“Here is part of the story about Harry Welch that I scribbled down when I was about 14 as told to me by my mother Ruth (Welch) Francis.When Harry was about 5 his father died following injuries he received after a fall from a horse.His mother Elizabeth decided to remain on the farm as she liked the outdoor life as did Harry who was sent off to be a Draper's assistant at one stage.With the assistance of her farm manager she grew turnips,kept cattle,dressed and sold poultry,and made eiderdowns, mattresses and pillows stuffed with poultry feathers.Her eldest daughter Lydia married Robert Bere her farm manager and they had 6 girls and one boy named Harry.
Elizabeth's second daughter Laura remained unmarried.One of her last addresses before she died was "Vivary Hall" Mount St; Taunton. I have a copy of the last letter she wrote to the family in Australia.2 of the Bere daughters married Darby brothers and emigrated to New Zealand. At
the age of 20 Harry Welch heard glowing reports about New Zealand and all that it had to offer.His mother asked him would he like to go and paid for his fare.
All the nephews and neices of Laura Welch who died on the 9th of March 1954 received a small inheritence at the request of her mother Elizabeth. The nephews and neices at that time were Ada Welch,John Welch,Olive Welch,William Orlando Welch, Eva Ruth Welch, Stanley Maggs, Nora Maggs, Percy J Maggs, Laura Day, Harry Bere, Greta Darby, Lilian Smith, Eva Bere and Kathleen Darby.We recently met and visited the son of Percy Maggs, a retired Anglican minister in Toronto,Canada.
Harry's mother contacted her cousin William Leigh telling him that Harry would be calling into Melbourne on his way to New Zealand and asked him would he mind going to see him. Harry was in his room at a Melbourne Hotel when he was told someone wanted to see him.He was surprised as he didn't know anyone in Australia.He was extremely thrilled to meet his relatives and decided not to go on to New Zealand but to remain with them in the Barrabool Hills and this is where he gained his first Australian rural experience. He married William's neice Caroline (Leigh) Powell who was a little older than him. She had an adopted daughter called Mona who was about 9.
The Welch family when they lived at Traralgon South were always good friends with the Powell family who lived in the district.The names of the ones I remember were Grace, Maud and Tom. Perhaps there was a connection with the family of Caroline's first husband.”100