Sykes ancestors - Timeline to 1850
(1G = first generation)
Home page
History of the Sykes family
     
  1768 William Sykes (1G) born (probably in London).
1774 Sarah Best born in Bedfordshire
1788 First fleet arrived and settled at Sydney Cove
William and Sarah married in Sydney in 1812 and lived in Appin. Their first son George moved to Spring Valley in 1827. In 1837 George married Catherine Crowe, and William and Sarah moved to join them at Spring Valley.
 
  1797 Sarah, in London, charged with stealing a bedcover
1797 In Australia, John Macarthur buys merino sheep.
1798 Sarah arrives in Sydney as a convict
1799 Sarah married Patrick Byrne
 
  1800 Population of Sydney 2,540
1802 Murray discovers Port Phillip bay
1804 William (1G) in London charged with receiving two stolen casks of beer
1806 William (1G) arrived in Sydney Cove as a convict
1808 Sarah's husband, Patrick Byrne, died
 
  1810 William (1G) pardoned
George Sykes (2G) born to William and Sarah at Parramatta
1811 William (1G) granted land at Appin, 40 kilometres, 30 miles,
southwest of Sydney (see map), calling his farm Mount Britain
1812 William (1G) and Sarah married in Parramatta
Thomas Sykes (2G) born to William (1G) and Sarah at Appin
1813 Blaxland discovers a way across the Blue Mountains
1815 James Sykes (2G) born to William (1G) and Sarah at Appin
1816 Catherine Crowe born (later to marry George Sykes - 2G)
   
 

1820 Population of Sydney 12,000
Settlers spread west of the Blue Mountains and establish stations
Sheep population grew from 34,000 in 1820 to 405,000 in 1850
1824 Hume and Hovell's expedition to Port Phillip, setting out from Appin
1827 William set up the Appin Inn
George (2G) moved to Spring Valley, south of Goulburn -
(200 kilometres, 125 miles, southwest of Sydney – see map)
1829 Population of Appin over 500


Spring Valley is a farming district south of Goulburn. George (second generation) and Catherine had a large family at Spring Valley, and Sykes descendants have lived in this region for over 175 years.

   
  1836 James (2G) and Thomas Sykes (2G) died
Ellen Sykes (3G) born to George Sykes (2G) and Catherine Crowe
1837 George Sykes married Catherine Crowe
William (1G) and Sarah moved to live with George (2G) at Spring Valley
1838 William Sykes (3G) born to George (2G) and Catherine
   
  1841 Thomas Sykes (3G) born to George (2G) and Catherine
1842 Stephen Gregory Sykes (3G) born to George (2G) and Catherine
1844 John Sykes (3G) born to George (2G) and Catherine
1846 James Sykes (3G) born to George (2G) and Catherine
1848 Charlotte Barden born (later to marry Stephen - 3G)
George Sykes (3G) born to George (2G) and Catherine
     
  1850 Henry Sykes (3G) born to George (2G) and Catherine.
Railway from Sydney to Goulburn built.
Population of Sydney 39,000