BENNETT

Cut-outs of Ann and Spiro Bennett at Gulgong Holtermann Museum

Source: Photo by VO

Spiro Bennett's Store, Gulgong, 1872
Source: Mitchell Library, SLNSW

Spiro Bennett and his wife Ann outside their store in Mayne Street west, next door to William Holmes the Bootmaker. 

Soure: Information supplied by Baldwin & Davis Research, Gulgong (Apr 2007)

Holmes, bootmaker, and Spiro Bennett's store, Gulgong

Source: Mitchell Library, SLNSW

The Life of Spiro Muscuri BENETATOS (Bennett)
by Brian Patrick (descendant)

Spiro was born in 1832 in the Ionian Islands, Greece, to George BENETATOS (a ship's captain) and  Anna Cornelia MUSCURI. Spiro immigrated to Australia in the early 1860s. At that time, Spiro anglicised his surname to BENNETT.

Once in Australia it seems he moved to the district of Yass, NSW. There he met Ann Jane CARROLL and they married in July 1866 in Gundagai, NSW, when Ann was 17 years of age. Ann’s parents were Charles A CARROLL and Mary Ann McCORMICK. Both parents had emigrated from Britain (Ireland & Lancashire respectively) prior to 1844. Ann Jane was one of 5 siblings and the only one to leave the Yass district. Both Charles and Mary Ann died at Gundagai, NSW (1867 & 1884 respectively).

1866-70 - LUCKY VALLEY GOLDFIELDS

Spiro and Ann had their first child (Diamontina) in Young, NSW, the same year they married, and then moved to the goldfields at Lucky Valley, Warwick, Queensland (also in 1866) to seek their fortune gold prospecting. While at Lucky Valley, Ann and Spiro had another three children:

• Diamontina - b 1866 in Young
• Cleopatra - b 1867
• Spiro - b 1868 
• Alfred Earnest - b 1870

1871-1884 - GULGONG GOLDFIELDS

There is evidence that Spiro was a tent and tarpaulin maker in Toowoomba in June and July of 1870. Some time after that, the family moved to the Gulgong goldfields. It is likely that Spiro was not successful as a fossicker or miner, so he earned his living supplying fresh food to those living on the goldfields.

Spiro and Ann had four more children while at Gulgong: 

• George - b 1872; died 21 November 1872, aged 5 months, from marasmus of 2 months' duration. Buried Gulgong.
• George - b 1873; died 2 December 1873, aged 4 months, from pneumonia of 2 months' duration. Born and buried at Home Rule.
• Aspasia - b 1873 (NSW BDM14506/1873)
• Naomi - b 1879; died 1879 (NSW BDM 5444/1879) in Forbes.

It appears that two sons named George died in infancy. From these death records, Spiro's occupation can be seen as a storekeeper in Gulgong (1872) and a miner at Home Rule (1873).

A daughter, Naomi, also died at birth. Little is known of Spiro's wife after the birth (and death) of their eighth child. The only evidence of Ann’s death is that Spiro was recorded as a widower on the certificate of his second marriage in 1885. Possibilities include:

• She may have re-married John HINES in Queensland; or 
• She may have died in Queensland in 1884 at the age of 34.

1879 - 1885 - BRISBANE QLD

After living at Gulgong, Spiro moved to Brisbane sometime between 1879 and 1885. While living at a boarding house in Adelaide Street, Brisbane, he met Mary Jane ETTOCK who was also living there. At this stage Spiro was 53 years of age and Mary Jane was 26 years of age. Mary Jane had emigrated from Lancashire, England on 30th March 1885 where she had been a weaver and a nurse.

1885 - SYDNEY NSW

Spiro married, Mary Jane on 20 May 1885 and they moved to Sydney, NSW. They had only known each other for a maximum of 7 weeks. They started another family immediately:

• Homer Basile Muscuri - b 1886;
• Spiro - b 1887;
• George Socrates - b 1889;
• Naomi - b 1893;
• Diamantina - b 1898.

Spiro was 66 years old when Diamantina was born. Mary Jane was 39 years of age. Strangely, most of his children from this marriage had the same names as the children from his first marriage.

Spiro died in Mortdale, Sydney, NSW in 1924, aged 92. During his lifetime he was a gold fossicker/ miner, tent maker, shopkeeper, hawker, weaver and, in his later years, an herbalist and "a Teacher of Languages" (probably Greek) in Sydney.

1900 - FIRE
It seems that most of their time in Sydney, was in the suburb of Mortdale. On 15 January 1900, their house in Mortdale was totally destroyed by fire, but it was insured.

On Saturday, at about 2.10 a.m., a fore broke out in the weatherboard residence of Mr. Spiro Bennett, near Mortdale railway station. The Hurstville nad Rockdale Fire Brigade were soon on the spotm but the building and contents were totally destroyed. The building was insured in the Manchester Union Fire Insurance Company for £150 and the contents for £50.

