Thomas Willam SILVESTER b. 1823 Buckinghamshire, England, son of Thomas SILVESTER and Mary ENSCOE was married in 1851 at Portland, Victoria to Mary FITZGERALD, b. 1823, Castle Gregory, Co Kerry, Ireland, eldest daughter of Bryan Cunningham FITZGERALD and Mary FINN.

Mary FITZGERALD was a sister of Bryan Cunningham FITZGERALD of Sandford, Victoria.

"Mr. T. W. SILVESTER, as one of the pioneers, was privileged to participate in Merino's development from the early days. He came to the colony in the early 50's. He first went to Mt Gambier, later moving to Springbank Estate as manager for Mr. Jas. KIRBY,. Afterwards going to Portland, he spent several years in business. Later he went to Caulpaul Station with the late Mr. P. MOORE, but the investment proved anything but a profitable speculation owing to the operations of the Land Act in 1865. Succeeding however in securing some good land in the vicinity of Merino he laid the foundation stone of the snug and profitable property known as springdale. For some years Mr. SILVESTER held a seat on the Glenelg Shire Council table, representing the southern end of the Shire in the company of the late Mr. M. CUSSEN. He also for a long period filled the position of Justice of the Peace. In both capacities he gained respect of the community. At the time of his death the deceased gentleman had attained the age of 68 years.. He was the second son of the late Rev. Thos. SILVESTER, Vicar of Bucks, Engand, and is survived by a widow and grown up family of three sons and three daughters. One son, Ellis, represented the South Riding in the Council."
Source "The Casterton News", June, 1892.

Thomas William SILVESTER and Mary FITZGERALD had the following known family....

1. Mary Jane SILVESTER, b. 1852, Casterton, Vic, m. Edmund Fitzgerald CROUCH
2. Thomas William SILVESTER, b. 1854, Casterton, Vic, d. 1860, Merino, Vic.
3. Martha Mary SILVESTER, b. 1856, Portland, Vic, d. 1941, Melbourne
4. Eugene SILVESTER, b. 1858, Balmoral, Vic, m. Edith Maud Lee ARCHER
5. Thomas Ellis SILVESTER, b. 1860, Balmoral, Vic, m. Margaret Jane FITZGERALD
1. Thomas Ellis SILVESTER, b. 1892, Merino, Vic, m. Mary CAGNY
2. Bessie Eileen SILVESTER, b. 1893, Melbourne, Vic, m. Osland Albert KELLY
3. Gerald Bryan SILVESTER, b. 1894, Merino, Vic, d. 1951
• enlisted WW1, 9 Aug 1915
• served as Pte 6639, 1st Division Ammunition Train, AIF
• RTA 9 Jul 1919
• Named on Merino War Memorial
6. Bryan Fitzgerald SILVESTER, b. 1862, d. 1866, Merino, Vic,
7. Eliza Ann SILVESTER, b. 1863, Merino, Vic, m. John Cunningham Finn FITZGERALD
8. Robert James SILVESTER, b. 1864, Merino, Vic, d. 1943, Portland, Vic.