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WELCOME TO THE HOME PAGE
of
FORDS OF KATANDRA
WEBSITE FOR DESCENDANTS OF
THOMAS FORD & ELIZA BATE
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Thomas Ford born about 1827,
Cheshire England
Eliza Ann Bate born 1830, Cheshire England
Married on 28 Dec 1848
at Cathedral Manchester England
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Thomas is the patriarch of the
Fords of Katandra.
Thomas and Eliza had 9 surviving children and this website is dedicated to this first generation of Australian Fords who settled at Katandra, Victoria.
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The "Fords of Katandra"
website welcomes contributions by the Ford family descendants to ensure our history is preserved for future generations.
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On 28th October 1857, Thomas & Eliza Ford and their three children, Thomas, William & Eliza (Frederick had passed away as a baby earlier in the year) departed from Liverpool, England on board the ship "Herald" arriving at Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia on 22nd February 1858. Thomas (aged 30) and his young family had decide to settle in rural Victoria. These areas were just opening up for selectors.
The younger children, Frederick, Francis, Florence, Arthur, Lavinia & Joseph were born in Victoria.
In the late 1870's, the Ford's were one of the earliest families to settle at Katandra.
They cleared the land, carted grain and wood with horses and drays, as far afield as Melbourne.
With hard-work, they created a livelihood and a home in the, then, harsh Victorian bush and started the family line known as
FORD'S OF KATANDRA with descendants still living in the district today.
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