Henry Alford (12 February 1816 – 20 February 1892) was a police trooper in colonial
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
, the colony's first mounted constable. He left the force at a time of low morale and became a hotel owner and publican, in which pursuit he was followed by his two sons.
History
Alford was born in
Acton Acton may refer to:
Places Antarctica
* Mount Acton
Australia
* Acton, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra
* Acton, Tasmania, a suburb of Burnie
* Acton Park, Tasmania, a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, formerly known as Acton
Canada ...
,
Middlesex
Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, historic county in South East England, southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the Ceremonial counties of ...
. He emigrated to South Australia aboard ''
John Pirie
Sir John Pirie, 1st Baronet (1781 – 26 February 1851), was a British shipbroker and Lord Mayor of London. He was the largest shipbroker in London. '' on a twelve-month contract as an employee of the
South Australian Land Company
British colonisation of South Australia describes the planning and establishment of the colony of South Australia by the British government, covering the period from 1829, when the idea was raised by the then-imprisoned Edward Gibbon Wakefield ...
, embarking at
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island, also known as Karta Pintingga (literally 'Island of the Dead' in the language of the Kaurna people), is Australia's third-largest island, after Tasmania and Melville Island. It lies in the state of South Australia, southwest ...
in August 1836.
One of his first assignments was to purchase and accompany from Tasmania (then
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the colonial name of the island of Tasmania used by the British during the European exploration of Australia in the 19th century. A British settlement was established in Van Diemen's Land in 1803 before it became a sepa ...
) two horses and two bullocks, the first brought into the colony.
He was next employed by
John Barton Hack
John Barton Hack (2 July 1805 – 4 October 1884) was an early settler in South Australia; a prominent farmer, businessman and public figure. He lost his fortune in the financial crisis of 1840 and despite his best efforts, never regained anything ...
, who had a small but increasing stock of farm animals.
Alford and two others volunteered as special constables to bring in three escaped convicts from Tasmania, led by the outlaw Morgan, whom they apprehended near the whaling stations at
Encounter Bay
Encounter Bay is a bay in the Australian state of South Australia located on the state's south central coast about south of the state capital of Adelaide. It was named by Matthew Flinders after his encounter on 8 April 1802 with Nicolas Baud ...
.
In April 1838
Governor Hindmarsh
Rear-Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh KH (baptised 22 May 1785 – 29 July 1860) was a naval officer and the first Governor of South Australia, from 28 December 1836 to 16 July 1838.
Family
His grandfather William Hindmarsh was a gardener in Coni ...
inaugurated a police force with
Henry Inman in charge with the rank of Inspector, and Alford was one of the first of the twenty-odd men sworn in as constables, in what was Australia's first fully constituted police force. He was assigned to the Mounted branch, who were uniformed, armed and drilled in military fashion, as distinct from the Foot, or Metropolitan, service, who were more like the London "
Bobbies
In many countries, particularly those with a federal system of government, there may be several law enforcement agencies, police or police-like organizations, each serving different levels of government and enforcing different subsets of the appli ...
".
In October 1838 the newly arrived
Governor Gawler
Lieutenant-Colonel George Gawler, KH, (21 July 1795 – 7 May 1869) was the second Governor of South Australia, at the same time serving as Resident Commissioner, from 17 October 1838 until 15 May 1841.
Biography Early life
Gawler, born on 21 ...
promoted Inman to Superintendent of Police, and in November James Stuart and William Baker Ashton were sworn in as sub-inspectors.
Alford was a conscientious and efficient officer, making 54 arrests in three years, and by 1841 had been promoted to sergeant, and sergeant-major in 1842. Both Chief Inspector
Alexander Tolmer
Alexander Tolmer (1815 – 7 March 1890) was a South Australian police officer and Police Commissioner. He was educated at Plymouth, Rouen, Maidstone and Hawkhurst. He migrated to South Australia in 1840 where he was made sub-inspector by Govern ...
, in his ''
Reminiscences'' and
J. W. Bull
John Wrathall Bull (23 June 1804 – 21 September 1886) was a settler, inventor and author in the early days of colonial South Australia.H. J. Finnis (1966)''Bull, John Wrathall (1804-1886)''/ref>
History
Early life and emigration
Born in ...
, in his ''
Early Experiences'' refers frequently to his dedication and enterprise in tracking down felons, many of whom were escaped convicts from New South Wales or Tasmania.
Alford was promoted Inspector in 1849 following the death of
Commissioner Gordon
James W. "Jim" Gordon, Sr. is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, most commonly in association with the superhero Batman. Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane as an ally of Batman, the character deb ...
