1869543
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White, Robert John
Description
Unique IDPE-000173SurnameWhiteGiven namesRobert JohnAlternative nameJohnBirth dateBetween 1st January 1861 and 31st December 1861Birth date qualifiercircaDeath date22nd July 1901Death date qualifierexactPlace of deathSydney, NSWBiographical abstractDates of employment: 1895-1901Biographical noteBiographical note:
John White was a City of Sydney employee who with other city employees was sent to help fire brigade members in searching for any human remains and in helping to make safe the ruins of the premises of Anthony Hordern & Sons destroyed by a huge fire on 10 July 1901. He was killed when an iron girder suddenly fell and caused fatal head injuries.
Biographical details:
Robert John White, generally known as John, was born in about 1860 to Jeremiah and Ellen White. He married Rebecca Christina Minnery in 1894. She is possibly Rebecca Minnery born in 1870 who was in the Randwick NSW Asylum for Destitute Children between the years 1879-1886. She was recorded as having a drunkard mother and deserted by her father. She and John White had three children: Pearl, Robert John and Sarah Ellen (Nellie).
NSW BDM Indexes:
Marriage: 6298/1894 WHITE ROBERT J & MINNERY REBECCA registered at REDFERN October
Births: WHITE PEARLE M 18336/1896 ROBERT J & REBECCA C registered at SYDNEY
WHITE ROBERT J 27402/1898 ROBERT J & REBECCA registered at SYDNEY
WHITE SARAH E 19112/1901 ROBERT J & REBECCA C registered at SYDNEY
Marriages: 5747/1925 YOUNG STEPHEN A & WHITE PEARL M registered at NEWTOWN
17873/1928 BUCKLEY WILLIAM & WHITE SARAH E registered at NEWTOWN
Deaths: WHITE ROBERT J 7840/1901 JEREMIAH & ELLEN registered at SYDNEY
WHITE ROBERT JOHN 5234/1944 ROBERT JOHN & REBECCA CHRISTINA reg REDFERN died 30 December 1943
Funeral Notices for Robert John White 1901: [ref: SMH 24 July p12]
WHITE - The Friends of Mrs. WHITE are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of her beloved HUSBAND, Robert John ; to move from his residence, 33 McKee street, Ultimo, THIS (Wednesday) AFTERNOON, at 1.30, for the Necropolis. W. .STEWART and SON, Undertakers …
WHITE.-The Friends of Mrs ELLEN WHITE, Sen., of 144 Francis street, Leichhardt, are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of her beloved SON, Robert John White; to move from his residence, 33 McKee-street, Ultimo, THIS (Wednesday) AFTERNOON, at 1.30, for the Necropolis.
WHITE.-The Friends of Mr. WILLIAM MADILL, of 144 Francis-street, Leichhardt, are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of his BROTHER-IN-LAW, Robert John White ; to move from his residence, 33 M'Kee-street, Ultimo THIS (Wednesday) AFTERNOON at 1.30 for the Necropolis.
M.U.I.O.O.F.-The Officers and Members of the Loyal Wandering Minstrel Lodge are invited to attend the funeral of their late Bro. ROBERT JOHN WHITE ¡ to leave his late residence, 33 McKee-street, Ultimo, THIS Wednesday) AFTERNOON, at 1.30, for the Necropolis. G HARDWICK, N.G.; T E EVANS, Sec.
Death notice for Rebecca Christina White 1950: [ref: SMH 8 June 1950 p22]
WHITE Rebecca Christina-June 7 1950 at her daughter’s (Mrs. Buckley) residence 22 John street Mascot, dearly beloved mother of Pearl (Mrs. Young), Robert (deceased), Nellie (Mrs. Buckley) and dear grandmother of George, Stan and John and sister of Mrs. K Vandine and aunt of Mrs. Marie Nash aged 80 years. At rest
The fire and fatalities on 10 July 1901 at Anthony Hordern & Sons immense retail premises, the Palace Emporium, and the subsequent search and clearance efforts and the death of John White at the site were widely reported in NSW Newspapers. See reports in Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Star, Evening News, Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and regional papers through July and August 1901. Fund-raising efforts for families of those lost in the fire are reported from July to November 1901. Actions for the support of the White family are mentioned in the Proceedings of Council of the City of Sydney in 1901 and 1904.
