September 1855: Arrival of the Gersbach's in the Orange area

Ship in the style of Wilhelmsburg 

On 1 May 1855, Joseph and Margaret Gersbach departed from Hamburg on board the Wilhelmsburg. Also on board the ship were Margaret's mother, Anna Maria Jacoby (nee Siebel), and Joseph's second cousin 1x removed, Anton Gersbach, and his wife, Margaretha.  

The Hamburg passengers' list records Joseph as 33, Margaret as 21 and Anna Maria as 48 and their place of residence as Winkel, Nassau.  Joseph's occupation is shepherd.  You can read more about the German migration to New South Wales in the 1850s HERE.  Joseph's older brother, Valentine, had arrived in Sydney on board the Peru on 29 November 1853.  

The ship called at Bremer and Hobart before arriving in Sydney on 22 September1855.  Anton's brother, John, travelled from St Mary's to meet the ship and accompany his brother and sister-in-law to Kempsey.  Joseph and Margaret made their way towards Orange.

Wilhelmsburg Passenger List for Hamburg departures

Their early lives

Joseph Anton Gersbach was born on 4 October 1821 and was baptised 2 days later in the Catholic Church in Winkel.  He was the eight and youngest child of Valentine Gersbach and Magdalena Baumkauf.  Joseph left his mother and three or four sister's and their families behind in Winkel.

Margaret Sabina Jacobi was born about 1834 in Eibingen also in the Duchy of Nassau.  Many researchers record her birth date as 22 March 1834.  Her father, Michael Jacoby, died on 2 October 1844 in Eibingen.  

Joseph and Margaret married on 11 March 1855 in Winkel just 6 weeks ahead of their departure.  

Settling in New South Wales

Joseph's 1905 obituary records that they "first took up residence at Guyong for eighteen months and thence came to Canobolas, where he followed farming pursuits successfully.  Some eighteen years ago the deceased lost his sight and gave up this calling, and lived a retired life in town".  Over fifty years, Jospeh achieved much in his new country with Margaret by his side.  


They were amongst the early settler in the region who establish fruit orchards that often include table grapes.  Joseph was a carpenter and is reputed to have created the spiral staircase and door knobs for Orange's Duntryleague.

Duntryleague, Orange

Sadly, there's no record of Margaret's mother, Anna Maria, after she boarded the Wilhelmsburg in Hamburg.  Did she die during the voyage or after she arrived in Australia?

Their children and grandchildren

Joseph and Margaret had ten children and all survived to adulthood which was unusual in those times.  It was the early days for registering births in the Colony and a number of the children's births aren't recorded.  Baptismal records could be available at the Catholic Church in Orange as another source of birth details.

