Discovery: Henchman Family Papers (1842-1998) Held at the State Library of New South Wales

We're excited to share a significant genealogical discovery: the State Library of New South Wales holds an extensive archive titled "Henchman family papers, 1842-1998" (MLMSS 7936), comprising 4.5 metres of textual material across 30 boxes, including photographs, diaries, and correspondence.

The Australian Branch

The collection traces the family of William Henchman (1842-1906) and his wife Jane McIlwraith, née Wallace (1845-1923), who emigrated to Australia from England in 1878. The couple had eight children, and their descendants went on to distinguished careers in law and public service in Queensland and New South Wales.

Their son, Hereward Humfry Henchman, was admitted to the Queensland Bar in 1899, served with the A.I.F. in WWI, and was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1929. His brother, Hubert James Hungerford Henchman, served as Crown Solicitor of Queensland and later Solicitor-General.

Hereward's son, Hereward John Humfry Henchman, followed his father into law, becoming a Queen's Counsel in 1967 and a Judge of the District Courts of NSW. He was notably counsel for the Royal Australian Navy during the Royal Commissions into the loss of HMAS Voyager in 1964.

The Transatlantic Connection

What makes this archive especially exciting for our Society is its direct documentation of ties between the Australian Henchmans and our American Hinchman relatives. Box 1 of the collection includes:

• Letters titled "The American Connection" exchanged with relatives including Walter S. Hinchman, Richard M. Hinchman, and others, dated as early as 1947 and continuing through the 1990s
• A program for "Exploring the Hinchman Heritage in America," held in Lewisburg, West Virginia, June 18-20, 1983
• A photocopied chart of the Henchman family compiled by Prof. J. W. Gould
• Correspondence with Robert Hinchman, Jr., including a signed copy of the Robert Hinchman Endowment for the Dramatic Arts at Marshall University (1991)
• Photographs from a family service at All Saints, Fulham — the church where Bishop Humfry Henchman is commemorated following his death in 1675

Box 2 also contains a privately printed copy of The Henchman Family (1868), compiled from research conducted in England, along with family research notes.

Why This Matters

This archive is a wonderful reminder that our family's story spans continents. The exchanges preserved here — between American and Australian branches of the Henchman/Hinchman family throughout the 20th century — mirror the very work our Society continues today: connecting descendants and preserving our shared heritage.

Members interested in researching this branch of the family may wish to consult the full finding aid at the State Library of New South Wales (reference MLMSS 7936).