Source: Vic PROV Probate Records. Farmer residing Emberton.

From "The Genealogy of Thomas Manley and Elizabeth Reah married at Heidelberg 8th February 1855", printed for Manley Family Reunion March 9, 1975:

The earliest record we have of our “Manley” ancestry relates to one Thomas Manley (a weaver). Thomas married Anne Sherson, presumably in the County of Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

There were four children of the marriage, vis. Margaret, Thomas, Jane and Catherine.

We have no further data of Thomas Manley, maybe he died at an early age, for Anne, with her four children all migrated to Australia having sailed from Southhampton aboard the ship “Lady Kennaway” on May 9th, 1853, arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 15th, 1853. Voyage time 98 days.

The second child, Thomas, listed as labourer, married Elizabeth Reah, spinster, from County of Durham, England, in St Johns Church of England, Heidelberg on February, Heidelberg on February 8th, 1855. The Marriage Certificate declares both to be members of the Church of England. It is of interest to note that both Thomas Manley and Elizabeth could read and write. Statement to that effect appears on the passenger list concerning Thomas Manley and both his signature and that of Elizabeth Reah appear on their Marriage Certificate, whereas other certificates of the era were marked with an X and witnessed as signatures, an insight into educational standards of the period.

Thomas was first employed in Victoria by the firm of “Willsmore and Bot”, of Williamstown on August 18th, three days after arrival, on a wage of 60 pounds for thtee months, with rations. We have no further knowledge of the activities of Thomas and Elizabeth Manley at Heidelberg. The two eldest of the family were born there, John James, 1 December 1855, and Thomas 21st 1857.

However it would seem that life at Heidelberg was but a stepping stone to rural pursuits at Barfold, this being a smaller country centre within the Parish of Emberton, in the Kyneton Area, where they remained during their lifetime, reared the large family of fourteen children (2 died in infancy) and when they passed on they were buried in the Kyneton Cemetery. The tombstone still stands, bearing the names of Thomas Manley, his wife Elizabeth, daughter ann Jane, and the eldest son, John James and his wife Emma.

Thomas Manley and wife Elizabeth, and their family were devout people, strong in their Christian faith, prominent in the life of the United Church at Barfold, united in that Church of England and Presbyterian Congregations pooled resources to build the Church, a weatherboard building which was destroyed by bushfire in 1944, but rebuilt again a united Church, this time in brick. The church still stands, well kept and preserved, a joint House of Worship for both Church of England and Presbyterian congregations.

As previously stated Thomas and Elizabaeth’s first two children were born at Heidelberg, John James, 1st December 1855 and Thomas 21st June 1857. Evidently at some time between the birth of their second and third child, Ann Jane, 4 May 1859, they moved to Emberton area where the other 12 children of the family were born, but it was not until 1871 that we have record of them selecting land, may be it was not open for selection prior to that period.

Titles of land in the area show Thomas Manley to be the owner of two small blocks of land 23 and 59 acres, selected in 1871, price one pound per acre. However the family evidently prospered on their 82 acre property and some years later bought an additional 165 acres, and by the turn of the century were rated on 480 acres having rented a further area of 235 acres owned by Mr Osborne.

Thomas Manley died 24th May 1899 and the estate was wound up in 1903. The Family being the beneficiaries of the Will.

Source: Notes from Geoffrey Booth sent to Simon Pickup:

Index to Wills, Probate and Administration Records - 1841-1925

Given Name Thomas

Surname Manley

File number 71/861

Death Date 24 May 1899

Grant Date 19 July 1899

Nature of Grant P

Occupation Farmer

Residence Emberton

More About Thomas Manley:

Death Certificate No.: 1899 - 6332

Source: Visit to gravestone by Simon Pickup

- suggests aged 69 when died in 1899.

Source: Vic Marriage index:

	MANLEY  	Thomas M REAT Elizabeth 1855 367

Source: Marriage Certificate purchased by Simon Pickup