Friedrich Ebbecke (Ebbeck)
| First name | Friedrich |
|---|---|
| Last name | Ebbecke (Ebbeck) |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Date of Birth | 05.07.1826 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1849 |
| Submitted by | Warren Ebbeck |
Story
In the mid 1800’s wealthy landowners in the Hunter Valley needed the expertise of German vineyard workers to work in the vineyards & wineries of the area.
In 1848, a year when revolution threatened Europe, arrangements were made to recruit vineyard workers from the Rhineland in Germany.
The first three immigrant ships to Australia, the “Beulah”, “Parland” & “Harmony” arrived at Port Jackson in 1849.
My great grandparents were;
Friedrich Wilhelm Ebbecke, born on 5.07.1826 at Singhofan, Germany & died 26.04.1902 at “Greswick” Seaham NSW, he married Maria Josephine Kaiser on 4.02.1849 at Erbach Germany . She was born on 23.01.1831 at Neudorf Germany & died on 22.08. 1909 at “Greswick” Seaham NSW.
They left Germany in March 1849 on the “Parland”, a wooden sailing ship of 481 tons, arriving in Sydney on 5.07.1849. There were 167 migrants in all on that ship. Those who came to the Hunter Valley travelled by steamboat from Sydney to Morpeth, & then by bullock dray or on foot to the properties of their new masters.
Friedrich worked for one of the region’s early winemakers, Dr Henry John Lindeman, founder of Lindeman wines, as a wine cooper & vine dresser at his vineyards “Cawarra” & “Brinkburn” at Gresford NSW, & for Mr W B Boydell at “Caergwrle”, Allynbrook NSW.
On arrival, Friedrich & Maria had no relatives in the Colony, this soon changed. During the next 24 years they had 13 children. They were born in the Gresford/Allynbrook area.
The children were;
1. Katharina Johanna Maria 1849-1853 aged 4
2. Henry John 1851-1924 73 m. Rose Bambach
3. John Henry 1853-1937 84 Helene Riefstrunger
4. Margaret 1855-1957 102 Henry Crew
5. Mary Ann 1857-1928 71 Henry Burton
6. Anthony (my grandfather) 1859-1948 89 Elizabeth Knodler
7. Frederick William 1861-1945 84 Catherine Bambach
8. Louisa 1863-1936 73 Phillip Bambach
9. George Joseph 1865-1949 84 Elizabeth Robards
10. Martin 1867-1951 84 Florence Skinner
11. William Joseph 1869-1958 89 May Robards
12. Rosa Elizabeth 1871-1941 70 Paul Sauber
13. Maria Josephine 1873-1877 4
In October 1859 Friedrich made application for a Certificate of Naturalisation for the purpose of;- “to purchase land & permanently settle in the Colony”, which was supported by Dr H J Lindeman & W B Boydell who certified him:-
“……to be a person of respectable character”.
This was granted on 16.11.1859, & it appears he was thereafter known as Frederick William Ebbeck.
Apart from working in the vineyards, he was also involved in the building trade & in farming in the Gresford area. In 1892 he purchased a property of 100 acres, “Greswick” on the Williams River at Seaham NSW, where he created a vineyard of his own.
Frederick was an active worker in church matters & was greatly instrumental in advancing the interest of the church in the district.
He is buried in the Anglican cemetery at Seaham NSW.
Included in his obituary is: “..He carried to his grave all the respect & esteem that an upright & honest life can merit”. My father was Royden Anthony Norwood Ebbeck, son of Anthony Ebbeck.I married Jean Beryl Hansen on 31.12.1960 we have 3 daughters, 6 grandchildren and one great grandchild who is part of the 7th generation of Australian Ebbeck’s & of about 4000 descendants of F W & M J Ebbeck as at 2007.