Harold Marshall DECENT (1874

Harold Marshall DECENT (1874 - 1945)

Children	Self + Spouses	Parents	Grandparents	Greatgrandparents
	Harold Marshall DECENT (1874 - 1945) + Amelia Grace LYE	Joseph Henry DECENT (1842 - 1920)



		Jemima ROURKE (1849 - 1874)	Henry ROURKE (1812 - 1879)	John ROURKE

			Jemima MARSHALL (1811 - 1901)

b. 18 Jul 1874 at Paddington, Sydney, NSW, Australia

m. 15 Jul 1898 Amelia Grace LYE at Redfern, Sydney, NSW, Australia

d. 1945 at East Sunshine, Victoria aged 71

Near Relatives of Harold Marshall DECENT (1874 - 1945)
Relationship	Person	Born	Birth Place	Died	Death Place	Age
Grandfather	Henry ROURKE	1812		04 Aug 1879	West Maitland, NSW, Australia	67
Grandmother	Jemima MARSHALL	abt 1811		16 Oct 1901	West Maitland, NSW, Australia	90

Father	Joseph Henry DECENT	24 Oct 1842	Dover, Kent, England	19 Sep 1920	North Sydney, NSW, Australia	77
Mother	Jemima ROURKE	13 Jul 1849	Maitland, NSW, Australia	12 Aug 1874	Woollahara, Sydney, NSW, Australia	25
Step Mother	Maria Kimble SHORTER	1850	Parramatta, Sydney, NSW, Australia	26 Nov 1934	North Sydney, NSW, Australia	84

Self	Harold Marshall DECENT	18 Jul 1874	Paddington, Sydney, NSW, Australia	1945	East Sunshine, Victoria	71

Wife	Amelia Grace LYE

Half Sister	Constance Vinian DECENT			01 Sep 1923	Hurstville, NSW, Australia
Half Sister	Maria C DECENT			1890	Central Cumberland, NSW, Australia
Sister	Anne Mabel DECENT	1870	Paddington, Sydney, NSW, Australia	13 Jan 1949	Sydney, NSW, Australia	79
Brother	Joseph Henry DECENT	07 Dec 1873	Paddington, Sydney, NSW, Australia	02 Mar 1944	Chatswood, NSW, Australia	70
Half Brother	Harry William DECENT	10 Jun 1877	Sydney, NSW, Australia
Half Brother	Thomas Fox DECENT	1878	St George, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Half Sister	Rubie Ethel DECENT	1880	St George, Sydney, NSW, Australia	1971	Newtown, NSW, Australia	91
Half Sister	Cecile Edwin DECENT	1882	Petersham, Sydney, NSW, Australia	1962	Katoomba, NSW, Australia	80
Half Brother	Roland Leopold DECENT	1884	Central Cumberland, NSW, Australia	1954	Campsie, Sydney, Australia	70
Half Sister	Nina C DECENT	1886	Central Cumberland, NSW, Australia	1890	Central Cumberland, NSW, Australia	4
Half Brother	Ashley Howard DECENT	1888	Granville, NSW, Australia	1966	St Leonards, North Sydney, NSW, Australia	78
Half Brother	Leslie S DECENT	1890	Granville, NSW, Australia	aft 1934		44
Half Sister	Alice M DECENT	1894	Canterbury, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia	1894	Burwood, New South Wales, Australia	0

Aunt	Elizabeth ROURKE	1837	NSW, Australia	1918	Sydney, NSW, Australia	81
Uncle	William BRIGGS
Uncle	John ROURKE	1838	NSW, Australia	1916	West Maitland, NSW, Australia	78
Aunt	Jane FALKINER	10 Apr 1845	Maitland, NSW, Australia	07 Apr 1914	West Maitland, NSW, Australia	68
Uncle	Theophilus George ROURKE	10 Dec 1841	Sydney, NSW, Australia	19 Mar 1866	Wee Waa, NSW, Australia	24
Aunt	Sarah A ROURKE	1842	NSW, Australia	1922	Katoomba, NSW, Australia	80
Aunt	Mary J ROURKE	1843	NSW, Australia	23 Jul 1849	West Maitland, NSW, Australia	6
Uncle	Henry ROURKE	1847	West Maitland, NSW, Australia	1908	Singleton, NSW, Australia	61
Aunt	Margaret Amelia HUGHES

