Person:George Rockliff (10)

George ROCKLIFF 1831-1909 & Anne LEVICK 1829-1925 of "Springfield"Sassafras, Tasmania, AUSTRALIA.

Son of Henry ROCKLIFF & Mary ELLIOTT

Born: 11 December 1831 at Kirk Smeaton, Yorkshire, ENGLAND.
Baptised: 5 February 1832 at Kirk Smeaton, Yorkshire, ENGLAND.

He left ENGLAND 27 March 1852 on the barque "Lady Bute" and arrived in Launceston, Tasmania, AUSTRALIA on 6 August 1852 after a continuous voyage of 18 weeks and 6 days with no ports of call.
He lived and worked at "Wesley Dale" farm Sassafras,Tasmania for 5 years.
He did spend 6 weeks during October and November 1853 on the Victorian, AUSTRALIA goldfields. And only stayed for this short period of time because he was troubled by the ethics of the other miners !
He acted as manager at "Wesley Dale" from 8 July 1859 until 19 May 1857 whilst his brother Henry ROCKLIFF was in ENGLAND.
He visited NEW ZEALAND sometime between May and November 1857.
On 19 November he bought 500 acres of land between Port Sorell and the Mersey river and established his property of "Springfield".

Married: Anne LEVICK 2 April 1860 at "Robin Hood's Well" farm by the Church of England Reverend E. P. Adams.
Anne Levick was born 15 December 1829 at Dronfield, Derbyshire, ENGLAND but her parents soon moved to Stapleton, Yorkshire, ENGLAND.

Died: George 20 December 1909 aged 78 years.
Anne 19 December 1925 aged 96 years.
Buried: They are both buried in the "Skelbrook" church cemetery, East Sassafras, Tasmania.

Children: Ernest 1860-1951 & Ann INGRAM 2 sons & 4 daughters Henry 1862-1949 & Bessie LORD 2 sons & 1 daughter James 1864-1864 died in infancy James 1865-1940 & Hannah SIDWELL 3 sons & 3 daughters George Lecick 1868-1956 & Linda JESSOP 3 sons Alice Mary 1871-1896 did not marry.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"A brief outline of the history of George & AnnROCKLIFF of "Springfield", Sassafras,Tasmania". Compiled by Mrs Rosie Marshall of "Springfield", Sassafras, Tasmania.Dated 13 April 1985.

George ROCKLIFF was born on 13 December 1831 at Kirk Smeaton, Yorkshire,ENGLAND. He was the 9th child of Henry & Mary (ELLIOT ) ROCKLIFF. Hisbaptism took place on 5 February 1832 at Kirk Smeaton, Yorkshire.

George ROCKLIFF left London, ENGLAND on board the barque "Lady Butte" on27 March 1852 and after a voyage of 18 weeks and 6 days he arrived atLaunceston, Tasmania. He was to join his eldest brother Henry ROCKLIFFwho had arrived in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in 1841 and was managingHenry REED'S property "Wesley Dale" in the Chudleigh area.

The following 5 years were spent at "Wesley Dale" except for a 6 weektrip to the Victorian Goldfields in 1853 and a visit to New Zealand in1857. While his brother Henry returned to ENGLAND in 1856-57, George tookover the management of "Wesley Dale".

On November 19 1857 George ROCKLIFF bought 500 acres of land between PortSorell and the Mersey. The next day goods were sent by boat to Portsorell while he travelled overland. His first abode was probably where"Skelbrook" is today. It was during 1859-60 that he moved to"Springfield" and "Skelbrook" was carried on by his brother Henry.

During 1858-59 two other brothers and a sister came to Tasmania. Theywere John who later owned "Westfield", Francis who owned "Robin Hood'sWell" and Hannah who became Mrs Jonathan GRAHAM.

Ann LEVICK was born on 15 December 1829 and was the eldest daughter ofGeorge LEVICK who managed "Stapleton Park", a property not far from theKirk Smeaton, Yorkshire area. George ROCKLIFF wrote to Ann asking her tocome to Tasmania to marry him. She arrived in Launceston most probably inearly 1860 and they were married by Reverend E. P. ADAMS on 2 April 1860.They had 5 sons and 1 daughter.

1:Ernest was born on 8 November 1860. He married Ann INGRAM on 16 August1893 and they farmed "Ocean View" farm at Ulverstone. Ernest died on 1march 1951.

2:Henry was born on 28 April 1862. He married Bessie LORD on 17 January1894 and they farmed at West Kentish and later at Barrington. Henry diedon 13 June 1949.

3:James was born on 11 July 1864 but died almost 6 weeks later on 20August 1864.

4:James was born on 19 September 1865. He married Hannah SIDWELL on 16September 1903. James took over the western portion of "Springfield" andthis became known as "Springvale". James died on 12 November 1940.

5:George Levick was born on 24 November 1868. He was to marry LindaJESSOP on 19 June 1907 and they took over "Springfield". George died on26 August 1956.

6:Alice Mary was born on 25 May 1871. Alice died on 20 March 1896.

In 1907 George & Ann ROCKLIFF moved from Sassafras to Ulverstone butafter only two years they returned to Sassafras and lived in a cottagewhich they had built on "Springfield". George died on 20 December 1909aged 78 years. Ann continued living in the cottage but later moved to"Ocean View", Ulverstone where she died on 19 December 1925 aged 96 years. They are both buried in the cemetery at the sassafras Baptist Church.

From the Cyclopedia of Tasmania.

Mr George ROCKLIFF, of "Springfield", Sassafras, six miles from Latrobe,is a native of Yorkshire, ENGLAND, born in1831, and is the fifth son ofthe late Mr. Henry ROCKLIFF, who lived on the same farm in that country(ENGLAND) that his forefathers had occupied for generations. In 1852 he decided to try his fortune in Tasmania, being persuaded tothat step by his eldest brother, the late Mr. Henry ROCKLIFF, who was awell known identity throughout the north of the Island, where he settledin 1841. Soon after his arrival here the subject of this notice went to theVictorian goldfields, but after twelve months of this life he returned toTasmania. Some time later he visited NEW ZEALAND, but only remained therea short time. In 1857 he settled on his present farm, so that he has been a residentthere for fourty three years, and is the oldest identity in the district.By dint of hard work and perseverance he has made "Springfield" what itis at present, a splendid property of 320 acres, all cleared, and firstclass agricultural country, growing fine crops of grain, hay and rootcrops. There are 500 acres of useful land adjoining the farm, on whichMr. ROCKLIFF fattens sheep and cattle. All the implements on"Springfield" are up to date, and there is everthing likely to berequired on a farm, including threshing machine, and a steam chaffcutterand bagger. Mr. ROCKLIFF is an ex member of the Mersey Road Trust, a position he heldfor a great number of years. He is an authority on agricultural matters,and represented the district at the agricultural conference held atHobart some years ago. Naturally, therefore he is interested inagricultural shows, and has acted as judge of stock at Latrobe on severaloccasions. He is a staunch member of the Baptist Church, and has greatly interestedhimself in getting the new church built at Sassafras. He was married in 1860 to Miss Anne LEVICK (who came out from the oldcountry for the ceremony), and has a family of four sons. The two eldestare married, one farming near Ulverstone, and the other in the Sheffielddistrict, and the two younger ones assist in the management of"Springfield"-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------