Genni
This is great information! I can't see Thomas in the NSW arrivals so far, but will keep checking. He would be an early pioneer indeed if he left before 1841.
Yes please for the census information.
Mike
That's a thought - Joseph's surname was mistranscibed as Vass, so anything goes. There are quite a few German Vosses emigrating to Oz, too, which is confusing.
Lydart
The book sounds interesting. I'm off to the library to order a copy. Just Googled Patrick White and see that in his early life he attended Cheltenham College, just down the road from me.
And yes, Voss is also a town in Norway (been there).
Thanks everyone for your help.
Gillg