Vital Statistics
Alfred Francis Pynsent: 1896 – 1981 GRO1203 (Soldier, Labourer, Sydney, New South Wales)
Elsie Florence Jefferies: xxxx – 1960
Married: 1922: Canterbury, New South Wales
Children by Elsie Florence Jefferies:
Leslie Pynsent: 1920 – 1978 (Married Ivy Rosa Taylor, Canterbury, New South Wales, 1945)
Joseph William Pynsent: 1922 – 1992 (Married Marjorie Harriett Wall, Canterbury, New South Wales: 1945)
Donald I. Pynsent: 1923 – 1930
Alan Alfred Pynsent: 1925 – 1976 (Married Delia Catherine xxxx: xxxx: xxxx)
Daughter (GRO1687)
Daughter (GRO1692)
Daughter (GRO1693)
Family Branch: Hennock
PinsentID: GRO1203
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Alfred Francis Pynsent was the third-born son of Joseph William Pynsent by his wife Nellie (née Garland). He was born in Bondi, in Waverley, east of down-town Sydney – where his father ran a small dairy – and he grew up with three brothers and seven sisters on a somewhat larger farm and dairy at Marrickville, in Canterbury; which is now a suburb southwest of Central Sydney. The family moved to Marrickville in 1907. All eleven children lived into middle age or later. They married and had children who remained connected for a generation or two.
Alfred’s first attempt to join the Australian Army during the First World War failed miserably. His service records, which are in the “Australian National Archive” (available on line) show that he signed-up at Liverpool Army Camp, near Sydney, in February 1915 but almost immediately had second thoughts. He, along with another recruit, deserted and the police circulated his description. He was described as being: a “private, 19 1/2 years of age, 5ft 5 ½ in height, fair complexion, brown hair, blue eyes; born at Bondi, Sydney, (who) Deserted February 14th 1915” (South Australia Police Gazette: 2nd June 1915). Alfred was picked up at his mother’s home in Sydney, returned to the Army (New South Wales Police Gazette: 9th August 1915) and charged with desertion. He was let off on a technicality – he was under-age and had signed up without his parent’s consent – and discharged without pay!
Alfred tried to enlist again on 22nd November 1915. At the time, he claimed to be an unmarried “stockman” aged 21 years. This time, he was successfully enrolled as a Private (#5438) in the 56th Battalion. His unit – which consisted of raw recruits – left Sydney for Egypt onboard HMAT “A 40 Ceramic” on 14th April 1916. It was integrated into of 4th Battalion, which consisted of veterans of the Galipoli campaign, while there and then underwent training prior to being sent to Europe. Alfred fought on the Western Front until hostilities ended in 1918 (AIF Project UNSW@ADFA, 2008). He survived and his unit arrived back in Australia on 8th January 1919. Alfred was later given the family nickname “Major” as a nod to his military service (Sidney Morning Herald: 26th November 1960).
In 1920, Mrs. Henrietta Maxted sued Alfred for £150 in damages for injuries she claimed he caused by his negligence in managing a horse and sulky. Alfred denied any responsibility but the court awarded her £15 for her pain and suffering (Sydney Morning Herald: Friday 20th February 1920) – so he must have been deemed at least partially responsible. Alfred was in trouble again the following year, when a Mr. Hyde accused him of assault after what he claimed was an unprovoked confrontation while they were attempting to board a train for Canterbury. Mr. Hyde fell and one of his teeth cut his lip. The magistrates sentenced Alfred to either £10 or 2 months detention (Sunday Times (Sydney): Sunday 10th April 1921).
Alfred Francis Pynsent married Elsie Jefferies in Canterbury in 1922 and they had at least seven children in the years that followed. I know very little about them. However, Leslie, who was the eldest, appears to have been born before their marriage.
Sydney’s Electoral Records show that Alfred Francis was a “carter” living on Canterbury Road in Belmore in 1930, and that he was a “labourer” living with his wife on Platts Avenue in the same suburb in 1933. The family had moved to Leyland Parade, also in Belmore, by 1936 and it was there until around 1954. Alfred and Elsie were living on Gladstone Street in North Parramatta in 1958. Perhaps one of their children had settled there and they had moved to join them. At any rate, that is where Elsie Florence Pynsent died in 1960 (Sydney Morning Herald: 28th November 1960), and where Alfred Francis died in October 1981 (Sydney Morning Herald: Tuesday 27th October 1981). He had a long life. They were buried at Rookwood Crematorium in Sydney, New South Wales.
