Cemetery on 24 November.
The Evening Post published a Funeral Notice on 23rd November 1918:
The Friends of Mr and Mrs Enoch Spencer are respectfully informed that the Funeral of their late beloved son, Enoch Harold Spencer (returned soldier), will leave Flygers's Mortuary Chapel tomorrow (Sunday) at 2pm for the Karori Cemetery.
From 1919 onwards the immediate and extended family published In Memoriam notices in the Evening Post.
Ellen did not remarry but continued to live in their home at 5 Hugh Street. She is listed in the 1928 Electoral Roll as Ellen Mary Mackey Spencer. She later moved to Island Bay, died in 1953 and was buried in Karori Cemetery on 4 April 1953.
The headstone for Enoch and his brother Ernest reads:
In Loving Memory of Enoch Harold Spencer
Beloved husband of Ellen Spencer
died 21 Nov 1918 aged 35
'At Rest'
Albert aged 1 yr
Mary aged 4 months
Ernest Roland Spencer
beloved husband of
Rose Mary Spencer
died 18 Nov 1918 aged 29
'So loved so mourned'
Rose Mary Crawford loved wife of R.P. Crawford
and mother of Ernie Spencer died 1 Nov 1951
By 1916 Enoch and Ellen had moved to 5 Hugh Street, off Adelaide Road. When Enoch attested for World War 1 service on 27 June 1916 he listed his name as Harold Enoch, a driver for the New Zealand Carrying Company. He embarked from New Zealand on 16 October 1916 as a private, as part of the 12th Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion, F Company in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade; later in 1916 transferring to Canterbury Company serving in England. He returned to New Zealand on 7th March 1918 and was discharged on 10 May 1918 due to defective vision.
His son Harold died before his father had returned from war service and The Evening Post published a death notice on 23 January 1918 for him:
SPENCER – On the 21st January 1918, at his parents’ residence, 5 Hugh Street, Newtown, Harold Edmund, only son of Private Enoch Harold and Ellen Spencer; aged 11 months.
In November 1918 Enoch became unwell with influenza and was transferred to the Wellington College Temporary Hospital, Mt Victoria. He died on 21 November and was buried in Karori Cemetery on 24 November.
The Evening Post published a Funeral Notice on 23rd November 1918:
The Friends of Mr and Mrs Enoch Spencer are respectfully informed that the Funeral of their late beloved son, Enoch Harold Spencer (returned soldier), will leave Flygers's Mortuary Chapel tomorrow (Sunday) at 2pm for the Karori Cemetery.
From 1919 onwards the immediate and extended family published In Memoriam notices in the Evening Post.
Ellen did not remarry but continued to live in their home at 5 Hugh Street. She is listed in the 1928 Electoral Roll as Ellen Mary Mackey Spencer. She later moved to Island Bay, died in 1953 and was buried in Karori Cemetery on 4 April 1953.
The headstone for Enoch and his brother Ernest reads:
In Loving Memory of Enoch Harold Spencer
Beloved husband of Ellen Spencer
died 21 Nov 1918 aged 35
'At Rest'
Albert aged 1 yr
Mary aged 4 months
Ernest Roland Spencer
beloved husband of
Rose Mary Spencer
died 18 Nov 1918 aged 29
'So loved so mourned'
Rose Mary Crawford loved wife of R.P. Crawford
and mother of Ernie Spencer died 1 Nov 1951
Enoch Harold (standing, far left), and his brother Ernest (seated, far right),
at a family gathering in 1905
at a family gathering in 1905
Information from Penny Holden about her great uncle. Written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC
Plot: 143
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. World War 1 records – Archives New Zealand - www.archway.archives.govt.nz
6. Auckland War Memorial Museum – Online Cenotaph – www.aucklandmuseum.com
7. Permission to use photos given by Penny Holden for the family
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC
Plot: 143
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. World War 1 records – Archives New Zealand - www.archway.archives.govt.nz
6. Auckland War Memorial Museum – Online Cenotaph – www.aucklandmuseum.com
7. Permission to use photos given by Penny Holden for the family