Major Henry Krone

Henry was the third of Adolphus and Kutharina (sometimes spelt as Katharina) Krone’s four children: Alfred (Abraham) b 1830, Elizabeth b 1831, Henry b 1832 and Maurice b 1837.

Betty Istead and Ralph Jackson have established that they were a Jewish family, probably Polish, who were living in Denmark in the early nineteenth century. They moved to England at a time that coincided with the persecution of Jews in Denmark following the Napoleonic wars (and consequent rise in nationalism). Whether this was coincidence or the cause of the move is unknown. Confirmation of Jewish heritage was made with DNA tests undertaken by several direct descendants. We can be confident of the Krone -Jewish connection as the rest of the genealogy of the people tested is soundly documented.

Part of the “Russian” myth was a story I heard about the name Krone being the result of identity fraud, or at least identity purchase, because it was too dangerous to disclose the real name. The story followed that Henry senior told this secret to one of his sons while he lay dying but the son, torn by grief, was drunk and in the morning had forgotten the name, by which time his father had died. This has the hallmarks of family mythology in place of reality and is a common narrative. As with many myths there may be a nugget of truth, ie., that Mjr Henry’s father Adolphus was not a Krone originally but something simliar. Ralph suspects the anglicised pronunciation of Krone is close to what the name may have been; Kroen or Krohn. Krone is also a common Danish name, coincidence or not; unknown.

Betty found that the family lived in a Jewish locale in London and that Adolph and Kutharina’s children attended a school adjacent to a Synagogue. As Alfred, Henry and Maurice made their way to Australia their Jewish heritage seems to have been dropped, Abraham becomes Alfred and there are marriages in Christian churches.

This image was claimed to be the Russian family crest. It appears on a letter and may have been the letterhead of a hotel.

Henry married Helen Fishley and had nine children; Henry b 1860, Florence b 1861, Percy b 1864, Norman b 1866, Ethel b 1868, Stanley Cyril b 1871, Beatrice, b 1872, Blanch b 1875 and Francis Orric b 1879.

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Original newspaper cutting, attached to cardboard. Major Henry retires, front page The Herald, Melbourne July 15 1892.

Newspaper cutting, The Herald, Melbourne, July 15, 1892 with Donald Krone’s handwritten notes on the right.
In the bottom right hand corner is a small handwritten card of Mjr H Krone

Helen Fishley, married Henry Krone

Henry and Helen’s sons. Definitely far right Stanley, seated in the middle is Frank.
Can we work out the others by relative age? Henry b1860, Percy b1864, Norman b 1866, Stanley b1871, Francis b1879.
A note with the photo held by Don and Mary Krone says that the back row is Percy and Frank. Front unknown friend (?) and Henry and Stanley Cyril (known as Dick).

Henry’s briefcase.

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Henry’s will, foolscap size.

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The Sun, Friday October 2nd, Melbourne 1891. Vice Regal at Home; Welcome to the Naval Officers. In attendance; Krone, Henry, Mrs and Miss, Krone Norman and Krone Stanley.

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Two patent books and notes for Registrars belonging to Henry Krone snr, his signature on the top right side of each.

This is a copy of a doc given to Henry Krone on his retirement as Registrar General, Victoria.

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Four pages from Melbourne Punch 1887, describing a ball attended by Henry Krone and wife Helen, Miss Ethel Krone, Miss Nellie Krone and Mr Henry Krone jnr. A description of their costumes is marked by pen on page three.

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Percy Krone’s copy of brochure for Brown’s Patent Springs.

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Letter of introduction – Henry Krone by James Brown of Brown’s Springs . Note the mention of Henry as Mayor of St Kilda “our most distinguished suburb”

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Patent application for a fabric dye, 1899.

Front page of doument owned by Mjr Henry – his signature is on the top right hand side.

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Original and formal document appointing Henry Krone as Power of Attorney for The Morriss Patent Fuel Saver and Spark Destroyer Company Limited.

1902 Royal Commission The role of Spark Destroyers in the Prevention of Bushfires.

The above link is to the findings of the 1902 Royal Commission in Victoria into the use and efficiency of Spark Arresters for Trains by a select committee of Engineers. The Commission was prompted by the number and ferocity of fires started by sparks from trains that was impacting people, the environment, buildings and the economy. Note the mention of Gippsland and others locales that have recently suffered from fire. The Morriss Spark Destroyer is mentioned.

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Morriss Patent Fuel Saver, Particulars and List of Documents. Someone has typed the first page, included.

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Morriss Improved Feed Water Heater and Fuel Saver, Patent Approved. Two copies of this document.

Shares purchase receipt

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Documents for a provisional specification, J Brown Brake Gear. Henry’s address given as 56 Westbourne Rd Forest Hill, Kent. Percy’s name is on the first document. I haven’t copied all of the pages as they are very fragile.

Miscellaneous document

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  Punch supplement

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Henry’s Will

FB post by Ralph. Henry’s brother Maurice, aka Leslie.

Gt.Gt.Uncle Maurice Krone went under the forename Leslie in the 1870s. Definitely our Uncle Morrie! Self-proclaimed Professor of Electro-Biology and Porenology, the ‘most powerful mesmerist’ of the day. Giving a public Mesmeric Seance, general admission 1s, reserved seats 1s/6d.

No trace of ‘Maurice’ in 1860s and 70s, no trace of ‘Leslie’ after 1880 (when we can see plenty of records of Maurice)

More on Maurice from Ralph on FB:

New discovery. Looks like Gt.Gt.Uncle Morrie lived around Beechworth and nearby El Dorado, with references from 1865 (30 Aug inquest into Vine Hotel fire, 25 Dec re his singing, attached) and public performances of hypnotism in early 1870s. He is referred to as Mr. M. Krone – this pre-dates his ‘alias’ of Leslie used in Melbourne for remainder of 1870s.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/112907357 fire
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197569651 mesmerism
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197569608 mesmerism
Example: “There has been no lack of amusements on tbe creek during tbe past two weeks, all of which have been finely attended. I notice from an advertisement that Mr Krone intends to lecture on mesmerism on Saturday and Monday evenings next ; the lecture to be followed by the usual experiments. That Mr Krone has great power as a mesmerist is admitted bjr all who attended his preceding lecture, and the curious and inquiring cannot
do better, if they want information and frolic combined, than pass an evening with this gentleman. Some of our leading men are studying the subject under the lecturer, and it is understood that they will try their hands
at mesmerising, so there will be the chance of variety.”