Source: Research undertaken by Brian Patrick, descendant. 

NEWS ITEMS

1869 - LUCKY VALLEY.

(To the Editor of the Examiner and Times.)

Sir,—Observing that you inserted my communication last week, I have again taken it into my head to drop you a few lines, but I am sorry I have not any great news to tell you.

Before, however, I touch upon any topic I would like to refer to something which appeared in the Argus of yesterday, about the petition which was sent from here some months ago. There is a great deal of vilifying trash in that paper about petitions (not a petition) for a gold field at Lucky Valley, making out that Mr. Wildash has done everything to stop any reserve being made.

I can only say that having been here for the last eighteen months, and have never heard of a petition signed by 73 bona fide diggers, (I am sorry to say there has not been so many people on the field since the first few weeks of the break out of these diggings, much less a chance oocuring for these signing a petition.) But I was one of fourteen diggers—and not nine as the truthful Argus says—who signed a petition in May last. I saw the petition just before it was sent down to Brisbane, and I know the names of them all, and also I know some were added after I saw it. These names were as follows:—

Edward Kelly            John Brady

John Crevey              R. Hughes

Jerry Allman             Daniel Murphy

Cornelius Brosnan    G. F. F. Macking

Michael Carroll         J. K. O'Keefe

Spiro Bennett            Thomas Glasgow

Thomas Smith           Wm. Richardson

I like to see fair play, and from what we have seen of Mr. Wildash he does not deserve the abuse he receives. He has always acted as a gentleman, and has never impounded any of our horses, and wants to see a good payable gold or copper mine opened up here as much as any of us. This I can speak for as a fact, as he has offered to assist us, so soon as the dispute regarding the copper claim is settled.

I am, Sir, Yours truly, A. DIGGER.

Lucky Valley, Sept. 23, 1869.

Source:  Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld. : 1867 - 1919) Sat 25 Sep 1869 Page 2

1870 - ADVERTISEMENT

The following advertisement appeared in the Toowoomba Chronicle and Queensland Advertiser throughout June and July of 1870:

SPIRO BENNETT, 

TENT AND TARPAULIN MAKER, 

Opposite the Post Office, 

TOOWOOMBA.

Source: The Toowoomba Chronicle and Queensland Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 - 1875) Sat 9 Jul 1870 Page 1

1874 - SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE - ARRIVALS [BRISBANE].

July 6. — Lord Ashley, s., Captain Lowrey, from Cooktown, Townsville, Rockhampton, and Maryborough. Passengers: Miss Perrin, Mr. and Mrs. Ishin, Mr. and Mrs. Spiro, Bennett and family, Miss Clapham, Mrs. Ranchin and child, 4 chinese ladies, children, and servants, Messrs. O. de Libert, Peterson, Buss, Conway, Williams, Granse, Mulling, Glazebrook, J. W. Masce, Lyons, Glynn, and 150 in the steerage.

Source: The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947) Mon 6 Jul 1874 Page 2

1875 - SEPTEMBER - INSOLVENCIES

INSOLVENCIES OF THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1875.

	Estimated
	Liabilities	Assets
Spiro Muscuri Bennetato, Parkes, miner [Spiro Bennett]	186 15 6	10  6 6

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Mon 4 Oct 1875 Page 2

1900 - FIRE

Early this morning a fire occurred in a private dwelling in George-street, Hurstville, occupied and owned by Mr. Spiro Bennett. The origin of the fire is unknown. The flames spread very rapidly, and soon the whole building was enveloped. The Hurstville and Rockdale volunteers attended, and got to work with one hydrant, but it was seen that there was no hope of saving the building, which was a weatherboard cottage, of five rooms. It was completely burnt out. The premises were insured for £150, and the contents for £50, in the Manchester Office.

Source: Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) Mon 15 Jan 1900 Page 4

1900 - FIRE AT HURSTVILLE

Early on Saturday morning a fire broke out at the residence of Mr. Spiro Bennett, George-street, Mortdale. The alarm was immediately given to the Hurstville and Rockdale fire stations, and the brigades made out with all speed to cover the seven miles between them and the fire. On reaching the scene it was seen that the flames had obtained a good hold of the building, which was a weather-board cottage of five rooms. The chances of saving the cottage were very small, and it was burnt to the ground, the smouldering fire being extinguished by the brigades with one hydrant. The building was insured for £150, and the contents for £50.

Source: The Australian Star (Sydney, NSW : 1887 - 1909) Mon 15 Jan 1900 Page 7

SANDS DIRECTORY

Between 1902 and 1914, Sands Directory lists Spiro (usually as "S Benetato") living at George Street, Mort's Township, south side. In 1902 and 1903 he is described as a "medical botanist".
Source: Research undertaken by Lynne Hawkins, descendant. 

Spiro died in Mortdale, Sydney, NSW in 1924, aged 92. (NSW BDM 1734/1924)