John White’s injury occurred on Saturday 21 July 1901 and he was taken to the Sydney Hospital remaining unconscious until his death. It was reported that he “was much liked by his mates and the salvage party was so upset by the accident that further work was soon afterwards given up for the day.” [SMH: 22 July 1901 p8]
The Mayor, James Graham, was questioned by aldermen about the use of council employees in the search and clean-up efforts. The ‘Herald’ reported:
“The Mayor explained that in connection with the whole matter of this fire he had pointed out to the City Surveyor that it seemed to him the council should show its sympathy with the firm, as the disaster was almost a national one. At the same time the council must do its duty to protect the lives of citizens. He instructed Mr. Richards to follow the law strictly, and to keep well within the limits of the law. Acting on that general instruction the City Surveyor reported that Mr. Webb, Superintendent of the Fire Brigades, had asked if the council could draft some men to enable him and his staff to recover as speedily as possible the bodies that were supposed to be lying under the debris. The city surveyor reported that the request was a fair one, and that the men would only be required for a couple of days. He (the Mayor) pointed out that Mr. Webb was to be made responsible. But when the men had been three or four days at the work they had been ordered to return to their ordinary duties, and it was then that the accident occurred. It was clearly understood at the time, and the matter was fully discussed with Mr. Webb, who took upon himself all liability in the matter. He thought that Alderman Kelly would find that the poor woman would be compensated for the loss of her husband.” [SMH 24 July 1901 p5]
Samuel Hordern almost immediately promised Mrs White £1 per week for the following 12 months. In December 1901 Council discussed the payment of compensation to Mrs White. The Fire Brigades’ Board stated they were not in a position to help and they did not acknowledge any liability. Samuel Hordern expressed the intention to continue his payment of £1 per week for another year on condition the council contributed the same. Council passed a resolution to invest £300 on behalf of the family. [Proceedings of Council 1901, Meeting 23 December, p175]. The matter was re-visited in 1904 and resolved that the £300 invested should be used to pay Mrs White £1 per week keeping the balance invested. [Proceedings of Council 1904, p43]
Details from contemporary sources:
1895 Labourer, City Surveyor's Dept, non-staff Under Lee, City Works - 7/- per day - Report on Salaries of employees [ref: A-00438066, 22/48/22.5]
1898 Labourer, City Surveyor's Department - 7/- per day - Return of Officers and Servants, January 1898, by the Town Clerk [ref: A-00438439, 22/55/1]
1901 Labourer, died of injuries in clearing debris at Hordern & Sons fire, July[ref: newspapers]
1901 White John Labourer, provision of allowance to widow & children by Council and by S Hordern [ref: Proceedings of Council 1901 p 175; Proceedings 1904 p43]GenderMaleSource system IDTPER-004611
John White was a City of Sydney employee who with other city employees was sent to help fire brigade members in searching for any human remains and in helping to make safe the ruins of the premises of Anthony Hordern & Sons destroyed by a huge fire on 10 July 1901. He was killed when an iron girder suddenly fell and caused fatal head injuries.
Biographical details:
Robert John White, generally known as John, was born in about 1860 to Jeremiah and Ellen White. He married Rebecca Christina Minnery in 1894. She is possibly Rebecca Minnery born in 1870 who was in the Randwick NSW Asylum for Destitute Children between the years 1879-1886. She was recorded as having a drunkard mother and deserted by her father. She and John White had three children: Pearl, Robert John and Sarah Ellen (Nellie).
NSW BDM Indexes:
Marriage: 6298/1894 WHITE ROBERT J & MINNERY REBECCA registered at REDFERN October
Births: WHITE PEARLE M 18336/1896 ROBERT J & REBECCA C registered at SYDNEY
WHITE ROBERT J 27402/1898 ROBERT J & REBECCA registered at SYDNEY
WHITE SARAH E 19112/1901 ROBERT J & REBECCA C registered at SYDNEY
Marriages: 5747/1925 YOUNG STEPHEN A & WHITE PEARL M registered at NEWTOWN
17873/1928 BUCKLEY WILLIAM & WHITE SARAH E registered at NEWTOWN
Deaths: WHITE ROBERT J 7840/1901 JEREMIAH & ELLEN registered at SYDNEY
WHITE ROBERT JOHN 5234/1944 ROBERT JOHN & REBECCA CHRISTINA reg REDFERN died 30 December 1943
Funeral Notices for Robert John White 1901: [ref: SMH 24 July p12]
WHITE - The Friends of Mrs. WHITE are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of her beloved HUSBAND, Robert John ; to move from his residence, 33 McKee street, Ultimo, THIS (Wednesday) AFTERNOON, at 1.30, for the Necropolis. W. .STEWART and SON, Undertakers …
WHITE.-The Friends of Mrs ELLEN WHITE, Sen., of 144 Francis street, Leichhardt, are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of her beloved SON, Robert John White; to move from his residence, 33 McKee-street, Ultimo, THIS (Wednesday) AFTERNOON, at 1.30, for the Necropolis.
WHITE.-The Friends of Mr. WILLIAM MADILL, of 144 Francis-street, Leichhardt, are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of his BROTHER-IN-LAW, Robert John White ; to move from his residence, 33 M'Kee-street, Ultimo THIS (Wednesday) AFTERNOON at 1.30 for the Necropolis.
