HAFNER family arrived on the "Electric" in Hobsons Bay Victoria on 25 Dec 1856.

[GeoffTurner]

I am told this family, which included Jakob Hafner, has wife Barbara and three children including their  six-year-old son John (Johannes?) Albert Hafner, from Ditzingen in Württemberg, Germany, made their way to Hamburg and caught a ship named the "Electric" which arrived in Hobsons Bay, Melbourne, on 25 December 1856. Is there any way to access ship lists for this time to confirm what I have been told? Obviously it is too early for the national archives immigration records.

As always, thanks for your help. Geoff Turner.   

[~MERLIN~]

Passenger list is online at PROV:

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/3B010F26-F96C-11E9-AE98-2719F500BDE6?image=76

[GeoffTurner]

Thank you very much.

[valerie kehoe]

Hi Geoff
On (my) 'Genes Reunited' site these other members may be of help:
 
 Kristin Flemming  has Johann HAFNER 1835 Bergdorf + 1843

Carol Smith                   John        "     1839     
Ann Deeks                        "                     "   
Robert Reynolds                "          "     1822 Wuerttenberg/S   
Janet Khambata             Jacob             1830 Germany     
re Australian records   
Philip Hefner late of Plattsburg  'Newcastle Herald' 26/2/1895 (James d France 10/2/19)

In case it helps.   - Valerie
                       

[GeoffTurner]

It's interesting that Jakob Hafner is listed with his wife and 3 children, which tallies, and the teenage son and daughter are listed correctly, but Johann is listed as an 8yo girl whereas he was in fact a 6yo boy. I guess for Unassisted Passengers such attention to detail was not considered so important.

Johann's son John Godfrey Hafner married Maria Lavender Wilson and they had eight children -- four boys and four girls. One of the girls caught TB and eventually all 4 girls and their mother died from it. Most of the girls were in their 20s when they succumbed. Only one girl lived long enough to marry and had a child, but died soon after.

The four boys, who were presumably farming in the paddocks while the women were nursing their sisters and daughters, seem to have escaped the terrible disease.

These are the four tragic Hafner sisters.