Cousin	Emma ROURKE	1865	Maitland, NSW, Australia	1866	Maitland, NSW, Australia	1
Cousin	George ROURKE	02 Aug 1866	Maitland, NSW, Australia	1943	Mosman, NSW, Australia	77
Cousin	Alice ROURKE	1867	Maitland, NSW, Australia	1942	Paterson, NSW, Australia	75
Cousin	Jane ROURKE	1869	Maitland, NSW, Australia	08 Aug 1869	West Maitland, NSW, Australia	0
Cousin	Benjamin ROURKE	20 Jul 1870	Maitland, NSW, Australia	20 Jul 1924	Burwood, Newcastle, NSW, Australia	54
Cousin	Harry (Henry) Marshall ROURKE	03 Jul 1872	Maitland, NSW, Australia	02 Apr 1953	Maitland, NSW, Australia	80
Cousin	John Falkiner ROURKE	1874	Maitland, NSW, Australia	1950	Newcastle, NSW, Australia	76
Cousin	Emma (Emily) ROURKE	1876		26 Sep 1927	Sydney, NSW, Australia	51
Cousin	Unnamed ROURKE	1876	Maitland, NSW, Australia
Cousin	Edith ROURKE	25 Nov 1878	Maitland, NSW, Australia	1956	Chatswood, NSW, Australia	78
Cousin	Margaret ROURKE	1879	Maitland, NSW, Australia	31 May 1957	Chatswood, NSW, Australia	78
Cousin	Jemima May ROURKE	1881	West Maitland, NSW, Australia	08 Aug 1968	Raymond Terrace, NSW, Australia	87
Cousin	Isabel ROURKE	24 Nov 1883	West Maitland, NSW, Australia	1968	St Leonards, North Sydney, NSW, Australia	85
Cousin	Arthur G ROURKE	1885	West Maitland, NSW, Australia	1885	West Maitland, NSW, Australia	0
Cousin	Nellie M ROURKE	1885	Patrick's Plains, NSW, Australia
Cousin	Keith ROURKE	11 Aug 1887	Patrick's Plains, NSW, Australia	1971	St Leonards, North Sydney, NSW, Australia	84

Nephew	Richard Joseph CLIFT	1901	Scone, NSW, Australia
Niece	Lisle E DECENT	1897	Waratah, NSW, Australia	1963	Chatswood, NSW, Australia	66
Niece	Kathleen DECENT	1899	Waratah, NSW, Australia
Nephew	Edwin John DECENT	1903	Waratah, NSW, Australia	1949	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	46
Niece	Daughter (DECENT)	11 Jun 1907	Summer Hill, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Brother in Law	George Kenneth CLIFT	1862	Maitland, NSW, Australia	07 Apr 1934	Scone, NSW, Australia	72
Sister in Law	Florence Emmeline THOMAS	21 Apr 1876	Queensland, Australia	1960	Chatswood, NSW, Australia	84
Brother in Law	Alexander STOBO
Brother in Law	Alma Pearl SMITH			1975	NSW, Australia
Sister in Law	Ruby Isobel POWELL

