IT WAS ON THIS SHIP THAT GEORGE AND VIRGINIA(NEE SAINSBURY) DAVIS/DAVIES CAME OUT TO AUSTRALIA.
MARY SHEPHERD WAS BUILT IN 1848 AS 625 TONS, BUILT IN SUTHERLAND,UK, SHE WAS OWNED BY THE SHEPHERD'S.
HER BARQUE(TYPE OF SAILING SHIP - SAME AS ENDEVOUR), SHE WAS CLASSED AS A1.
HER FIRST VOYAGE WAS TO SET SAIL ON 16TH DEC, 1848 FROM DEPTFORD WITH 253 PASSENGERS, HER CAPTAIN WAS JOHN MCDONALD, SURGEON SUPT. WAS DR. FREDERICK FORD.
MARY SHEPHERD ARRIVED AT "PORT PHILLIP" ON 4TH APRIL, 1849,WHERE GEORGE AND VIRGINIA STARTED THEIR NEW MARRIED LIFE.
GEORGE IS SAID TO BE EMPLOYED BY A JOSH LONSDALE OF MELBOURNE, BUT IT IS AT GEELONG WHERE THEIR FIRST SON GEORGE WAS BORN IN JUNE 1849.
THE COUPLE WENT ON TO HAVE 8 MORE CHILDREN ALL BORN IN AUSTRALIA, EXCEPT ONE CHILD THOMAS(NO RECORD HAS BEEN FOUND FOR HIS BIRTH).
THEY HAD 7 SONS AND 2 DAUGTHERS, THE DAUGHTERS DID NOT SURVIVE LONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE ANY OFFSPRINGS.
GEORGE SNR. DIED IN 1891 AT SOUTH PRESTON AGED 63 YEARS, BURIED AT COBURG.
VIRGINIA DIED IN 1886 AT SOUTH PRESTON AGED 53 YEARS, BURIED AT BALLARAT.
