Emma Sophia Dennis weds Alfred George Towndrow

This happened 112 years ago today:

John Dennis

A wedding was solemnised by the Rev. Rainsford Bavin at the Methodist Church, Newcastle, on Wednesday, October 21, when Miss Emma Dennis, of Cook's Hill, was married to Mr. Alfred G. Towndrow, of Wickham. A large number of friends assembled to witness the ceremony, the church being prettily decorated by friends, the chief feature being a bell of flannel flowers.

The bride, who was given away by her uncle (Mr. John Dennis), was attended by the Misses May Sampson and Muriel Towndrow and two little children. Mr. S. W. O'Neal acted as best man, Mr. Leslie Towndrow being groomsman. Tho bride was dressed in soft white silk, trimmed with lace, silk applique, and chiffon. She also wore the customary wreath and veil and a gold brooch, and carried a shower bouquet, gifts of the bridegroom. Miss May Sampson wore eau-de-nil voile, trimmed with cream guipure. Miss Muriel Towndrow, the second bridesmaid, was in pale pink voile, trimmed with string-coloured lace and medallions. Each wore a picture hat. The two little girls were dressed to match. The bridesmaids wore gold brooches and charms, gifts of the bridegroom.

After the ceremony a reception was hold at the residence of the bride's uncle, Bull-street, where about 30 guests sat down to breakfast. Afterwards Mr. and Mrs. Towndrow left for Sydney for their honeymoon. The bride's travelling dress was electric blue hopsack, trimmed with medallions, white satin, and chiffon, and a white and buttercup hat. (SMH Sat 31 Oct 1903 p 9 col f)

John Dennis was Emma's uncle by marriage, Emma's mother Catherine being the sister of John's wife Elizabeth. Catherine died young and Elizabeth stepped in to help care for the children. Emma's father Charles Dennis remarried and it appears that John and Elizabeth reared Emma and her sisters. I've written a book about John Dennis and his extended family (From Buryan to Bondi - the Dennis Family of West Penwith, Cornwall and some Australian Descendants, available through BookPOD) and have traced Emma's Dennis forebears back to a William Dennis who died in 1818, but I don't know how the Charles Dennis and John Dennis strands of the Dennis family connect. I'd love to hear from any of Emma's descendants.