| Name | Ernest (Johann Heinrich Ernst) Reineke |
| Birth | 11 2 1843, Weende, Goettingen, Hanover, Germany |
| Christen | 5 3 1843, Weende, Germany |
| Death | 26 7 1907, Trunkey Creek, NSW, Australia Age: 64 |
| Burial | 28 7 1907, Trunkey Creek Cemetery Age: 64 |
| Occupation | Musician/Gold Miner/Storekeeper |
| Father | Johann Heinrich Eckhardt Reinecke (1803-1869) |
| Mother | Johanna Dorothea Caroline Koch (1799-1860) |
| 1 | Mary Doyle |
| Birth | 7 7 1857, Sydney, NSW, Australia |
| Christen | 26 2 1860, Yass, NSW, Australia Age: 2 |
| Father | Henry Laurence Justin Doyle (~1830-~1875) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Jane Pearce (~1825-) |
| Marriage | 2 1 1871, Presbyterian Church, Trunkey Creek, NSW, Australia |
| Separation | yes |
| Children: | Henry William (1871-1885) |
| Caroline Mary (1873-1955) | |
| William John (1876-1930) | |
| Amelia (1878-1924) | |
| Frederic (1880-1976) | |
| Phillip (1883-1932) | |
| Mabel (1885-1899) | |
| Mary Ann (~1887-1887) |
NOTES: Ernest traveled out to Australia aboard the South Carolina in 1856 with a band of about 14 boys (including 3 Grüneklee brothers, Carl Kühne, and Lui Möhle) entertaining in exchange for free passage. They then traveled around Australia entertaining and following the goldfields. At one stage Ernest was traveling with the Wirth brothers of Wirths Circus. In 1868 they were held up by the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt who in a famous story later returned their money.
Ernest's mine at Trunkey Creek was known as 'Reineke's Reef' and at one time was the best paying mine in the area, employing several men including future son-in-law Abraham Buckley. There is a record of a mining lease Sept 20 1872 in Trunkey Creek, registered to Reineke, Wasmus and Co. Ernest also continued using his talent as a musician, a renowned local Band leader and music teacher. His band used to play in Abercrombie Caves for concerts and dances held on the Goldminers Dance Platform, which we believe he helped to build. The old visitors book at Abercrombie Caves has several entries from Ernest and his family.
From Barry Cubbit -
The following listings are found in the Abercrombie Caves Visitors book
(1889-1924):
RINCKE E. Date:1891/08 Musician. His address is listed as Mount Gray
(an old gold mining area a few km from the caves)
RINCKE Wiliam Date:1891/08 Carpenter - helped in building platform
RINCKE E. Date:1892/05
Ernest listed as a - miner on Caroline's birth certificate and Mabel and Mary's death certificates.
- storekeeper in Rockley on Henry's death certificate 1885. We have a photo of Ernest and daughter in front of a shop in Rockley it must have been taken around this time.
- and a musician on his own death certificate. He is also known to have taught music.
possible second marriage:
6624/1898 REINICKE ERNEST to CLEMENTS CHARLOTTE in WILCANNIA
Ernest became a naturalized Australian on 1st March 1904.
footnote - the family story of 14 boys from Weende is courtesy of Tilman Grüneklee
Death; 11494/1907 RENIKE ERNEST age 65 YRS reg in TUENA
Index to Deposition Registers
RANKIN Ernest - Trunkey Creek 24 Oct 1870 Abduction Bathurst 052 NRS 849 3 2760