First Generation  

1. William VIDLER was born circa 1773 in Battle, Sussex, ENG, was christened on 23 Nov 1773 in Battle, Sussex, ENG, died on 22 May 1856 in Jamberoo, NSW at age 83, and was buried on 25 May 1856 in Jamberoo Cemetery, NSW.

General Notes: When William arrived in Sydney in 1838, he gave his age as 60, stated he was a native of Battle, Sussex, and that his parents were William and Mary Vidler. Unfortunately, there is nothing recorded in the Battle parish register to substantiate this claim, and his precise origins are still unknown. However, it is highly likely that his was one of two baptisms shown in the Battle register:

- November 23rd, 1773 - William, son of Richard and Mary Vidler

- September 21st, 1770 - William, illegitimate son of Mary Vidler

As Richard (the father of the 1773 baptism) and Mary (the mother of the 1770 baptism) were siblings, we can at least be almost certain that the grandparents of William were John VADLER and Elizabeth BOWLING, who were married at Battle on June 3rd, 1742. We also feel that, on the balance of probabilities, the 1773 baptism is more likely to be the correct one.

Mary COPPER was baptised at Northiam, Sussex on July 12th, 1778. She was living at Sandhurst, Kent, when she married there on December 29th, 1796. William at the time of his marriage was described as a bachelor of the Parish of Benenden.

Following their marriage in 1796, William and Mary lived at Sandhurst until about 1805, when they moved to Rye. Vidler was a common name in this town, so it is possible they moved because William had relatives there, but this cannot yet be confirmed. In late 1816 or early 1817 the family moved back to Sandhurst, where they remained until leaving for Australia in 1838.

Mary died at Sandhurst in September 1829, and was buried there on the 29th. William subsequently remarried, to a widow, Mary SMITH (nee MAYNARD), at Sandhurst on January 15th, 1832, and it was she who accompanied the family on the "Maitland" in 1838.

On arrival in NSW, William and his family settled first at Dapto, but very soon moved to Jamberoo. At this time, an attempt was being made to establish a hop-growing industry at Jamberoo, and coming from a hop-growing area of Kent, the Vidlers would have had this expertise. However, hop growing was not a success in Jamberoo, and like most other landholders in the area, dairy and mixed farming soon took over.

Noted events in his life were:

• Shipping: Arrived Sydney per "Maitland", 5 Nov 1838.

William married Mary COPPAR, daughter of William COPPER and Frances NOAKS, on 29 Dec 1796 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG. Mary was born circa 1778 in Northiam, Sussex, ENG, was christened on 12 Jul 1778 in Northiam, Sussex, ENG, died in Sep 1829 at age 51, and was buried on 27 Sep 1829 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 2 F    i. Mary VIDLER was born on 4 May 1797 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG, was christened on 4 Jun 1797 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG, died on 14 May 1875 in Jamberoo, NSW at age 78, and was buried on 16 May 1875 in Jamberoo Methodist Church Cemetery, NSW.

+ 3 M    ii. William VIDLER was born on 18 Apr 1799 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG, was christened on 20 Apr 1799 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG, and died on 25 Dec 1881 in Jamberoo, NSW at age 82.

+ 4 M    iii. John VIDLER was born on 19 Sep 1801 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG, was christened on 25 Oct 1801 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG, died on 17 Apr 1892 in Jamberoo, NSW at age 90, and was buried on 19 Apr 1892 in Jamberoo Methodist Church Cemetery, NSW.

+ 5 M    iv. James VIDLER was born on 10 Aug 1803 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG, was christened on 23 Oct 1803 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG, died on 11 Sep 1884 in Jamberoo, NSW at age 81, and was buried on 14 Sep 1884 in Jamberoo Methodist Cemetery, NSW.

+ 6 M    v. Stephen VIDLER was born circa 1807, was christened on 30 Oct 1807 in Rye, Sussex, ENG, died on 9 Jul 1885 in Jamberoo, NSW at age 78, and was buried on 11 Jul 1885 in Jamberoo Methodist Church Cemetery, NSW.

+ 7 F    vi. Kezia VIDLER was born on 14 Oct 1810 in Rye, Sussex, ENG, was christened on 18 Nov 1810 in Rye, Sussex, ENG, died on 25 Apr 1894 in Cambewarra, NSW at age 83, and was buried on 26 Apr 1894 in Cambewarra Methodist Cemetery, NSW.

+ 8 M    vii. Edwin VIDLER was born on 15 Jun 1813 in Rye, Sussex, ENG, was christened on 24 Jul 1813 in Rye, Sussex, ENG, died on 26 May 1895 in Jamberoo, NSW at age 81, and was buried on 28 May 1895 in Jamberoo Methodist Cemetery, NSW.

+ 9 M    viii. Samuel VIDLER was christened on 23 Feb 1816 in Rye, Sussex, ENG and was buried on 4 Nov 1817 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG.

+ 10 F    ix. Sarah Ann VIDLER was born on 7 Jan 1822 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG, was christened on 12 Feb 1822 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG, died on 13 May 1905 in Cambewarra, NSW at age 83, and was buried on 15 May 1905 in Cambewarra Methodist Cemetery, NSW.

William next married Mary MAYNARD, daughter of James MAYNARD and Martha BLANCH, on 15 Jan 1832 in Sandhurst, Kent, ENG. Mary was born in 1799 in Rolvenden, Kent, ENG, was christened on 26 Dec 1799 in Rolvenden, Kent, ENG, died on 6 Jul 1862 in Shellharbour, NSW at age 63, and was buried on 9 Jul 1862 in Jamberoo, NSW.

Noted events in her life were:

• Shipping: Arrived Sydney per "Maitland", 5 Nov 1838.

The child from this marriage was:

+ 11 M    i. Reuben VIDLER was born on 2 Aug 1840 in Dapto, NSW, died on 2 Nov 1910 in West Cambewarra, NSW at age 70, and was buried on 4 Nov 1910 in Cambewarra Methodist Cemetery, NSW.