James Sheens1

M, #193, b. 6 May 1888, d. 19 July 1946
FatherHenry Sheens1 b. 30 Nov 1844, d. 6 Jul 1921
MotherEmma Byrnes1 b. 25 Sep 1849, d. 26 Dec 1927
Last Edited9 Feb 2015
Birth*6 May 1888 Castlereagh, NSW1 
Baptism24 June 1888 Penrith Circuit, NSW;
son of Henry & Emma Sheenes, Castlereagh
Minister James Phillips, Methodist2 
Marriage*27 October 1915 Methodist Church, Castlereagh, NSW;Bride=Lillian May Ahmelman3,4 
Birth of Son3 March 1917 Penrith, NSW;Principal=James Christian Henry Sheens3 
Birth of Son14 March 1919 Penrith, NSW;Principal=Major Donald Sheens3 
Death of Father6 July 1921 Castlereagh, NSW;
Name: Henry Sheens
Date of Death: 6 Jul 1921
Place of Death: Castlereagh, Municipality of Castlereagh NSW
Occupation: Farmer
Sex: Male
Age: 76
Conjugal Status:
Place of Birth: Louth, Lincolnshire England
Time in Aust Colonies: About 72 years in NSW

Father: Samuel Sheens
Occupation: Shipwright
Mother: Jemima Lingard

Place of Marriage: Castlereagh NSW
Age at Marriage: 25
Name of Spouse: Emma Byrnes
Children of Marriage: George 49, Arthur 47, Peter 45, John 43, Isabel M 39, Eliza J 37, Allan 35, James 33, Alfred 31, Robert 25 living; 2 males, 1 female deceased
Informant: James Sheens, son, Castlereagh

Cause of Death: 1. Arterio Sclerosis 2. Chronic Parenchymatous Nephritis
Length of Illness: 2. 12 months
Medical Attendant: F C Higgins
Date last seen: 28 Jun 1921

Date of Burial: 7 Jul 1921
Place of Burial: Methodist Cemetery Castlereagh
Minister & Religion: S C Roberts, Methodist
Undertaker: John Price and Son
Witnesses: A E Elkington, George Clarke;Principal=Henry Sheens5 
Birth of Daughter28 August 1921 Castlereagh, NSW;Principal=Lillian May Sheens6 
Birth of Son23 March 1923 Principal=Albert Sheens3 
Death of Son23 March 1923 Principal=Albert Sheens3 
Death of Mother26 December 1927 Castlereagh, NSW;
Name: Emma Sheens
Date of Death: 26th December 1927
Place of Death: Castlreagh Municipality
Occupation:
Age: 77
Conjugal Status:
Place of Birth: Penrith NSW
Time in Aust Colonies:

Father: Samuel Byrnes
Occupation: Carrier
Mother: Eliza Lewis

Place of Marriage: Castlereagh NSW
Age at Marriage: 19
Name of Spouse: Henry Sheens
Children of Marriage: George 56, Arthur 53, Peter 51, Isabella M 45, Eliza J 42, Allan 41, James 39, Alfred 37, Robert 32 living; 3 males and 1 female deceased
Informant: James Sheens, son, Castlereagh

Cause of Death: Abdominal neoplasm
Length of Illness:
Medical Attendant: F C Higgins
Date Last Seen: 23rd December 1927

Date of Burial: 27th December 1927
Place of Burial: Methodist Cemetery Castlereagh
Minister & Religion: W J Stuart-Wright, Methodist
Undertaker: J Price & Son
Witnesses: W E Lance, J Grant

