Family background
John Whitehead was born c1831 at Pethead, Fifeshire, Scotland, the son of George Whitehead and his wife Janet. He married Jessie Brown 24 February 1854 at Glasgow, Lanack, Scotland, and they had one son and two daughters. Whitehead died 17 May 1902, aged 70 years, at the Darlington Council Chambers, and he was interred in the Old Presbyterian Section of Rookwood Cemetery. He left a Will and his estate and assets were valued at £100. John Whitehead lived in Alma Street, Darlington.
Occupation & interests
John Whitehead, mason, while working on the Crown Street Water Works 30 January 1878, met with a serious accident, occasioned by a fall, which completely disabled him from following his employment. As he was a member of The Masons’ Society he was presented with a payment of £50 compensation at a ceremony. John Whitehead was a Freemason and a member of Court Progress Lodge and the Royal Order of Forresters.
Local government service
John Whitehead was an alderman on Darlington Council in 1874-77. He was the Town Clerk and Inspector of Nuisances for Darlington Council 1879-1902.
References
‘Advertising’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 February 1874, p. 10, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28411585
‘The Council Clerkship of Darlington’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 May 1902, p. 7, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14442291
‘Linking up 67 years’, The Daily Telegraph, 16 July 1931, p. 12, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article246716933
Fairfax Corporation, Mr. Cooper, Darlington Town Clerk, holding up a framed portrait of John Whitehead, Darlington Town Hall, NSW, 16 July 1931, National Library of Australia, PIC/15611/1676 LOC Cold store PIC/15611 Fairfax archive of glass plate negatives, http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-157828575