  1. Robert was born about 1858 (birth registration cannot be located).  He married Elizabeth Bohringer (1862 to 1942) in 1882 in Orange.  Robert died on 23 October 1897 in Cargo.  In 1899, Elizabeth married Thomas O'Connell in Cargo.  They had two children - Eileen Theresa (1900 to 1993) and John Thomas (1905 to 1859). Robert and Elizabeth had four children- 
    1. Mary Louise (1883 to 1963), 
    2. Margaret Mary (1885 to 1984), 
    3. Elizabeth Joseph (1881 to 1971) and 
    4. Catherine Sabina (1891 to 1977).   
  2. Mary Ann Glenlea was born about 1858 (birth registration cannot be located).  She married  Joseph William Astill (1866 to 1938) in 1889 in Orange.  Mary died in 1942 in Canowindra.  They had two children- 
    1. Charles William (1890 to 1942) and 
    2. Francis George (1893 to 1963).  
  3. Elizabeth Eva was born about 1860 (birth registration cannot be located).  She married James Scott (1887 to 1930) in 1889 in Orange.  Elizabeth died in 1941 in Orange.  They had seven children- 
    1. Elizabeth Mary (1889 to 1979), 
    2. Margaret (1890 to 1921), 
    3. John James (1891 to 1952), 
    4. Albert (1897 to 1935), 
    5. Clara Maria (1902 to 1978) and 
    6. twin James (1907 to 1908) and 
    7. twin Charles (1907 to 1908).   
  4. John was born in 1867.  He married Emma Jane Bargwanna (1877 to 1961) in 1894 in Orange.  John died in 1947 in Molong.  They had six children- 
    1. Francis George (1894 to 1967), 
    2. Alice Mary (1897 to 1977), 
    3. Albert (1897 to 1898), 
    4. Emma Jane (1899 to 1965), 
    5. John Joseph (1905 to 1948) and 
    6. George Thomas (1909 to 1970).  
  5. Joseph was born about 1869 (birth registration cannot be located).  He married Mary Ann Elizabeth Astill (1876 to 1946) in 1894 in Orange.  Joseph does in 1939 in Bulli.  They had eight children- 
    1. Albert George (1895 to 1961), 
    2. Lavina Mary (1896 to ?), 
    3. Ethel (1879 to 1898), 
    4. Emerline Maud Cecelia (1898 to 1964), 
    5. Herbert Joseph (1900 to 1963), 
    6. Elizabeth Vera (1909 to ?), 
    7. Stanley John (1911 to 1974) and 
    8. Elsie Ann (1915 to ?). 
  6. Valentine Francis was born about 1869 (birth registration cannot be located).  He married Caroline Bargwanna (1975 to 1967).  Valentine side in 1945 in Temora.  They had six children- 
    1. Mary (1895 to 1919), 
    2. Amy Josephine (1898 to 1982), 
    3. Albert James (1901 to 1968), 
    4. Dorothy May (1905 to 1990),
    5. Claude Valentine (1908 to 1962) and
    6. John Ernest (1910 to 1989).
  7. Albert was born in 1872.  He married Ellen Cain (1880 to 1971) in 1896 in Cargo.  Albert died in 1960 in Warburton, Victoria.  They had nine children- 
    1. Mary Cecelia (1897 to 1986), 
    2. Francis Augustine (1898 to 1968), 
    3. Charles Valentine (1901 to 1977), 
    4. Ellen Kathleen (1902 to 1988), 
    5. Albert William (1904 to 1996), 
    6. Margaret Veronica (1905 to 2001), 
    7. Joseph Edward (1908 to 1993), 
    8. Elva Myrtle (1913 to ?) and 
    9. Vera Agnes Joyce (1917 to 2009).   
  8. Richard was born in 1876.  He married Mary Cain (1873 to 1940) in 1896 in Cargo.  Richard died in 1951 in Manildra.  They had thirteen children- 
    1. William James (1897 to 1955),
    2. Ellen Louisa (1898 to 1986),
    3. Elizabeth Agnes (1899 to 1955),
    4. Catherine (1901 to 2001),
    5. Margaret Josephine (1902 to 1984),
    6. Richard John (1904 to 1968),
    7. Mary Josephine (1906 to 1984),
    8. Edward (1907 to 1952),
    9. Charles (1909 to ?),
    10. Joseph Patrick (1910 to 1964),
    11. Grace (1911 to 1974),
    12. Emma Cecilia (1913 to ?) and
    13. Veronica Therese (1914 to 1999).  
  9. Margaret Theresa was born in about 1876 (birth registration cannot be located).  She married John Joseph Murphy (about 1879 to 1956) in 1905 in Orange.  Margaret died in 1961 in Balmain.  They had eight children-
    1. Veronica Gladys (1906 to 1986),
    2. John Harold (1908 to ?),
    3. Lenore Mary (1910 to 1983),
    4. Lial M (1913 to 1913),
    5. Leslie Vincent (1913 to 1976),
    6. Francis Valentine (1915 to 1984), 
    7. Neville Walter (1918 to 1976) and 
    8. Douglas J (1919 to ?).  
  10. Charles was born in 1879.  He married Mary Josephine Gough (1883 to 1971) in 1904 in Cargo.  Charles died in 1958 in Orange.  They had nine children-
    1. Ellen Margaret (1905 to 1993),
    2. Joseph Laurence (1906 to 1986),
    3. Mary Philomena (1907 to 1978),
    4. James Francis (1909 to 1964), 
    5. Margaret Sabina (1910 to 1967),
    6. Charles Thomas Vincent (1918 to 2003), 
    7. Edward Richard (1920 to 1993),
    8. Amy Eileen (1922 to 2016) and 
    9. Kathleen Agnes.  

Yes, a brother and sister married a sister and brother.  Joseph Astill (husband of Mary) and Mary Astill (wife of Joseph) were siblings.  Two brothers married two sisters twice!  Emma  Bargwanna  (wife of John) and Caroline Bargwanna (wife of Valentine) were sisters.  Ellen Cain (wife of Albert) and Mary Cain (wife of Richard) were sisters.  

Margaret - mother of 10 and grandmother of 70!
(Provided by Tara Harrison)

Their property 

On 19 March 1861, Jospeh was naturalised "being desirous of settling in the said colony and acquiring landed property therein".   Joseph's land was on German's Hill (renamed Lidster) on the western side of Mount Canobolas.  He's described as a farmer and vigneron.  It seems that when he first arrived in Orange, Joseph established a small vineyard on the corner of Hill and Kite Streets (from Margaret's obituary).

Joseph's naturalisation certificate

Their deaths

Joseph died on 20 February 1905.  He was 83 and had lived in the Orange area for 50 years.  Sadly the location of his and Margaret's burial sites in the Old Catholic session of Orange Cemetery is unknown.

Joseph's obituary

If you're planning a trip to the NSW State Archives, you can access Joseph's probate packet HERE.  In the meantime, here's his will.  These were transcribed by soldiers who returned from the Second World War!  Joseph leaves his "dear wife Marguerite" his estate with the exception of deposits in the "Orange Branch of Australian Joint Stock Bank Limited" which were left to youngest child, Charles.   Joseph's estate includes the property in Hill Street Orange where they live.  There are three dwelling and the other two are rented.  The estate was valued at £601.


Joseph's will

In 1910, Margaretha transferred the Hill Street properties to her son John.  You can see the document HERE.

Margaretha died on 5 November 1913.  She was 79.  You'll see that the obituary refers to her niece, Miss Emma Gersbach, finding Margaret.  Emma was her 14 year old granddaughter - the child of son John.

Margaret's obituary

If you have any additional information, corrections or photos, please contact me.