William Surplice

Background

Thought by many to be American's Sarah Ford was born in London, England in 1827, the daughter of accountant Frederick Ford and Sarah Ann McCullough. xSarah married Comedian Henry Augustus Leicester Hanmer on 10 August 1844 while living in Bagnigge Wells.

Sarah Ford had a daughter, Julia Ford Hamner at Whitehall, Westminster in 1840. Julia was to marry William Surplice, and both were present in Ballarat in 1854, and went on to lead lives of much interest and adventure.

Sarah, her brother and her daughter, Julia arrived in Melbourne on the Lady Flora in 1853. It is thought they travelled via the Canadian goldfields where Sarah may have picked up an American accent. She arrived in Ballarat without her husband, but with her brother and daughter.

An actress of some note at Ballarat, Sarah Hamner started in the Adelphi Theatre. She became famous in vaudeville and melodrama. Her daughter Julia and her husband,

Sarah Hamner died in Adelaide.

Julia Ford Hanmer,Sarah's daughter:born Whitehall,Westminster 1840,daughter of Sarah and Frederick Ford accountant/married William Henry Surplice 8/12/1856 Ballarat/died Waverley 1920. WilliamHenry Surplice b1824 Nottingham died 10/9/1906 Waverley. Their son, Arthur Stanley Lowe Surplice b 14/6/1859 Ballarat,died 20/4/1905/married Emily Jane Grant daughter Of Capt John Grant Bega. Their son ,Frederick John Stanley Surplice b 28/3/1891 d 24/7/1944/married Lily May Hansell bTallawang 1888,m 16/9/1911/d 6/5/1943 Their son Eric John Surplice B 16/4/1912 Gulgong, died 23/8/91. married Alice Mavis ferguson B 11/7/1915 m 27/3/37 Their daughter,Lorraine May Surplice B8/2/1948 married Phillip Kelvin Brownlie B 23/7/1947, married 24/1/1970.

  I am Lorraine May Brownlie nee Surplice and have collected much info on Sarah.I have been helped in my search by Clare Wright,historian of La Trobe Uni.I have photos of most of the people mentioned and BDM references.