, and in 1853 and 1854 was responsible for guarding gold shipments from
Mount Alexander
Mount Alexander is a mountain located approximately 125 km north-west of Melbourne, near the town of Harcourt. It rises 350 metres above the surrounding area to a level of 744 metres above sea level. Being a prominent local landmark, ...
to
Adelaide
Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
.
In September 1853 Alford left the force, leading to a public demand for an investigation into what precipitated such an action. His resignation followed the suspension, later dismissal, of Senior Inspector
Stuart. and the earlier resignation from the gold escort, of Inspector William Rose A board of enquiry ratified Stuart's suspension, and furthermore removed Tolmer from command of the force, offering it to
O'Halloran
O'Halloran is the surname of the ultimate and at least two distinct Gaelic-Irish families, one in County Galway and another in south-east County Clare linked to the Dál gCais. On occasions it is translated as ''"stranger" or "from across the sea ...
and, surprisingly, reinstated Tolmer as Chief Inspector, all following the confessions of chief clerk
Orde, that he had been complicit in Tolmer's machinations against his subordinates.
Alford had previously shown sympathy with publicans, and in March 1854 joined their ranks, taking over the licence of the Stag Inn, corner of
Rundle Street
Rundle Street, often referred to as "Rundle Street East" as distinct from Rundle Mall, is a street in the East End of the city centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs from Pulteney Street to East Terrace, where it becomes ...
and
East Terrace
__NOTOC__
East Terrace marks the eastern edge of the Adelaide city centre. It is one of the main north–south thoroughfares through the east side of the city. Although the terrace essentially runs north–south between North Terrace and South ...
, then in 1855 built the Glynde Inn, of which he became licensee in June 1856.
His son Henry jun. took the Red Lion on Rundle Street in 1858, then in 1860 the Golden Rule in
Pirie Street
Pirie Street is a road on the east side of the Adelaide city centre, South Australia. It runs east–west, between East Terrace and King William Street. After crossing King William Street, it continues as Waymouth Street. It forms the southern ...
.
His other son, Edwin, took on the job of
poundkeeper
A poundmaster, or poundkeeper, was a local government official responsible for the feeding and care of stray livestock such as domestic pigs, cattle, horses, sheep, and geese. This was common in colonial America and continued into the 19th century ...
at
Hectorville
Hectorville is a small suburb of Adelaide in the City of Campbelltown. It is one of eight suburbs within the City of Campbelltown. The public primary school, East Torrens Primary and Catholic primary school, St Joseph's School, Hectorville, is ...
in 1868, assisting with the management of the Glynde hotel nearby, giving his father leisure time to devote to his garden and a relaxed social life. In 1876 Edwin quit the poundkeeping job, took over the hotel, married, and his wife served as landlady. On Edwin's death she continued management of the hotel until around 1911, so it had been in the hands of the family for 55 years, possibly a State record.
[
Alford's last years were marred by a throat complaint, which caused his death. His remains were interred at the West Terrace cemetery, with many members of the police force among those who attended the funeral.
]
Family
Henry Alford (12 February 1816 – 20 February 1892) married Elizabeth Ann Drewett (c. 1816 – 26 June 1875) in 1844
*Henry Alford jr (c. 1839 – 21 March 1882) married Mary Davis (c. 1836 – 30 August 1880), second daughter of Mr. Samuel Davis of Glynde on 4 July 1860. He was licensee of Golden Rule Hotel.
:*Samuel Davis Alford (1865–1866)
:*Henry Edwin Alford (17 August 1862 – 23 February 1918) married
:*Elizabeth Davis Alford (24 October 1868 – 1 November 1953) married Joseph Toy (1866 – 13 March 1912) on 5 August 1890
:*Arthur George Alford (14 December 1870 – 12 June 1950)
:*Frank Alford (27 May 1874 – 21 May 1878)
:*Mary Ann Alford ( – ) married Conrad Ludwig Johann August Jahn (1854– ) on 15 February 1882. Jahn was licensee, Jetty Hotel, Semaphore.
*Elizabeth Ann Alford (1846– )
*Edwin Alford (1847 – 31 July 1900) married Evelina Moore Townsend (c. 1853 – 11 October 1915) in 1874 Edwin was poundkeeper, then landlord and licensee Glynde Hotel.
:* Elizabeth Ann "Bessie" Alford (9 June 1875 – ) married William Stokes Lumbers ( –1939) on 23 September 1903
:* Eva Alford ( – )
*Julia Alford (1849– )
*Elizabeth Anne Alford (22 October 1851 – )
*Mary Jane Alford (1854 – 10 August 1859) cited as only daughter.[ so earlier sisters died very young.]
He married again, to Ellen Taylor Hunter on 31 May 1877
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alford, Henry
Australian police officers
Australian hoteliers
1816 births
1892 deaths
19th-century Australian businesspeople