Samuel Frederick Christian Kirchner was born in the family home at 23 John Street, Ashfield, Sydney, on 12 April 1866. His parents were Samuel Friedrich Christian Kirchner and Mary nee Mead.

This was his father's second marriage, he was the only child.

Young Samuel's father and his first wife, Friederike Catherina nee Knapp, a German lady, had three sons and one daughter before the untimely death of Friederike in 1863.

This sad event left Samuel with three children to care for (son Johann had died in 1859). He engaged a housekeeper, Mary Mead, my grandfather's mother.

Information on Samuel's younger days is limited, he is shown as a brick-maker on his wedding certificate in 1889. His mother's father Charles Mead was a brick maker, having emigrated from Stewkley in Buckinghamshire, England. The Stewkley area of England is known for its quality bricks.

His first wife was Esther Harriet Vitler from Fish River near Benda in NSW. They were married in September 1889 at St David's Church, Dobroyd, Ashfield.

He and Esther had two sons - Samuel Frederick and August Archibald. August was a tragic casualty of the First World War.

The family was living at this time in "Wurrtemberg Cottage" the home Samuel senior had built in Ashfield. It still stands today and the owners have restored it to look as it would have in the pioneer days - a reasonably large house built in the German style.

Esther Harriet Kirchner died 19 May, 1896 aged 29 years and is buried in Rookwood Cemetery. Did Samuel find himself a housekeeper as his father had done? There is a gap of nearly ten years before Samuel's 2nd marriage to Mary Jane......

Click here for what we know of the early years of Mary Jane McDonald.