First Generation  

1. William Ford was born in 1820 in County Monaghan, Ireland, was christened on 19 Aug 1821 in Derrygooney, County Monaghan, Ireland, died on 6 Jul 1905 in Wickliffe, VIC, Australia at age 85, and was buried on 8 Jul 1905 in Wickliffe Cemetery, Wickliffe, VIC. The cause of his death was Senile decay. Another name for William was Ford.

General Notes: In the Crieve baptismal register 1819-1955, there is a baptism record for a William Ford, baptised 19th August 1821, father Henry Ford, address Derrygooney, parish Aughnamullen.

From Tithe Applotment Books 1829, townland Derrygooney, parish Aughnamullen (see link):
Occupiers / amount of acres -
George Ford / 3 acres
*Henry Ford / 13 acres*
William Ford / 16 acres
William Ford / 5 acres

Medical Notes: (link to death certificate)

Noted events in his life were:

• Emigration: Emigration from Ireland to Australia, 3 Nov 1843. The Fords were small tenant farmers in county Monaghan, Ireland, where the landowners had reduced the acreages of the tenant farms. The tenancy traditionally passed from the father to the eldest son, and William was the 2nd eldest of 4 brothers. So, in 1843 William with his pregnant wife Sarah Trew and their infant daughter Mary purchased their assisted passage (18 pounds and seven shillings was recorded as bounty for each adult), and sailed from Liverpool on the "Wallace" (864 tons) on 3rd November 1843. Departing with the ship's Master, Andrew Main, were a crew of 40, and 335 passengers (208 adults, 44 older children aged 7-14, and 83 young children under 7). In the tropics, diarrhoea broke out aboard the ship, and their daughter Mary died on 22nd November 1843 aged about 1 year. Sarah was pregnant at the time of departure, and gave birth at sea on 21st January 1844 to a baby girl - the ship's register records the birth of Mary Ford, but Caroline Ford is the name on the arriving passenger list. There had been 38 deaths recorded (11 adults, 1 older child, and 26 young children) from diarrhoea, dysentery and typhoid, and 5 births on the 15 week voyage, which arrived at Port Phillip on 16th February 1844 - see https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/passenger-records-and-immigration/assisted-passenger-lists

William never again had contact with his brothers or family in Ireland.

William married Sarah Trew in Apr 1842 in County Cavan, Ireland. Sarah was born in 1817 in County Cavan, Ireland, died on 2 Aug 1901 in Wickliffe, VIC, Australia at age 84, and was buried in 1901 in Wickliffe Cemetery, Wickliffe, VIC.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 2 F    i. Mary Ford was born about Nov 1842 in County Monaghan, Ireland, died on 22 Nov 1843 at Sea aged about 1, and was buried in 1843 at Sea.

+ 3 F    ii. Caroline Ford was born on 21 Jan 1844 at Sea and died in 1917 in Jerilderie district at age 73.

+ 4 M    iii. Robert Ford was born in 1846 in Lake Bolac, Victoria, died on 24 Dec 1920 at age 74, and was buried in 1920 in Wickliffe, VIC, Australia.

+ 5 M    iv. William Ford was born on 16 Apr 1849 in Wickliffe, Vic and died in 1932 in Chatswood, Sydney at age 83.

+ 6 F    v. Mary Anne Ford was born in 1850 in Wickliffe, Vic, died on 16 Jul 1932 at age 82, and was buried in Wickliffe Cemetery, Wickliffe, VIC.

+ 7 M    vi. James Ford was born on 23 Aug 1856, died on 9 Aug 1937 at age 80, and was buried in Wickliffe Cemetery, Wickliffe, VIC.