William SYKES, an original Port Phillip Society member, moved from Brighton to CLYDE, Victoria, Australia, in 1856. He was a successful farmer and a lay preacher, initially from the BRIGHTON Wesleyan Methodist congregation. WILLIAM SYKES was a founding trustee for Cranbourne Cemetery.

In 1871 his ten year old son, Robert, drowned in a dam on their Clyde property. In 1880 he sold his Clyde farm and moved to ? DANDENONG. In May 1887 he was robbed after leaving a Melbourne bank prior to intending to sail to England. William Sykes died at sea on board the "Orient" 6 October, 1887. His grandson JOHN NORMAN SYKES was an active founding member of the Clyde Methodist Church 1909.

Three grandsons served in France in WW1- Robert Andrew Sykes was deafened, Alfred William Blenksinsop wounded and Charles Walter Sykes, younger brother of Robert Andrew, was killed.

Descendants of William Sykes may have the following family names
BULLOCK, CHAMPION, COCHRANE, BLENKINSOP, WYMARK. The name BICKFORD is often a second given name in the descendants of William Sykes.

William Sykes had seven children, including twin boys and two daughters. His children's names according to his Will are John (1843), Sarah Bullock( 1848), Eliza Dalton(1852), Alexander(1854),Thomas (1856) James Bickford (1861). One son William b 1846, married Julia Louisa MOORE and had at least 3 children - Mary, Emily, William. This family lived in ROSEDALE. Possibly there are Sykes descendants living in that area of south east Victoria.
Not mentioned in the Will is a daughter Ann who married a WYMARK. She lived in NSW. A Wymark family researcher is keen to meet more family members.

The researcher hopes to find family descendants who can confirm the accuracy of the details that have been uncovered.

A local CLYDE historian needs information for a website on the History of Clyde. Clyde 3978 Victoria History The original land, in Grices Road, Clyde North will soon be developed into a housing estate. It would be good if the family name could be remembered on the site.

Article by Joan Vanderhorn (Researcher) clydehistory@gmail.com