In 1854 it was decided to emigrate to Australia - for reasons not known - and on 20th January 1855, JACOB and CAROLINE with their 7 children set sail from Southhampton (UK) for Australia on the vessel "Omega". They arrived at the Port of Melbourne on 5th May 1855. The shipping documentation which gives the following information shows that they were all "Assisted Passengers".

JACOB SKINNER: Aged: 44 Years - Religion: Church of England - Occupation: Agricultural Labourer.
Could read and write.
CAROLINE SKINNER: Aged: 43 Years - Religion: Church of England - Could not read or write.
JOHN SKINNER: Aged: 12 Years - Could read and write.
ANN SKINNER: Aged: 10 Years - Could read.
WILLIAM SKINNER: Aged: 7 Years - Could read.
JACOB SKINNER: Aged: 5 Years - Shown as illiterate because of age.
MARY SKINNER: Aged: 3 Years - Shown as illiterate because of age.

The two eldest daughters, because they were over the age of 14 years were listed separately as "Young Women with Assisted Passage". Their details were:

SARAH SKINNER: Aged: 16 Years - Religion: Church of England - Could read and write.
ELIZABETH SKINNER: Aged: 14 Years - Religion: Church of England - Could read and write.

It is not known where they lived immediately after arrival - but on 21st September, 1855 JACOB and CAROLINE, with their five youngest children, were engaged by John Startup to work on a property at Western Port, a district south west of Melbourne, for a total wage of Forty Pounds for 3 months.

Sarah was employed by Mrs. Jones at Queensberry, St. Carlton as a domestic at a wage of Fifteen Shillings per week with Rations.

Elizabeth was employed by Mrs. Gardiner at Brighton Road, Elwood as a domestic at a wage of Sixteen Shillings per week with Rations.

After their first three months at Western Port is not known where they lived but in 1861 they were residing at 52 Young Street, Fitzroy/Collingwood - a suburb about 3 miles from the city of Melbourne. JACOB was then a gardener.

From 1864 the family lived in Union Street, Windsor at numbers 77 and 89.

JACOB died in 1878 at the age of 68 years and CAROLINE died in 1887 aged 75 years. They were both interred at St. Kilda Cemetery (which is now a closed Cemetery) in the same grave in the Wesleyan Section Area B, Grave 101.

In 1994, Stuart and Beth, while on a visit to Melbourne, made enquiries at Springvale Cemetery, where the St. Kilda records are now kept, and was surprised to learn there were five (5) persons buried in this grave and they are:
JACOB: Interred 10.6.1878 - Aged 68 Years.
CAROLINE: Interred 12.12.1887 - Aged 75 Years.
(1) WILLIAM: Interred 20.9.1923 - Aged 76 Years.
(2) FRANK: Interred 27.8.1878 - Aged 6 Months.
(3) KENNETH: Interred 7.11.1923 - Aged 18 Months.

AND BY WAY OF EXPLANATION:
(1) WILLIAM son of JACOB and CAROLINE
(2) FRANK - son of WILLIAM and brother of WILLIAM JOHN, HERBERT HENRY and PERCIVAL GEORGE.
(3) KENNETH - son of PERCIVAL and brother of CLIVE and STUART.
(See later stories.)

To complete the story the children married as follow:

Sarah b 1839/40 Comberton (UK) married William Anderson in 1868 (Vic Reg 3526).
Elizabeth b 1841/42 Comberton (UK) married William John Hosking in 1874 (V/R 3813).
John b 1843/44 Comberton married Rachael Marsh in 1872 (Vic Reg 1303).
Ann b 1844/45 Comberton married William Elliott Borley in 1867 (Vic Reg 2600).
WILLIAM b 1847 Comberton married Mary Ann Hubbard in 1875.
Jacob b 1850 Comberton married Jane Maria Rhodes in 1874 (Vic Reg 2728).
Mary b 1851/52 Comberton married Thomas Goatley in 1874 (Vic Reg 2542).