Family background
Henry Walter Bancroft was born on 28 May 1829 at Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, the son of John Bancroft and Elizabeth Mason. He married Augusta Carter (1831-96) on 23 January 1838 at Lambeth, London, England, and they had four sons and five daughters. Bancroft, his brother and his wife and one child immigrated to Melbourne, Victoria, arriving on 18 July 1853 by the ship ‘Albemarle’. He died at Redfern, NSW, on 26 March 1883, aged 53 years; he was buried in the Methodist Section of Rookwood Cemetery. He left a Will and his estate and assets were assessed at £1,201. Bancroft lived at Wyndham Street, Alexandria.
Occupation & interests
Bancroft was printer. He was involved in the printing of the “Australian Home Companion and Band of Hope Journal” (1859-61). The Printing Office was at 149 York Street, Sydney in 1860. He was declared bankrupt on 21 October 1862 at Sydney. Bancroft was a Freemason and a member of the Masonic Lodge, Redfern No 20.
Local government service
Henry Bancroft was an alderman on Alexandria Council 1868-69.
References
‘The Borough of Alexandria’, Sydney Mail, 10 October 1868, p. 5, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/166797334