Henry Brinsmead and Jemima Barker
Henry and Jemima Brinsmead at Thelma Gibb's Wedding (Thelma was Ada's daughter)Henry Brinsmead, a son to William and Ann, was born in Moolap, on March 17, 1856. Henry was a twin to brother Reuben. He had an older brother, Thomas Ireland, who was born in England and 15 years older. Early in their lives he appears to have moved north. They also had a sister 12 years older, Mary Ann, who married John Wood in 1867. Their older brother William, the last born in England, died in 1862 at age 15 when the twins were just 6 years old. Another older sister Elizabeth, who was born in Australia in 1851 appears to have died in infancy. Two other siblings, Edward and Eliza, also died in infancy. As a result, the family unit on the farm consisted of Mary Ann and the twin boys.
Henry is listed as one of the early baptisms at the Methodist Church, Rev. I. Harding officiating. Henry and Reuben grew up on the family farm on Lake Connewarre.
Marriage to Jemima Baker
In 1880, Henry married Jemima Baker. Jemima's sister Louisa married Henry's brother Reuben.
Children
Henry and Jemima had a total of ten children, seven girls and three boys. One of the boys, William, died in infancy. This left two boys, something considered important on a farm. The children were born in the following order:
| Annie Harriet b. 1880 | Rhonda Adelaide b. 1890 |
| Ada Mabel b. 1883 | Reginald William b. 1893 |
| Phoebe Gordon b. 1885 | William b. 1893 |
| Cedric John (CJ) b. 1886 | Emily Ruth b. 1894 |
| Olive Hilda b. 1888 | Ellen Freda b. 1898 |
Reg dies in the War
Reginald William Brinmead died at Ypres on December 17, 1917. His story is told in a seperate Brinsmead Biography. He had received the Military Cross for bravery while serving as a Second Lieutenant in the 8th Batallion, Australian Infantry. Reg's death must have come as a terrible blow to the family. Jemima only wore black clothes thereafter in memory of her son.
Conversion to Seventh Day Adventism
In 1918, Henry broke with the Methodist Church and converted to the Seventh Day Adventist faith. The minutes of the Methodist Church Trust record that on November 12, 1918 record that "Mr. H. Brinsmead resigned from the Trust and from the Methodist Church." This was just at the end of WWI. Iron was difficult to obtain, so Henry pulled down his barn in order to provide material for the roof of Geelong's new Adventist Church.
Henry Brinsmead's 90th Birthday Jemima's Death
Jemima died in Geelong on April 4, 1934.
Family Recollections
Reg Brinsmead recalled his grandfather Henry well. He loved assisting him in his blacksmith shop on the farm where he repaired farm implements and made his own horse shoes.
Henry at 90
A family celebration was held in honour of Henry's 90th birthday, grandson Thomas Goulet coming from as far away as Tasmania. To the right is an extensive article reporting on his memories of a long life.
Henry's Death
Henry died in Leopold in 1948 at 93 years old. His married daughter Rhoda, a nurse, and pregnant at the time, was present the day he died. He had walked around a little in the morning but then, feeling weary, lay down on his bed. He turned to Rhoda and said "Rhoda, what must I do to be saved?". She replied "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved". As he breathed his last breath, he said to her "Rhoda, I am saved".
Henry Brinsmead on his 90th birthday