Hi All, DAVID VENSON WEST of Mortlake-Vic For a number of years I've been searching out my WEST family in Australia, which began with the arrival of David Venson WEST in 1832 with the Henty family. He worked for them as a shepherd both in Tasmania and the Western District of Victoria before settling in Mortlake, where he married Mary BLEWETT, the town's first schoolteacher. According to family legend, David WEST arrived in Australia with a brother - but I've never been able to find any sign of him. Their parents were Stephen WEST and Ruth Venson WILLIAMS - no idea where they originated (I think Stephen was Northampton, and Ruth was from Tunbridge Wells, but not confirmed), but David says he was born in Sussex. Does anyone else have any WEST family with parents Stephen/Ruth? I found out about 12 months ago that David WEST had a cousin who was living in Mortlake at the same time - John WEST, son of Henry WEST of Northampton. When I traced John's family back to England I found that there were in fact five cousins of David WEST who moved to Victoria. Does anyone else have them, or know what became of them? I have traced them back in England, but nothing in Australia. I am particularly interested in the three younger siblings, as I haven't been able to find out anything about them other than their arrival in the Victorian Assisted Immigrants lists, any help with them would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Trish Nowra NSW Two cousins, JOHN WEST and his sister MELICENT WEST arrived 1855 - JOHN WEST Baptised: 15 November 1816, Collingtree-Northampton. Parents: Henry and Elizabeth West Died: 16 May 1900 (headstone); 1900, aged 84 years, Upper Maffra, Victoria (1900/7328). Spouse 1: Mary BURROWS, Born 1810/1811, Aston Abbotts, Bedfordshire, England; died 1969, Eldorado-Vic Children: Maria Elizabeth WEST, Henry John WEST, Louisa Ann WEST, Charlotte WEST Spouse 2: Jane ATKINSON, born 5 November 1832, died 2 September 1921 Maffra-Vic. John WEST married Jane HENDERSON (nee Atkinson) Upper Maffra 1873 (1873/24968). Children: Fanny WEST Emigration: Arrived in Australia November 1852 aboard "Chalmers" with his family and sister Melicent WEST. Mortlake: John moved to Mortlake and carried on dairying on the Webster Estate for 10 years, around the time David West and family were in Mortlake; John and David West also purchased a small farm each in the town. John left Mortlake in 1869, following the death of David Venson West (died 26 January 1867), so John moved on after he lost this family tie to Mortlake. MELICENT WEST Baptised: 18 June 1820, Collingtree-Northamptonshire. Parents: Henry and Elizabeth West (father: labourer) Arrived Australia aboard "Chalmers" in November 1852, aged 32 years, accompanied by brother John WEST, his wife Mary and their three children. Married: 1853, Melbourne, Vic. Spouse: Thomas M. INKER, b.1820, Bath Walcot, Somerset; arrived in Victoria in November 1852, aged 32, on "Agrippa". Baby Thomas INKER arrived 1854 but died 9 months later in 1855. Millicent and Thomas returned to England 1855/56. Three more cousins arrived 1855; I have been unable to trace any of these three - ELIZABETH WEST Baptised: 22 March 1818, Collingtree, Northampton.. Parents: Henry and Elizabeth West Emigrated to Australia as an Assisted Passenger with sister Mary and brother Thomas aboard "Northumberland, 28 April 1855. THOMAS WEST Baptised: 13 November 1825, Collingtree-Northamptonshire. Parents: Henry and Elizabeth West Assisted Passenger on board "Northumberland" with sisters Elizabeth and Mary arriving Victoria 1855, aged 28 years. MARY WEST Baptised: 13 August 1830, Collingtree-Northampton. Parents: Henry and Elizabeth West Assisted Passenger aboard "Northumberland", aged 25 years, arriving 1855 with brother Thomas and sister Elizabeth.

Hi Trish I've forwarded your email to a friend who is a researcher of the BLEWETT and BRUMLEY families in Mortlake. You should hear from her in due course. Cheers Beryl Beryl O'Gorman Greensborough Victoria Australia ----- Original Message ----- From: "tsymonds" <psym8950@bigpond.net.au> To: <AUS-VIC-WESTERN-DISTRICT@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 1:26 PM Subject: [AUS-VIC-WESTERN-DISTRICT] Brickwall WEST family from Mortlake > > > Hi All, > > DAVID VENSON WEST of Mortlake-Vic > For a number of years I've been searching out my WEST family in Australia, > which began with the arrival of David

Thanks for this Beryl. I have most of the BLEWETT and BRUMLEY clan, and also the WEST family of Mortlake. I'm really searching for the extended WEST family, specially Elizabeth, Thomas and Mary WEST who arrived on the "Northumberland" in 1855. With a common name like WEST, and common first names, I have no idea what happened to these three once they arrived in Victoria and am hoping someone on the list may have them amonst their own research. Best wishes, Trish. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Beryl O'Gorman" <beryl@wordweavers.net> To: <aus-vic-western-district@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 1:33 PM Subject: Re: [AUS-VIC-WESTERN-DISTRICT] Brickwall WEST family from Mortlake > Hi Trish > I've forwarded your email to a friend who is a researcher of the BLEWETT > and > BRUMLEY families in Mortlake.