After 175 years in the district, the Ffrench family is celebrating.
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Peter and Charlotte Ffrench landed in Australia at Botany Bay on April 10, 1842, after five months at sea.
Married less than one year earlier in October 1841 at Bannow, Ireland, the couple had sailed on the Sir Charles Napier, which set out for Australia from Liverpool on November 6, 1841.
After landing in Australia, Peter and Charlotte made their way to the Braidwood district where Peter worked at several farms in the area, including St Omer, Bendoura and Parlour Farm.
Eventually he purchased land at Harolds Cross, and named the property Vernelly.
Of their 11 children, only three were known to have had children who survived infancy.
Over 400 direct descendants of Peter and Charlotte have been identified, including six born into the eighth generation.
Many family members still live and farm in the district today.
This weekend, family will be gathering to celebrate and remember their time in Australia. At least 150 family members will come from throughout NSW and the ACT, and as far afield as Brisbane and Melbourne.
“We realised in the last little bit of time it’s actually been 175 years since the family came to the district and we thought it was a good time to have a get together to discover and share some memories,” said Laurie Ffrench, who has been involved in organising the event.
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