Jean Henry Millenet

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The Millenet family
Jean Henry Millenet was born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1829. He migrated to Australia in June
1857, arriving on the vessel, James Chester. He was a baker by trade. Jean became an Australian
citizen on the 27th May 1870.
Jean Henry landed in Melbourne, and, as so many did in those days, he tried his luck on the gold
fields. In 1860 he arrived in Wagga Wagga and started a baker’s and confectioner’s shop in premises
previously occupied by “Granny Apps.”
In 1863 he married Charlotte Jones at Wagga Wagga. Charlotte was a native of Wiltshire, England,
the daughter of Stephen Jones and Ruth Jones [nee Bailey]. Charlotte had arrived in Australia in
1848, at the age of five, with her parents.

Jean Henry and Charlotte had ten children:

1. Maud L M Millenet Born 1865. died?
2. Mika Marie Millenet. Born 1867, died 1952. Married Frank E A Minnitt in 1899.
3. Alice Emilie Millenet. Born 1868, died 1938. Never married.
4. Amy Rose Adele Millenet. Born 1871, died?
5. Annie Bessie Millenet. Born 1873,201 died 1952. Married Ernest Francis Hartley Brown in
1908.
6. Charles Henry Millenet. Born 1875,203 died 1876.
7. Louisa Charlotte Millenet. Born 1878,205 died 1948. Never married.
8. Alfred Henry Millenet. Born 1880,207 died 1881.
9. Elsie Grace Millenet. Born 1882,209 died 1952. Married Stuart A Hogg in 1911.
10. Leonie Mabel Constance Millenet. Born 1888, died 1967. Married Frederic C Piddington
in 1910.
Sadly the couple’s only two sons both died in infancy.

After establishing the bakery and confectionery business Jean Henry subsequently purchased a
property in Johnstone Street and conducted the business from those premises for the next twelve
years. In 1866 he dissolved his partnership with his brother John, and became the sole proprietor.

Jean Henry Millenet was best known as the licensee of the Criterion hotel, which he licensed from
1884 to 1914.
Jean Henry Millenet passed away in 1917.216 An obituary in the local paper read, in part, as
follows:
“The late Mr. Millenet was a Frenchman, born at Geneva, who came to Australia
in the middle part of the 19th century, and to Wagga more than half a century
ago. He quickly established himself in the confidence of those with whom he
became associated in the land of his adoption, and won a measure of esteem
which lasted through a long and honorable business career. He came to be
regarded as a man of fixed principles, kind and generous in his judgment of
others, loyal in his friendship, and scrupulously exact in meeting his business
obligations. This latter quality was a by-word in business circles, and no doubt
had much to do with the success he achieved. For several years after coming to
Wagga Mr. Millenet engaged in a bakery business, and then became the
licensee of the Criterion Hotel in Fitzmaurice-street. Until advancing years
sapped his energies he was a good townsman, and was actively associated with
many of Wagga's public institutions. As a sportsman he was keenly interested in
shooting and billiards. Old records show that there were few better rifle shots in
the old Wagga Rifle Club, of which he was a great supporter. He had the
reputation of being one of the best - or perhaps it might be said, the champion
cueist of this part of the State, in the French cannon game. Since retiring from
business a few years ago Mr. and Mrs. Millenet have resided with members of
their family at 'Westhoe,' Kincaid-street. A few weeks ago he was seized with a
sudden illness from which he failed to rally, and died on Saturday evening. The
late Mr. Millenet leaves a widow and a family of daughters, Mrs. Minnitt
(Wagga), Mrs. E. F. Brown (Bank of New South Wales, Ardlethan), Mrs. S. A.
Hogg (Experiment Farm, Bomen), Mrs. J. Piddington (Wagga), and three
unmarried daughters. It was a Masonic funeral, the late Henry Millenet being
one of the foundation members of Lodge Harmony at Wagga. “

Following her husband’s death the family purchased Westoe, as a residence. Charlotte Millenet [nee
Jones] passed away on the 24th January 1922, in Sydney, aged 79 years.