Person:John Rockliff (4)

John ROCKLIFF and Alice SCHOLEY of "Westfield"

Son of Henry ROCKLIFF (farmer) and Mary ELLIOTT. Born 10 October 1835 at Kirk Smeaton, near Doncaster, Yorkshire,ENGLAND. Baptised 11 October 1835 at Kirk Smeaton.

Married Alice SCHOLEY of Arksey, Yorkshire on 27 April 1858 at the ArkseyParish Church. They sailed from ENGLAND on the "Donald McKay" and arrived in Melbournein August 1858. After a short time at "Wesley Dale" they moved toSassafras in 1859 to farm a section of "Springfield", possibly leasedfrom his brother George ROCKLIFF. They eventually established "Westfield".

Died 3 August 1905 aged 69 years.

Alice died 26 March 1897 aged 57 years.

Buried they are both buried in the Uniting Church cemetery, Sassafras,Tasmania.

Children: Charles 1859-1865 died as a child Vincent 1861-1930 Married 1.Alice STEWART no children 2.Mary DUNNING(nee ROCKLIFF) no children George 1865-1949 Married Mary INGRAM 2 sons & 1 daughter Charles 1867-1937 Married Bessie DEAN 2 sons & 2 daughters John Henry 1870-1954 Married 1.Clara INGRAM 2 daughters 2.WinifredHAMMOND no children Florence Alice 1873-1942 Married Arthur ABEY 3 sons & 2 daughters Annie Scholey 1875-1960 Married Thomas INGRAM no children Alice Amy 1877-1925 Married Frank Von BIBRA 1 daughters Ralph Thomas 1879-1954 Married Florence Von BIBRA 2 sons & 2 daughters Lucy May 1881-1955 Married Edgar ROCKLIFF 2 sons & 2 daughters

Extract from the Cyclopedia of Tasmania.

Mr. John ROCKLIFF, J.P. of "Westfield", sassafras, six miles fromLatrobe, was born in Yorkshire, ENGLAND in 1835, and is the youngest sonof the late Henry ROCKLIFF, and brother of one of the best known andrespected of the early pioneers of the northern part of the Island. In 1858 he settled in the Latrobe district, was associated for a fewmonths with his brother (the late Mr. Henry ROCKLIFF), and then startedfarming on his own account. He eventually settled on "Westfield", and has resided there ever since. Originally the farm had an area of about 480 acres, but lately Mr.Rockliff settled two of his sons on portions of it. There is no doubt itis a splendid agricultural property, and has been bought to its presentstate by the exercise of those qualities of energy and perseverance onthe part of its owner which have characterised the Briton everywhere whenhe set himself the task of subduing the wilderness. The land is of very superior quality, and grows splendid crops of cerealsand oats. As showing what a progressive and extensive farmer Mr. ROCKLIFF is, itmay be stated that he produced in one year about 8,000 bushels of grain,and he keeps a most complete set of farming implements, including athreshing and chaffcutting plant. He is a Justice of the Peace, and has been connected with public mattersin the district for a long time. He was for many years a member of the East Mersey Road Trust, and forseveral years acted as chairman and he has been a member of the SassafrasSchool Board ever since its inception. He takes a great interest in the Wesleyan church, of which he is amember, and has held the position of circuit steward. Any public movementlikely to benefit the district has always had his cordial co-operationand assistance. He was married in ENGLAND in 1858 to Miss Alice SCHOLEY, daughter of Mr.Charles SCHOLEY of Yorkshire, and has a family of five sons living andfour daughters. Two of the sons are on farms in the district, one at Sheffield, onefarming at Devonport, and one assisting in the management of "Westfield".