H.T. Jones

Henry Tucker Jones was born in 1833 in Shoreditch, London to William and Ann Jones (née Tucker). William was a cabinet maker and had moved with his wife to London from Brixham in Devon. Henry was the second of 3 sons, and he had 4 sisters. The 1851 census shows the family were living at Tabernacle Walk, Saint Luke, which is close to Shoreditch in London. Henry was 18 at the time and, like his older brother George and his father, is listed as a Cabinet Maker. Kevin Fahy and Andrew Simpson note in Australian Furniture, Pictorial History and Dictionary 1788-1938 that Henry emigrated to Sydney, Australia in around 1854.

Fahy and Simpson note his address in 1867 as Eastern Creek and Racecourse Parramatta. Then between 1886 and 1889 he is listed at Pitt Row, Prospect and in 1887 at Sherwood. H. T. Jones & Son are shown at Pitt Row between 1892 and 1894. One of their round paper labels also gives the address of H. T. Jones & Son as Old Racecourse, Parramatta. Jones & Sons are listed between 1900 and 1907 at Pitt St., Prospect. Henry died at the end of September 1902 and his sons continued the business. In 1908, the company name changed to Toogood & Jones and continued until 1923 at Pitt Street, Sherwood.

Henry T. Jones was a very public minded man and served for many years as an Alderman for Prospect and Sherwood as well as Mayor. He was also the Returning ... show more

Henry Tucker Jones was born in 1833 in Shoreditch, London to William and Ann Jones (née Tucker). William was a cabinet maker and had moved with his wife to London from Brixham in Devon. Henry was the second of 3 sons, and he had 4 sisters. The 1851 census shows the family were living at Tabernacle Walk, Saint Luke, which is close to Shoreditch in London. Henry was 18 at the time and, like his older brother George and his father, is listed as a Cabinet Maker. Kevin Fahy and Andrew Simpson note in Australian Furniture, Pictorial History and Dictionary 1788-1938 that Henry emigrated to Sydney, Australia in around 1854.

Fahy and Simpson note his address in 1867 as Eastern Creek and Racecourse Parramatta. Then between 1886 and 1889 he is listed at Pitt Row, Prospect and in 1887 at Sherwood. H. T. Jones & Son are shown at Pitt Row between 1892 and 1894. One of their round paper labels also gives the address of H. T. Jones & Son as Old Racecourse, Parramatta. Jones & Sons are listed between 1900 and 1907 at Pitt St., Prospect. Henry died at the end of September 1902 and his sons continued the business. In 1908, the company name changed to Toogood & Jones and continued until 1923 at Pitt Street, Sherwood.

Henry T. Jones was a very public minded man and served for many years as an Alderman for Prospect and Sherwood as well as Mayor. He was also the Returning

Officer for elections and was very well respected for his work. Aside from cabinet making they also offered an upholstery service, able to re-stuff sofas and chairs and supply mattresses in hair, flax and cocoa. H. T. Jones were awarded several contracts to supply furniture for the Lands Department, perhaps due to his contacts as an Alderman. This included purpose-built furniture such as the Set of Drawers made for the Railway Construction Department to hold their maps. It was described by The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate in May 1899 as standing 'about 10 feet high, is 12 feet long and nearly 4 feet deep. There are 100 drawers so carefully and closely arranged together that not one waste inch of space is to be found.' They also describe an Index Press for the Registrar-General's office as beautifully made. Perhaps Jones' experience as a Returning Officer led to him also making Ballot Boxes that would only allow the ballot paper to be entered into the proper opening, which was also marvelled at by the publication.

H. T. Jones & Son are known to have made two part campaign chests as well as a wide range of domestic and civil furniture including Partners Desks, Bookcases, Wardrobes, Stationery Cabinets and Railway Benches etc.