With the exception of Donald I. Pynsent, who died young, Alfred and Elsie’s children all survived childhood, grew up and married. I know very little about them. Alan Alfred’s wife (Della Catherine) seems to have been known as “Billie”. The family placed a notice in the Sydney Morning Herald when their father died. It shows that Alfred Francis Pynsent had been predeceased by all three of his sons, Donald, Leslie and Alan.
Leslie Pynsent had married Ivy Rosa Taylor in Canterbury in 1945. The Electoral Rolls tell us that he was a “fireman” living on Nelson Street in Werriwa, Fairfield (near Sydney) between 1949 and 1963. They had three sons and a daughter while they were there. Leslie and Ivy moved to Dixon Street in Mitchell, Mount Druitt, in 1963. Leslie was a “storeman” living on Dixon Street when he died in North Curl Curl, New South Wales in June 1978 (Sydney Morning Herald: 23rd June 1978). Ivy went to live with her eldest son in Dee Why in 1980 and that was where she died in July 1991 (Sydney Morning Herald: 23rd July 1991).
Leslie and Ivy’s second son, Leslie Thomas Pynsent, who was born in 1961, died young. However, not before he married Kathleen (Unknown) and had at least six daughters! Leslie Thomas Pynsent was buried in Minchinbury, Blacktown City New South Wales in November 1999 (Findagrave). One of his daughters, Kristy Lynette Anne Pynsent also died young. She was only eighteen years old when she died in November 1981 (Findagrave.com).
Leslie and Ive’s fourth and youngest son also married and had children. I am not sure about his brother and sister. For all I know they are alive and well in New South Wales.
If we go back to Alfred Francis’s children by Elsie (née Jefferies), their second son, Joseph William Pynsent (II) became engaged to “Marg” (Marjorie Harriett), the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Wall, of Belmore, while a member of the Australian Army Forces: (Dvr. Joe Pynsent (A.I.F.) in November 1944 (Sydney Morning Herald: Saturday 25th November 1944). He seems to have been stationed in Townsville in Queensland in the summer of 1945 as he played football for an army team (Townsville Daily Bulletin: Saturday 9th June 1945).
The Electoral Rolls tell us that Joseph became a wharf or dockside “labourer” after the war. He lived with Marjorie on Ritchie Street in Yagoona, Bankstown North, near Sydney, from 1954 to at least 1980. Joseph “late of Yagoona” died in July 1992 (Sydney Morning Herald: 18th July 1992). Marjorie Harriett, his widow, died in August 2012 (Sydney Morning Herald: 20th August 2012). They had at least sons, so their line probably continues. At least two of Joseph’s sisters married so they may have living children as well.
The Rolls also show that Joseph William’s younger brother Alan Alfred Pynsent was a “canister maker” living with his wife Della Catherine Pynsent and his parents on Leyland Parade in Belmore in 1954; however, he later became a “waterside worker.” Alan and his wife had moved to Clisdell Street in Belmore by 1958. As yet, I do not know of any children. Alan Alfred Pynsent died in January 1976 (Sydney Morning Herald: 5th January 1976) and his widow, Della Catherine died in November 1983 (Sydney Morning Herald: 26th November 1983).
Family Tree
Grandparents
Grandfather: Joseph Burton Pinsent: 1806 – 1874
Grandmother: Mary Bridget Fogarty: 1832 – 1875
Parents
Father: Joseph William Pynsent: 1862 – 1926
Mother: Nellie Ellen Garland: 1864 – 1933
Father’s Siblings and half-siblings (Aunts, Uncles)
Thomas Ogden Pynsent: 1839 – 1864
Mary Ann Theresa Pynsent: 1856 – xxxx
Burton William Pynsent: 1856 – 1856
Elizabeth Ellen Pynsent: 1858 – 1841
Burton Michael Pynsent: 1861 – 1876
Joseph William Pynsent: 1862 – 1926 ✔️
Charles Pynsent: 1865 – 1878
Alfred Thomas Pynsent: 1869 – 1911
Male Siblings (Brothers)
Joseph Burton Pynsent: 1890 – 1968
Charles Pitt Pynsent: 1893 – 1975
Alfred Francis Pynsent: 1896 – 1981 ✔️
Thomas Ogden Pynsent: 1905 – 1980
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