[Index]

Alexander George ROCHFORD (1840 - 1924)

farmer

Children	Self + Spouses	Parents	Grandparents	Greatgrandparents
Jane Mary ROCHFORD (1872 - 1949) William ROCHFORD (1873 - 1921) John ROCHFORD (1875 - 1933) James ROCHFORD (1877 - 1878) Alexander Gregory ROCHFORD (1879 - 1966) George ROCHFORD (1881 - 1969) Ernest ROCHFORD (1885 - 1954) Catherine ROCHFORD (1887 - 1971)	Alexander George ROCHFORD (1840 - 1924) + Elizabeth ROLFE (1844 - 1924)	William ROCHFORD (1810 - )
		Catherine O'SHEA

b. abt 1840 at Blackhall, Ireland

m. 1872 Elizabeth ROLFE (1844 - 1924) at Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia

d. 25 Nov 1924 at Jeir, New South Wales, Australia aged 84

Near Relatives of Alexander George ROCHFORD (1840 - 1924)
Relationship	Person	Born	Birth Place	Died	Death Place	Age
Father in Law	William ROLFE	1804	Oxborough, Norfolk, England	03 Feb 1864	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	60
Mother in Law	Jane RIDINGS	1815	Bolton, Lancashire, England	05 Feb 1860	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	45
Father	William ROCHFORD	abt 1810
Mother	Catherine O'SHEA
Self	Alexander George ROCHFORD	abt 1840	Blackhall, Ireland	25 Nov 1924	Jeir, New South Wales, Australia	84
Wife	Elizabeth ROLFE	1844	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	15 Jan 1924	Jeir, New South Wales, Australia	80
Daughter	Jane Mary ROCHFORD	abt 1872	Yarralumla, ACT Australia	1949		77
Son	William ROCHFORD	1873	Yarralumla, ACT Australia	1921		48
Son	John ROCHFORD	1875	Yarralumla, ACT Australia	1933		58
Son	James ROCHFORD	1877	Yarralumla, ACT Australia	1878		1
Son	Alexander Gregory ROCHFORD	1879	Yarralumla, ACT Australia	1966		87
Son	George ROCHFORD	1881	Hall, New South Wales, Australia	1969		88
Son	Ernest ROCHFORD	1885	Jier, New South Wales, Australia	1954		69
Daughter	Catherine ROCHFORD	1887	Jier, New South Wales, Australia	1971		84
Brother	John ROCHFORD	abt 1836		03 Jan 1871	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	35
Daughter in Law	Alice Julia CURRAN	1881	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter	Alma ROCHFORD
Grandson	Bernard ROCHFORD
Grandson	Clarence ROCHFORD
Grandson	Jim ROCHFORD
Granddaughter	Kate ROCHFORD
Grandson	Ronald ROCHFORD
Granddaughter	Zena Mary ROCHFORD
Niece	Catherine ROCHFORD	1865	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	1866	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	1
Niece	Isabella ROCHFORD	1867	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	1868	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	1
Nephew	Michael ROLFE	1879	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	21 Jul 1950	Ginninderra, ACT, Australia	71
Nephew	William ROLFE	1880	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	1941	North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia	61
Nephew	Henry John ROLFE	1881	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	1962	Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia	81
Niece	Margaret Jane ROLFE	1883	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	1896	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	13
Nephew	Edward James ROLFE	1885	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	1956	Windsor, New South Wales, Australia	71
Niece	Ada Mary ROLFE	08 Jun 1887	Ginninderra, ACT, Australia	10 Jul 1972	Northcote, Victoria, Australia	85
Nephew	John Patrick ROLFE	1888	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	1951	Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia	63
Nephew	David Bernard ROLFE	1890	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	1953	Yass, New South Wales, Australia	63
Niece	Kathleen ROLFE	1893	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew	Francis James ROLFE	1896	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Brother in Law	William ROLFE	1846	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	20 May 1896	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	50
Brother in Law	James ROLFE	1848	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	22 Jun 1934	Petersham, New South Wales, Australia	86
Sister in Law	Sarah Ann (Jane) ROLFE	1851	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Sister in Law	Julia ROLFE	1856	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	1861	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia	5
Sister in Law	Mary Ann ROLFE	1859	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Sister in Law	Catherine CANE

