Jane Curtis was born in 1799. She was married to Nathaniel Tolliday.
and they had children Susan, John, Elizabeth, Christiana, William.

Nathaniel drowned in 1853 and Jane and her four children along with two spouses and three grand daughters migrated to Australia the following year.

John was married and he and his wife Sarah were accompanied by their two daughters. Whilst Elizabeth and her husband Charles had their infant daughter with them.

The ship British Empire left Southhampton on October 17th 1854 and arrived at Port Henry, Geelong, Victoria on January 15th 1855.

John and Susan were the same age according to a Census compiled so maybe they were twins. Or born very close together.

William married Priscilla Martha Barton 21st August 1862 in Ballarat.
They had ten children :- Nathaniel John born 1863, Christiana born 1865, William born 1867, Priscilla Martha born 1870, John born 1872, George William born 1874, Frederick Numa born 1876, Alfred Barton born 1879, Sarah Elizabeth born 1883, Alice born 1886.

William was born in 1837 in England and died 28th January 1887 at Allendale and buried at Creswick, Victoria.

John was married to Sarah Miles and had two daughters at the time of sailing, Fanny Sarah and Eva. They went on to have nine more children in Australia. Those children's names are:- John Robert, William Curtiss, Alfred John, Charles, Robert Porcher, Sarah Elizabeth, Ernest Montague, Jane Elizabeth and Albert. 7 sons and 4 daughters.

John Curtis Tolliday was born in 1827 in Cambridgeshire and died 14th August 1902 and is buried at the Ballarat New Cemetery.

Elizabeth was married to Charles Jonas Clark and they had a little girl named Jane on board when they travelled too. I am not sure how old she was, being called an infant, to me would mean she was born in the year they sailed namely 1854.

Christiana married Agnon Charles Numa on 9th August 1856 in Ballarat.

Jane died on August 10th 1886. She is buried at Smythesdale, Victoria. The family got together and a memorial plaque was placed at the gravesite.


I have written many journals on this Tolliday family and their descendants and they are listed and easy to find. I have also made a Tribal Page family tree. You are welcome to have a look at it if you wish.

Drop me a line and I will tell you how to gain access to the site.

Best of luck with your research.

Meredith