John Vivian Endacott
Born 3 November 1899 at "Springwood, Merrendee", near Mudgee, New South Wales. See photograph of "Springwood" home with information about his father.
The family subsequently moved to the area of Spring Flats, just a couple of miles south of Mudgee.
John Vivian was the youngest son of Richard Henry Endacott and Barbara Leggatt. A birth certificate records his middle name as "Viben", but this appears to be an error. In fact his family called him "Vivian" or "Viv" while his friends were more likely to call him "John" or, occasionally, "Jack".
John Vivian Endacott with his sisters Gladys (left) and Muriel (right);
photograph taken at Spring Flat, near Mudgee NSW, circa 1910.
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It was while assigned to the border town of Tocumwal that he met Adelaide Gertrude Dunne, whom he subsequently married.
John Vivian Endacott and his wife Adelaide with a 1920's touring car. In those times drivers wore white dust coats. The above picture was provided by Nancy and Eric Endacott who refer to the subjects as "Aunt Addie and Uncle Johnny". Does Adelaide have a little "tummy"? It is probable that she was pregnant at this time, suggesting the photograph was in second half of 1926 when she was expecting her first child, Peter, and when the "roaring twenties", typified by the clothing fashions, had yet to reach its zenith.
His police career, took him to various NSW rural locations with his young family, including Hay, Griffith and Narrandera, before moving to Sydney and settling in North Parramatta. John was a benevolent policeman. Family told stories of his work during the great depression of the 1930s. As a police constable, he had guaranteed employment when so many others were out of work, suffering poverty, hunger and the men who had prided themselves as bread-winners now suffered low self-esteem. In many towns at that time, police were one of the few (if not only) government officials in the town; the meagre social welfare provided by government at the time was often distributed through police; one of John Endacott's jobs in rural towns of that time was distribution of welfare assistance. He tried particularly to respect and support the dignity and self-esteem of the people with whom he worked.
photograph of Constable John Endacott
and "Jimmy" (possibly an itinerant known to police)
with children, possibly his two eldest children, Peter and Pauline.
In Sydney, John was stationed at a number of stations, particularly Parramatta, Hornsby and Burwood.
John Endacott had a special interest in the well-being of disadvantaged children and was very actively involved in Police Citizens Boys Clubs, through which police officers sought to provide healthy and constructive activities for youngsters who were otherwise finding trouble with the law. For John Endacott, being a policeman was almost being part-time social worker, in an era when police were aware of all the problems and there were few people to help with answers.
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extract from local newspaper in Mudgee, N.S.W. (date & other details unknown) HOLIDAYING WITH PARENTS Police Sergeant J.V.Endacott, who is accompanied by his
youngest daughter, is at present holidaying with his parents, Mr and
Mrs Richard Endacott, at Spring Flat. This young sergeant who is only forty years of age, is
stationed at Parramatta. Although it is over twenty years since "Jack" left Mudgee he still has
many friends her (sic), all of whom gave him a warm welcome back to
his native town. |
John and Addie Endacott with their three eldest children in Hyde Park, Sydney.
John Vivian Endacott with his youngest daughter, Barbara.
now select here for John Vivian Endacott (continued)