Events in Alexander George ROCHFORD (1840 - 1924)'s life
Date	Age	Event	Place	Notes	Src
abt 1840		Alexander George ROCHFORD was born	Blackhall, Ireland		6
08 Aug 1863	23	Immigration	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	per 'Quean of the South'	6
abt 1872	32	Birth of daughter Jane Mary ROCHFORD	Yarralumla, ACT Australia		6
1872	32	Married Elizabeth ROLFE (aged 28)	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia		6
1873	33	Birth of son William ROCHFORD	Yarralumla, ACT Australia		6
1875	35	Birth of son John ROCHFORD	Yarralumla, ACT Australia		6
1877	37	Birth of son James ROCHFORD	Yarralumla, ACT Australia		6
1878	38	Death of son James ROCHFORD (aged 1)		drowned	6
1879	39	Birth of son Alexander Gregory ROCHFORD	Yarralumla, ACT Australia		6
1881	41	Birth of son George ROCHFORD	Hall, New South Wales, Australia		6
1885	45	Birth of son Ernest ROCHFORD	Jier, New South Wales, Australia		6
1887	47	Birth of daughter Catherine ROCHFORD	Jier, New South Wales, Australia		6
1921	81	Death of son William ROCHFORD (aged 48)			80
15 Jan 1924	84	Death of wife Elizabeth ROLFE (aged 80)	Jeir, New South Wales, Australia		6
25 Nov 1924	84	Alexander George ROCHFORD died	Jeir, New South Wales, Australia		6

Source References:

6. Type: Book, Abbr: Queanbeyan Register, Title: Biographical register of Canberra and Queanbeyan: from the district to the Australian Capital Territory 1820-1930, Auth: Peter Proctor, Publ: The Heraldry & Genealogical Society of Canberra, Date: 2001

- Reference = 270 (Immigration)

- Reference = 270 (Birth)

- Reference = 271 (Marriage)

- Reference = 270 (Death)

- Reference = 271 (Name, Notes)

80. Type: Web Page, Abbr: Hall Museum, Title: Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, Locn: https://museum.hall.act.au/

- Reference = https://museum.hall.act.au/display/1939/person/3886/alexander-george-rochford.html (Name, Notes)

