This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: BIGGS Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/WCE.2ACIB/1022 Message Board Post: William Biggs was born in 1799 at Stevenage. Hertfordshire. England. Urban centre. East Central England. County of Hertfordshire. William was christened on 18-9-1803. He was a woodman and an agricultural laborer by trade. William married Ann Kidley at Hertingfordbury. England on 19-3-1820. Five children arrived at Stevenage. William Henry ( 1824 ) James ( 1825 ) Emily ( 1827 ) Sarah ( 1830 ) Mary Ann ( 1832 ) who was a dressmaker and was blind in one eye. William Henry his sisters Sarah and Mary Ann, his brother James and his wife Maria all decided to make the long journey to Australia on October 5th 1852 from London, arriving in Portland. Victoria. Australia on March 4th 1853 on board the ship Duke of Richmond. William Henry ( 1824 ) married Mary Ann Fletcher in 1858 in Australia . They made their home in Brunswick Melbourne in Victoria with their eight children. James Biggs ( 1825 ) was a bricklayer by trade, he married Maria Ewington at Bloomsbury Church London in 1848. Her parents were Caleb and Anne ( Allison ) Maria was one of ten children born to Caleb and Anne who were married on 11-11-1826. Their children were Charles ( 1826 ) Maria ( 1828 ) John ( 1830 ) Sarah Ann ( 1832 ) George William ( 1834 ) James ( 1836 ) Joseph ( 1839 ) Mary ( 1841 ) and Twins Lydia and Alfred William (1848 ) James and Maria had two children in London. England. Emily ( 1850-1850 ) and William ( 1852-1852 ) James and Maria together with his brother William and sisters Sarah and Mary Ann, decided to make the long journey to Australia on October 5th 1852 from London, arriving in Portland. Victoria. Australia on March 4th 1853 on board the ship Duke of Richmond. James and Maria took up residence at Belfast near Geelong, Victoria. Australia. their daughter Emily was born there in 1854. Five more children arrived. William Charles ( 1856 -1926 ) Alfred ( 1860 -1861 ) James ( 1862-1862 age 1 day ) Alfred James ( 1863-1955 ) James Jnr ( 1868-1946 ) Sarah ( 1830 ) married John Boyce in 1859. Their three children arrived William John ( 1860 - 1861 ) Margaret ( 1863 ) Sarah Ann ( 1865 - 1865 ) Mary Ann ( 1832 ) married William Henry Hance in 1859. They made their home in Emerald four children arrived. William Henry ( 1860 ) Mary Ann ( 1863-1867 ) Ellen Maude Matilda ( 1865-1866 ) and Walter Samual ( 1868-1870 ) Any info greatly appreciated. Thank you Glenys Pollard Australia