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Archiver > AUS-VIC-GEELONG-DISTRICT > 2006-07 > 1153123118


From: "Pam & Trevor Jennings" <>
Subject: Re: [GEELONG] Archibald HUNTER
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 17:59:00 +1000
References: <C0E14F00.1A47%alwynem@netspace.net.au>


Hi Alwyne - am doing a write-up of any progress made on this man in our
Pivot Tree - can I add you info? Thanks Pam
----- Original Message -----
From: "alwyne merritt" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 2:30 PM
Subject: [GEELONG] Archibald HUNTER


> Re Archibald Hunter:
> I can tell you nothing of this man but do know my gt grandfather Archibald
> SILK [born Geelong 1858] was at one stage an employee of his and then
> later
> went into business on his own.
>
> A copy of an advertisement [date unknown] which was several years back on
> display at the State Offices in Geelong states [with some deletions]
>
> Established 1881
> [Geelong Coat of Arms]
> Health Comfort Peace Happiness
> SALUTARY NIGHT AND DAY SERVICE CONTRACTOR
>
> Successor to Hunter's Patent Disinfectant and Fertilising Coy.
>
> Late Contractor to the Geelong Town Council
> Contractor to the Geelong West Borough Council
> Government Contractor for Night Service
>
> [Costs and services available follow]
>
> ARCHD. S. SILK
> Proprietor
> 78 MERCER ST GEELONG
>
> I have heard of the manure cesspit and an account of how a new and costly
> horse met a murky end when it and the cart it was pulling fell into this
> mire. There is also a family story about when our Archibald was in
> hospital
> after losing an eye and total hearing in an accident his wife gave a
> substantial amount of money to a trusted friend/employee to go to
> Melbourne
> to collect a new piece of imported machinery and the friend [and of course
> the money] was never seen again thus changing the fortunes of the family
> considerably. This was prior to my grandfather's birth in 1892. I have no
> idea who the friend was.
>
> The advertisement was probably about 1890 when the Silk family is listed
> at
> Mercer St [I don't know that Archd. ever continued Mr Hunter's
> disinfectant
> enterprise] but on 14.10.1891 Archibald Silk's plant as a nightsoil
> collector was auctioned and from then on Archd Silk with limited
> facilities
> worked as a carter.
>
> Just to add to the mystery I will mention that Archibald Silk's tenth
> child
> [of 12] was Bertie Archibald Dickson SILK [b 5.6.1888 died 1.9.1891] The
> Bertie was for an older brother Albert who had died but the Dickson has
> been
> a puzzler as there was no precedent for this name.
>
> I will await further information with interest and keep digging myself.
>
> Alwyne Merritt
>
>
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