Registered: 28th December 1927 Penrith;Principal=Emma Byrnes7 
Birth of Daughter12 April 1931 Penrith, NSW;Principal=Stella Mabel Sheens8 
Death of Spouse18 June 1940 Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW;
SHEENS.-June 18, 1940, at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Lillian May beloved wife of James Sheens, of Castlereagh, and dear mother of Jim, Major, Lillian and Stella Mabel, aged 42 years.;Principal=Lillian May Sheens9,10 
Death*19 July 1946 Nepean District Hospital, Penrith, NSW;
SHEENS.-July 19, 1946, at Nepean District Hospital, suddenly, James (Jim) Sheens, of Castlereagh, beloved husband of the late Lillian May Sheens and dear father of James, Major, Lillian and Stella, aged 57 years.11,10 
Obituary*25 July 1946 "The Nepean Times", Penrith, NSW;
Death of Mr. Jim Sheens
The district has lost one of its best citizens by the death of Mr. James (Jim) Sheens, of Castlereagh, which took place in Nepean District Hospital last Friday. Working on his farm on Thursday, Mr. Sheens suffered a severe injury when he fell almost out of a draw from which he was putting feed. This aggravated a previous trouble, and through the night he became very unwell. He was taken by Nepean Ambulance next morning to Penrith Hospital and was operated on on the same day. He died about 4.45 p.m.
Mr. Sheens, who was 58 years of age, was born on the farm at Castlereagh, where he lived all his life. He was the son of Henry and Emma Sheens, of Castlereagh. He was married on October 27, 1925, to Lilian Mary Ahmelman, of Castlreagh. She died in June, 1940.
Two sons and two daughters mourn an irreparable loss – James (Castlereagh), Major (S.O.S.C., Headquarters Eastern Command, Victoria Barracks, who lives at Orange and who instructs at high schools and colleges in the Central Western District), Lilian, and Stella.
Surviving brothers and sisters of deceased are: George (Penrith), Arthur (Emu Plains), Isabella May (Mrs. G. Willet, Lambridge), Eliza (“Tot”, Mrs Stanton, East Sydney), Allan (Penrith), and Fred (Emu Plains). Five brothers and one sister predeceased him.
Many were the activities of Mr. Sheens in the district, and outstanding were his generous actions and very helpful favours he, in his large-heartedness, extended to his neighbours and friends. In illustration of this might be mentioned that he was a very accomplished veterinary surgeon, who, though he had not had specialist’s training, had acquired valuable knowledge gained by experience and intuition, and his services were much sought after and promptly given, time after time after time, with the waiving, wholly or largely, of fees. He was always ready to respond to a telephone call at any hour of the night and go out to attend to some case in which his services were required.
Mr. Sheens was for years a committeeman of the Nepean A.H. and I. Society, and took a practical interest in the annual shows.
He was a supporter and trustee of Castlereagh Methodist Church. He took a prominent part in social activities of the district, and quite regularly assisted at functions held at the council hall, particularly at Christmas functions.
Mr. Sheens’s riding and horse-breaking ability was well known. In his younger days he was a noted buck-jump rider. He owned the pony Harry Lauder, and won many pony races with it.
He was formerly a playing member of the Castlereagh and Cranebrook Cricket Clubs.
In his early working days he worked part-time with Emu Gravel Coy. His hospitality was renowned in the district, his open house being the pleasurable experience of many.
The funeral took place on Sunday, leaving the parlours of J. Price and Sons at 11.45 a.m. for the Castlereagh Methodist Church, where a service was held by the minister of the circuit, Rev. G. A. Little, who made appropriate reference to the passing of this sterling citizen. The interment took place in the adjoining church yard.
The concourse of mourners was one of the longest at a funeral in the district in many years, many sections of the community being represented.
Among the many wreaths forwarded were tributes from Castlereagh C.W.A., Schoolchildren of Castlereagh, Nepean A.H. and I. Society, trustees of Castlereagh Methodist Church, and durectors of the Dairy Factory.12 
Probate*14 January 1947 NSW;
321959 SHEENS JAMES late of Castlereagh Road Penrith in the State of New South Wales Farmer.
19/7/46. THIS IS MY LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT I JAMES SHEENS of Castlereagh N.S.W. hereby will & bequeath all that I possess to be equally divided between my four children I APPOINT MERVYN HUNTER, ERNEST GEORGE FIELD and NORMAN McLEAN HUNTER to be my Executors
Dated this day at Castlereagh in the presence of -------- Nineteenth day of July 1946.
Signed J. SHEENS.
Witness. J. PURCELL. Witness. PETER SLAVIN Penrith Ambulance.
14th January 1947. On this date probate of the last Will of the abovenamed deceased was granted to MERVYN HUNTER, ERNEST GEORGE FIELD and NORMAN McLEAN HUNTER the Executors named in the Will. Testator died on the 19th day of July 1946. ESTATE SWORN at the sum of £6978:18:11 nett.
13 

Family

Lillian May Ahmelman b. 1897, d. 18 Jun 1940
Children

Citations

  1. [S41] NSW Wesleyan Baptism Registers, 1788-1855 ",30559/1888 James Sheens."
  2. [S199] NSW Penrith Methodist Baptism Registers, 1860-1964 ",30559/1888 James Sheens."
  3. [S36] Maria Quigley Sheens - Our Family Tree.
  4. [S12] NSW Marriage Index, 15650/1915 James Sheens & Lillian M Ahmelmann.
  5. [S107] NSW Death Transcript (Marilyn Rowan), 14648/1921 Henry Sheens.
  6. [S199] NSW Penrith Methodist Baptism Registers, 1860-1964 ",Lilian May Sheens."
  7. [S106] NSW Death Certificate, 22784/1927 Emma Sheens.
  8. [S199] NSW Penrith Methodist Baptism Registers, 1860-1964 ",Stella Mabel Sheens."
  9. [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 20 June 1940.
  10. [S175] Monumental inscription Castlereagh Methodist Cemetery (Old Castlereagh Road, Castlereagh).
  11. [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 20 July 1946.
  12. [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, The Nepean Times, Thursday, July 25, 1946.
  13. [S377] NSW Will Books, 1800-1952, online http://www.findmypast.com, James Sheens 1946.