M.U.I.O.O.F.-The Officers and Members of the Loyal Wandering Minstrel Lodge are invited to attend the funeral of their late Bro. ROBERT JOHN WHITE ¡ to leave his late residence, 33 McKee-street, Ultimo, THIS Wednesday) AFTERNOON, at 1.30, for the Necropolis. G HARDWICK, N.G.; T E EVANS, Sec.
Death notice for Rebecca Christina White 1950: [ref: SMH 8 June 1950 p22]
WHITE Rebecca Christina-June 7 1950 at her daughter’s (Mrs. Buckley) residence 22 John street Mascot, dearly beloved mother of Pearl (Mrs. Young), Robert (deceased), Nellie (Mrs. Buckley) and dear grandmother of George, Stan and John and sister of Mrs. K Vandine and aunt of Mrs. Marie Nash aged 80 years. At rest
The fire and fatalities on 10 July 1901 at Anthony Hordern & Sons immense retail premises, the Palace Emporium, and the subsequent search and clearance efforts and the death of John White at the site were widely reported in NSW Newspapers. See reports in Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Star, Evening News, Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and regional papers through July and August 1901. Fund-raising efforts for families of those lost in the fire are reported from July to November 1901. Actions for the support of the White family are mentioned in the Proceedings of Council of the City of Sydney in 1901 and 1904.
John White’s injury occurred on Saturday 21 July 1901 and he was taken to the Sydney Hospital remaining unconscious until his death. It was reported that he “was much liked by his mates and the salvage party was so upset by the accident that further work was soon afterwards given up for the day.” [SMH: 22 July 1901 p8]
The Mayor, James Graham, was questioned by aldermen about the use of council employees in the search and clean-up efforts. The ‘Herald’ reported:
“The Mayor explained that in connection with the whole matter of this fire he had pointed out to the City Surveyor that it seemed to him the council should show its sympathy with the firm, as the disaster was almost a national one. At the same time the council must do its duty to protect the lives of citizens. He instructed Mr. Richards to follow the law strictly, and to keep well within the limits of the law. Acting on that general instruction the City Surveyor reported that Mr. Webb, Superintendent of the Fire Brigades, had asked if the council could draft some men to enable him and his staff to recover as speedily as possible the bodies that were supposed to be lying under the debris. The city surveyor reported that the request was a fair one, and that the men would only be required for a couple of days. He (the Mayor) pointed out that Mr. Webb was to be made responsible. But when the men had been three or four days at the work they had been ordered to return to their ordinary duties, and it was then that the accident occurred. It was clearly understood at the time, and the matter was fully discussed with Mr. Webb, who took upon himself all liability in the matter. He thought that Alderman Kelly would find that the poor woman would be compensated for the loss of her husband.” [SMH 24 July 1901 p5]
Samuel Hordern almost immediately promised Mrs White £1 per week for the following 12 months. In December 1901 Council discussed the payment of compensation to Mrs White. The Fire Brigades’ Board stated they were not in a position to help and they did not acknowledge any liability. Samuel Hordern expressed the intention to continue his payment of £1 per week for another year on condition the council contributed the same. Council passed a resolution to invest £300 on behalf of the family. [Proceedings of Council 1901, Meeting 23 December, p175]. The matter was re-visited in 1904 and resolved that the £300 invested should be used to pay Mrs White £1 per week keeping the balance invested. [Proceedings of Council 1904, p43]
Details from contemporary sources:
1895 Labourer, City Surveyor's Dept, non-staff Under Lee, City Works - 7/- per day - Report on Salaries of employees [ref: A-00438066, 22/48/22.5]
1898 Labourer, City Surveyor's Department - 7/- per day - Return of Officers and Servants, January 1898, by the Town Clerk [ref: A-00438439, 22/55/1]
1901 Labourer, died of injuries in clearing debris at Hordern & Sons fire, July[ref: newspapers]
1901 White John Labourer, provision of allowance to widow & children by Council and by S Hordern [ref: Proceedings of Council 1901 p 175; Proceedings 1904 p43]GenderMaleSource system IDTPER-004611
Relationships
CollectionPeople and PositionsOrganisationSydney City CouncilPositionLabourer [City Surveyor's Department]Related itemsReport of the Committee appointed to Inquire into and report upon staff salaries and wages, 1895File - Fatal accident to laborer John White after fire at Anthony Hordern's, Haymarket, 1901Mayor - Council. To compensate widow of late Laborer White as a result of Anthony Hordern's Fire.
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White, Robert John [PE-000173]. City of Sydney Archives, accessed 13 Aug 2025, https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1869543