The research behind the genealogy presented here was begun many years ago in an attempt to document our very large family history. Even starting with just surrounding family, was a relatively awesome task, as there were around forty one first cousins in one family to deal with, let alone adding who they belonged to.

But the beginning of the story, we are told, is said to be in Baden Baden, Germany, 1840 or so, where a man walking along the street, saw an old peasant woman knocked down by a Prussian Officer on his horse. The man, said to be a vintner by trade, enraged at the injustice, jumped up, and knocked the officer down off his horse, in her defense. The Officer not at all impressed by this, took note of who the attacker was, and swore that his assailant would fully regret what had taken place. The man 'fully aware' of the officer's, Prussian arrogance, and their ability to exact revenge, on not only himself, but the rest of his family, decided it would be best to leave Germany, for this and other economic reasons, and the political situations at that time. One of his brothers decided to go with him, and the two set out for Australia, and the hope of a new life.

Before arrival in Australia, the two had already been indentured by a man called Kirschner in an Immigration program, to a landowner called Edward Ogilvie, in Northern NSW, at a place called Yugilbar Station, outside of Grafton, where they settled for a short while until they had repaid their indenture and had enough to buy themselves land etc. in the area, to raise and support their families.

Grafton was then, a town of many German Immigrants, and at the end of their indenture, Jacob settled into the Clarence Valley around Grafton, and George settled at Busbys Flat near Wyan, where one or two family farms are still situated. George tried to grow grapes, but the climate was unsuitable, and so they began to cut timber and dairy farm to make a living.

The Lellbach name was changed, not by the families of George and Jacob, or even deed poll by any descendants, but by the English teachers and employers at the time, who refused to pronounce the German name, and so wrote, and used, their own English interpretations. There are many generations that follow, and precede, with more than three thousand names on the complete data-base so far, and many more to be added as we are able. Please enjoy...

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