- Notes: Alexander George Rochford Born: 1841; Died: 1924; Married: Elizabeth [Rolfe] Related Files Alexander George Rochford - Family Group Sheet ⧉ (PDF 36.5 kb) Alexander George Rochford - Family Group Sheet Alexander George Rochford Alexander was the son of William Rochford and Catherine O'Shea from Bannow, County Wexford – and the second of their sons to journey to Australia, brother John arriving a few years before Alexander, who came to Australia with his parents blessing to join his older brother. Alexander arrived in Melbourne on the 'Queen of the South' on August 8th 1863, and is recorded in the passenger list as 'twenty two years old, single, a labourer of Irish extraction'. In the footsteps of his brother, he set off for Queanbeyan – covering the whole journey overland by foot! Reunion with John was rather short-lived, as John died in 1871, leaving behind a wife (Catherine nee Cane), and four children. Alexander had attended school at nearby Blackhall. A grand-daughter, Mrs Marie O'Connor, inherited a prayer book that was given to Alexander before his departure which bears the signature 'A.P.Long' his teacher. The year after John's death, Alexander married Elizabeth Rolfe, whose brother James and his wife Bridget owned the Jeir property 'Bedulluck'. Another Rolfe sibling, Mary Ann Rolfe ('Auntie Doll'), became a de facto member of the Rochford's 'Forest View' household, helping to rear the young family, and maintaining home life after Alexander and Elizabeth had passed away. After marrying, Alexander and Elizabeth continued living at 'Yarralumla' station, where Alexander was employed, but moved towards Uriarra when better accommodation became available. By 1881 they had five children, all born at 'Yarralumla', after losing infant son James in a drowning accident. They were to have two more after selecting land and moving to Jeir: Jane Mary (1868-1949) William (1873-1921) John (1875-1933) James (1877-1878) Alexander Gregory (1879-1966) George (1881-1969) Ernest (1885-1954) Catherine (1887-1971) In 1881 Frederick Campbell acquired 'Yarralumla' from Augustus Gibbes, and gave Alexander tenancy of a block of land in conjunction with his position as head dairyman. Their home at this stage was downstream from the confluence of Weston Creek and the Molonglo river. In 1883 Alexander selected 640 acres of his own in the district of Jeir. Campbell was so impressed by his efficiency and honesty that he supported this venture financially, in turn being granted a mortgage over 100 acres of the land. The property was named 'Forest View', and a cottage built later on was named 'Glenall'. Arriving at 'Forest View' in 1883, the first and urgent task, which was undertaken by Alexander, was to build a home. Building materials – slabs for walls, stringy bark for the roof, stone for a fireplace, were mostly obtained on their block. Windows or shutters was scarce, as was hessian lining for roofs. In the early days at 'Forest View' the family had to collect water from Gooroomon Ponds, around two miles away. Later, wells were sunk, greatly cutting that toil, and making a vegetable garden possible. Elizabeth was a keen gardener, establishing a garden and orchard of two acres. Beside the vegetables, fruit such as apples, quinces, plums, pears, apricots, cherries, grape and vines were planted. Hares, rosellas, and flying foxes were kept at bay by Elizabeth with the aid of a .22 rifle. However humble, 'Forest View' became a family home in the fullest sense. It was open house to all who passed by, to share what they had available in food, the warmth of the fireside and a friendly chat. Bonds of close friendship and mutual assistance developed amongst the early settlers and were maintained by their descendants. Neighbours included Jacob Blundell to the south at 'Willow Farm', and beyond that were David Boyd, Pat and Frank Coulton, David Rule, and Samuel Southwell. Other neighbours were John Baines to the west, and Maitland to the north, while across the Yass-Queanbeyan road were the O'Rourkes, Jeremiah and Thomas McAuliffe, Richard Jordan and Walter Munday. Fortuitously, Glenwood Public School opened just two weeks after the Rochfords settled at Forest View, less than a mile away. Jane Mary, William and John joined other first timers – many of them children of their neighbours mentioned above, and were followed by other Rochford children. The school continued until 1935, but the building was later removed to 'Forest View' where it was used as a school house again for the children of Alexander Gregory Rochford and other local children, with the name 'Bennett's Creek' school [almost certainly a Subsidised school, where an allowance was paid to parents, who had to provide their own teacher and building.] A catholic family, the Rochfords joined the community effort associated with construction of St Francis Xavier church which opened in April 1910. Other catholic families who settled in the same district as the Rochfords included Hibberson, McAuliffe, O'Rourke, Rolfe, Cavanagh, Ryan, Coulton, and Blundell, who formed the nucleus of a Catholic community. Several of the Rochford sons were fine sportsmen and active members of the local cricket and football teams. Elizabeth passed away at 'Forest View' in January 1924, and Alexander followed a few months later in November 1924. On the death of their parents two of their sons, Alexander Gregory ('Greg') and George, took on the 'Forest View' farm , as well as undertaking share farming with Alf Rule on the Murrumbidgee Flats, in wheat growing on Cavanagh properties at Mulligan's Flat and at the 'Tea Gardens in Ginninderra. This was followed by a notable period of wheat growing on a share basis with Athol and Keith Kilby on Block 13 at BElconnen, and later with Henry Zouch and Ian Baird at Weetangera. 'Rochford Brothers' produced the Territory's prize-winning wheat crop in 1937, on what is now the Belconnen golf course. When George married Alice Julia Curran (Williamsdale) he built a home for them,'Glenall', on the 'Forest View' property; it was destroyed by a devastating bushfire in 1944. It was while living at Glenall in 1927 that George discovered the burned body of neighbour Jacob Blundell of 'Willow Farm'. Brother Alexander ('Greg')and his family continued living at 'Forest View' up until 1956 when, after 73 years, the link with the Rochford family was finally broken. Forest View was purchased by James Essol Coulton, a descendant of that neighbouring pioneer family. [Edited extracts from Rochford J (1982)] Death of Mr. Alexander Rochford. On Wednesday, 25th ultimo, there passed away at his residence, 'Forest Veiw', Jeir, one of the oldest and roost respected identities of the district in the person of Mr. Alexander Rochford, at the age of 84. Deceased was born in Ireland and after spending a short time in England- came to this country as a young man. He first settled in Queanbeyan district and was a tenant of Mr. Fred. Campbell (late of Yarralumla), who always speaks of deceased in the highest terms. Eventually he took up land at 'Forest View', Jeir, where he toiled incessantly, as the land there at that time was almost a dense scrub. He was known as thoroughly upright and honourable in all his dealings with his fellow-men, and was a faithful adherent to his church. His wife pre-deceased him ten months ago, and he leaves a family of six, two of his sons being in the police force. The remains of the deceased were interred in the Catholic portion of the Queanbeyan cemetery on Friday, 28th ult. [Yass Courier, Monday 1 December 1924, page 2] Related Photos Forest View. Elizabeth's garden ⧉ Forest View ⧉ Alexander Rochford ⧉ Rochford family and friends at Forest View ⧉ George Rochford's horse team ⧉ References Rochford, J. A. 1982. Sons of Wexford: a Family History of the Rochfords in Australia. Privately published: Hall

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