Samuel came to Belfast with his parents Benjamin and Maryanne on the ship 'Oithona' arriving at Portland on January 30th 1855 when he was 11 years old. In 1865 he marries Selina Ann Daughter of William and Mary Oaff who arrived in Australia on the 'Clara' on the same day as Samuel. They had 6 children. As a stonemason by trade It is probable that he helped his father build the wall around the Consolidated school in 1875. They lived in a stone cottage next door to the Port Fairy Hospital. It was demolished when the new wing was built in 1976. He joined the Manchester Order of Oddfellows in 1863 and was elected Grand Master in 1880. He died when he was 37 in 1881.Early settlerPosed portrait black & white photographpioneer, settler, portrait, people, family, bowyer, samuel, stonemason, clara, oithona, selina ann, william oaff, mary oaff

Selina Ann was the wife of Samuel Bowyer stonemason in Belfast/Port Fairy. Selina arrived with her family, William and Mary Oaff in 30th January 1855 on the ship 'Clara'. She had 6 children. She died in 1924 aged 78 and is buried at the port Fairy CemeteryEarly settler's wifeBlack and white formal portrait of woman seated with an open book and wearing a feathered hat and lace jabotpioneer, settler, portrait, people, family, selina bowyer, selina oaff