Events in Harold Marshall DECENT (1874 - 1945)'s life
Date	Age	Event	Place	Notes	Src
18 Jul 1874		Harold Marshall DECENT was born	Paddington, Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 1	52
12 Aug 1874		Death of mother Jemima ROURKE (aged 25)	Woollahara, Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 2	52, 60
15 Jul 1898	23	Married Amelia Grace LYE	Redfern, Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 3	52
1920	46	Residence	North Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 4	60
19 Sep 1920	46	Death of father Joseph Henry DECENT (aged 77)	North Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 5	52, 60
1930	56	Residence	'Copabella station', Holbrook, NSW	Note 6	37
26 Nov 1934	60	Death of step mother Maria Kimble SHORTER (aged 84)	North Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 7	52, 60
1943	69	Residence	High St, Terang, Victoria	Note 8	37
1945	71	Harold Marshall DECENT died	East Sunshine, Victoria	Note 9	52, 60

Note 1: Reg No 4613/1874 - Joseph Henry Decent and Jemima
details Lewis Family Tree - Ancestry

Note 2: Reg No 2716/1874 - DECENT Jemima - parents Henry and Jemima

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18786909?searchTerm=Rourke#pstart137534
The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser 15 August 1874
DEATHS.
On the 12th instant, at her residence, Kenilworth Lodge, Woolhara, Sydney, Jemima, the beloved wife of Mr. J. H. Decent, and fourth daughter of Mr. Henry Rourke, of West Maitland ; aged 25.

Note 3: Reg No 1898/4683 - Sydney
Lewis Family Tree - Ancestry

Note 4: Sydney Morning Herald 20 Sept 1920
OBITUARY
"The death occurred yesterday of Mr. Joseph Henry Decent at a private hospital in North Sydney, at the age of 79 years. The deceased was one of the best known advertising experts in Sydney and for a number of years controlled the Government Railway and Tramway advertising. he has left a widow (the daughter of the late Captain Shorter, of Sydney) and eight sons and three daughters. His sons are: Joseph Henry of "Montrose" station, Singleton; Harold Marshall & Harry William of North Sydney; Thomas Fox of Canada; Cecil Edwin of Summer Hill; Roland Leopold of Granville; Ashley Howard of Gosford and Lesley Stanley of Mosman. His daughters are: Mrs G. Clift of Maitland; Miss Ruby Ethel Decent and Miss Constance Vivian Decent. The funeral will take place at the Church of The England section of the Necropolis."

Note 5: Reg No 1920/13736 - St. Leonards - father Peter, mother Fox

from Lewis Family Tree - Ancestry

Sydney Morning Herald 20 Sept 1920
OBITUARY
"The death occurred yesterday of Mr. Joseph Henry Decent at a private hospital in North Sydney, at the age of 79 years. The deceased was one of the best known advertising experts in Sydney and for a number of years controlled the Government Railway and Tramway advertising. he has left a widow (the daughter of the late Captain Shorter, of Sydney) and eight sons and three daughters. His sons are: Joseph Henry of "Montrose" station, Singleton; Harold Marshall & Harry William of North Sydney; Thomas Fox of Canada; Cecil Edwin of Summer Hill; Roland Leopold of Granville; Ashley Howard of Gosford and Lesley Stanley of Mosman. His daughters are: Mrs G. Clift of Maitland; Miss Ruby Ethel Decent and Miss Constance Vivian Decent. The funeral will take place at the Church of England section of the Necropolis."

Note 6: DECENT Harold Marshall - book keeper

Note 7: Reg No 1934/19848 - William E and Emma Z

Sydney Morning Herald 28 Nov 1934
DEATH
DECENT -November 26 1934 at the residence of her daughter (Mrs A Stobo), 103a Ben Boyd Road Neutral Bay, Maria Kimble, relict of the late Joseph H. Decent and daughter of the late Captain W. E. Shorter, Harbour Master of Sydney and beloved mother of Cecil, Roland, Ashley and Leslie. In her 85th year. Privately interred Rookwood Cemetery November 27.

