WILLIAM FORD CLEELAND
Research by Peter Cleeland

Born in Belfast, Ireland in approximately 1799. Married Charlotte Minnis in approximately 1825.

William and Charlotte arrived in Melbourne on the 27th. of June 1840 on the "Andromanche". Records disclose that they were bounty migrants, William being described as a carpenter and Charlotte as a dairy maid. His religion was listed as a dissenter. The town in Ireland listed as their home address was Killinchy in County Down.

On arrival in the Colony of Victoria William and Charlotte had five children:

John born 1828.
Joseph born 1830. Died at Preston in 1918 aged 88
Francis born 1833. Died at Malvern in 1923 aged 92
William born 1837. Died at Mansfield in 1928 aged 91
Annie Eliza born 1839/1840. Died at Ballarat in 1932 aged 92

One further child was born of this union in the Colony,

Charlotte born 1847.

Charlotte (wife of William) died in June of 1851.

William then married Elizabeth Cowie and had a further four children:

Elizabeth born 1859.
Victoria born 1861.
James born 1863. Died at East Melbourne aged 57
They had another son ,also named James, who did not survive.

Early records list the Cleeland family.� William and Charlotte lived at Springfield (now known as Mill Park). 'A Centenary History of The Shire of Whittlesea� (now the City of Whittlesea) at page 68 details land purchases of William and Charlotte.

"The Coulstocks disposed of two parcels of land in 1847. They sold the first, west of Plenty Road, to William Forde Cleeland: he built a home he called �Springfield� which, for some years, gave name to the locality."

William later gave land to the Presbyterian Church on which was erected a bluestone church which still stands in Plenty Road. Details of that gift were reported in newspapers and details of the history of this church can be found in "Historical Buildings in the Shire of Whittlesea."

William later purchased land further north/west of Springfield at Wollert (See page 90 "History of Whittlesea").

William was obviously a prominent local identity. My father tells me he was a member of the Masonic Lodge. In 1867 William was part of a local committee formed to obtain a land grant for the purpose of building municipal buildings which grant was approved in 1868. The City offices and the Memorial Hall now stand on that land.

William died on the 25th. of August 1868. His death certificate records that he was found dead on the 25th. of August 1868 in Plenty Road Keelbundora (Parish of) from injury to the head caused by a fall from his horse. My family legend has it that he fell on his way home from a lodge meeting.

William is buried at the Preston Cemetery and his grave is easily found. The head marker is in good condition and his name has been cleaned and recently painted. Joseph is buried at the old Epping Cemetery.

The Will of William Cleeland was proved by his two sons, Joseph and Francis Cleeland and one John Watson. Joseph is described as a farmer from Morang and Francis as a farmer from the Goulburn River. Another son, William,. died in Mansfield in 1928 aged 91 years. The Will is difficult to read and is nine pages long.