Note 8: DECENT Harold Marshall - clerk; Jessie Amelia - hd

Note 9: Reg No 1945/12150 - E Sunshine - age 67 - born c 1878 - parents Jack Ian Decent and Maria Shorter

The Argus (Melbourne) 26 Nov 1945
DEATH
DECENT.-On November 24, at 17 Dedrick Grove E. Sunshine. Harold Marshall Decent, dearly beloved husband of Jessie, and loving father of Margaret, Kathleen. Wendy, and Jack. -At rest.

Personal Notes:

Story from Lewis Family Tree - Ancestry
Harold Marshall's mother (Jemima Rourke) died three weeks after his birth and he was cared for by one of his mother's sisters (a maiden aunt) and then his step-mother, Maria Kimble Shorter, whom his father married when he was 2 years old. He did not 'get along ' with either of these carers and it is believed he also had a fiery relationship with his father, Joseph Henry Decent.

The day after his marriage to Amelia Lye in 1898, daughter Olive was born. This "shot-gun" marriage was not well received by both families and definitely not an accepted event in this era. His relationship between his father and step-mother obviously deteriorated and in about 1900 his father gave him 2000 pounds(quite a lot of money in those days) and told him 'to leave and not come back". He then moved to New Zealand with wife Amelia and daughter Olive and changed his surname to Harold "Harry" William DALTON. They had a further seven children under the name of Dalton and lived happily until his death in 1945 after having been knocked over by railway service bus.

There is no record of him changing his name legally and it his doubtful any of his children ever knew their real name. The "Decent" name was found accidentally by his grandson Alan in abt 1983 whilst he was 'going through some papers' and he began researching. It was originally thought that Harold Marshall and his missing half-brother, Harry William were one in the same person, but this theory has been proven incorrect. More revelations were not discovered until 2008 when more research was undertaken by grand niece, Louise Saint.

By strange co-incidence, his half-brother & Louise's missing grandfather, Harry William Decent had assumed the identity of Harold Marshall Decent between 1920 & 1930, committed a bigamous marriage in NSW under that name in 1930 and had another four children in Victoria. He also died in 1945.

It is not known whether either person knew of each other's deeds and if they did not, then it is indeed VERY EERIE. It is more than likely thay deliberately "swapped" identities.

From 1930 to 1945 Australian BD&M Registers and Electoral Rolls have records for a "Harold Marshall Decent" in Sydney, Holbrook, NSW & Prahan, Victoria when in fact the true identity of that person is "Harry William Decent".

Any New Zealand records pertaining to a "Harold William Dalton" are really those of "Harold Marshall Decent".

Compiled by Louise Van Den Hooven (nee Saint) Grand niece of Harold Marshall Decent -- May 2008 with assistance from Alan Dalton in NZ (grandson of the real "Harold Marshall'

Ref: NSW BD&M Records & Electoral Rolls plus verbal & written contact with living relatives of both Harold Marshall & Harry William.

Source References:

37. Type: Vital Record, Abbr: Australian electoral rolls, Title: Australian Electoral Rolls, Auth: Australian government

- Reference = (Residence)

- Notes: DECENT Harold Marshall - clerk; Jessie Amelia - hd

- Reference = (Residence)

- Notes: DECENT Harold Marshall - book keeper

52. Type: Australia Birth Marriage Death Index 1787 - 1985 Record

- Reference = (Birth)

- Notes: Reg No 4613/1874 - Joseph Henry Decent and Jemima

- Reference = (Death)

- Notes: Reg No 1945/12150 - E Sunshine - age 67 - born c 1878 - parents Jack Ian Decent and Maria Shorter

- Reference = (Marriage)

- Notes: Reg No 1898/4683 - Sydney

60. Type: Newspaper, Title: Trove, http://trove.nla.gov.au

- Reference = (Death)

- Notes: The Argus (Melbourne) 26 Nov 1945
DEATH
DECENT.-On November 24, at 17 Dedrick Grove E. Sunshine. Harold Marshall Decent, dearly beloved husband of Jessie, and loving father of Margaret, Kathleen. Wendy, and Jack. -At rest.

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