By Alva “Bobbie” Davies

Nothing is known of George’s early life. George’s birth date may have been 1830 (this is disputed—see below). George was born in Hambourg, Germany, came to Australia, and married Mary Louisa “Polly” Wells on 22nd March 1860.

The passenger list of the Danish ship Acmel which arrived in Melbourne from Hamburg on 6th January 1855 has a “Fried[rich] Heiner Laudehr” on board. (Probably Farmer, age 25 on board, possibly George (David Lauder disputes this below). George was sometimes called “Jack”.

He had two sons and one daughter:

—George Frankston Lauder (known as “Jack”) (b 1860) M. Mary Louise Styles
—Henry Jurgen (known as “Bob”) (b 1864) M. Mary (“Minnie”) Jane Games
—Hannah Martha Matilda (b 1866) M. William E. Player

He was a gardener, Fisherman, and bullock team carrier. He died as the result of an accident in a boat, of a heart attack, when fishing in Port Philip Bay at Frankston. After an inquest on 15th April 1967 his father in law had him buried at Frankston Cemetery.

He was survived by his wife, Polly and three children aged (at the time): George Frankston (aged 6), Henry Jurgen (4), and Hannah Martha Matilda (aged 7 months).

By Dave Lauder

George Laudehr arrived in the colony of Victoria by unknown means. There is a school of thought that claims George Laudehr is the same person as Fried(rich) Heinr(ich) Landwehr, 25 years of age, single, from Hannover, who arrived in Hobson’s Bay (just to the west of the Port of Melbourne) on the Danish ship Acmel on the 6 January 1855. I do not support this opinion.

He was known as George Laudehr, but since “George” is not a Germanic name, it is unlikely that he was christened as such. He was probably named Jörgen. He appears to be the only person of this surname ever to have migrated to Australia. There is nothing known of his early years.

Married Life

On the 22nd March 1860, George Laudehr, a bachelor, from Hamburgh, Germany, a gardener, 27 years of age married Maria Louisa Wells, a Spinster, from Port Nepean, Victoria, a domestic servant, 22 years of age. Maria Louisa Wells was known as Polly Wells. His parents are shown as Jürgen Laudehr and Mary Juzen and his father’s occupation is listed as farmer. George and Polly were married in the Wesley Church at Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Marriages were solemnized in the District of South Bourke (Melbourne). [19] Baptisms solemnized in the parish of Saint James, Melbourne, County of Bourke.

To be 27 years of age at his wedding, George had to be born between 21st March 1832 and 22nd March 1833. To be 22 years of age, Polly had to be born between 21st March 1837 and 22nd March 1838. She was, however, born on the 7th June 1841 and was the first white child born to permanent settlers on the Mornington Peninsula. Her parents were Henry Cadby Wells and Hannah Wells (nee Hill). On the day of her marriage, therefore, Polly was only 18 years of age. Henry Cadby Wells was an important identity in Frankston area and after which Wells Road is named.

Death

George died on the 14th March 1867 in a boat on Port Philip Bay near Frankston, Victoria. [20] His age is listed as 35 years and his occupation as “fisherman”. The Coroner’s Inquest gave the cause of death as “effusion of blood into the Pericardium from rupture of blood vessels from natural causes”. He was buried on the 16th March 1867 at the Frankston Cemetery by his father-in-law, Henry Cadby Wells. He is stated (in the Death Register) to have lived in the Colony of Victoria for 15 years, which puts his arrival year around 1852.

No minister officiated at the burial and his children are listed as:

—George Frankston Henry Jürgen (6 years)
—Hannah Martha Matilda (4 years 7 months)

To be 35 years of age at his death, George had to be born between 13th March 1831 and 14th March 1832. Although not agreeing specifically with the Marriage Register, taken together they put a birth year between 1831 and 1833.

Avis Leigh
 
George Laudehr is believed to have been born in Hanover, Germany, about 1830. The passenger list of the Danish ship 'Acmel' which arrived in Melbourne from Hamburg on the 6th. January 1855, has a "Fried: Heiner Laudehr”, I was told the listing probably translated to; “Farmer: Heiner Laudehr” age 25, possibly George. Alex Patience suggested the translation may be Fredrick Heiner Laundehr (the print out is not clear). If it was Fredrick Heiner Laudehr also known as George, this may be a family trait carried on in the next generation as shown below, where George's two sons are known by names that bear no resemblance to their given names. 

George  married Mary (Polly) Wells in 1860. On the marriage certificate George names his parents as Jorgen Laudehr and Mary Juzen (Gutzen); (marriage certificate No. 118) George lists his occupation as a gardener, and states he was 27 years old; he may in fact have been 30, putting his age down by 3 years. Polly stated she was 22 years old, although the fact is she was 2 weeks under 19; putting her age up three years. 
  
George and Polly settled down in Frankston where George worked as a fisherman, and carrier with a bullock team. They had three children:

—George Frankston (commonly known as “Jack”) 
—Henry Jurgen (Gergon) (commonly known as “Bob”)
—Hannah Martha Matilda
 
George was found dead in his fishing boat on Port Phillip Bay on the 14-3-1867; he was buried in the Frankston Cemetery by his father-in-law, Henry Cadby Wells on the 16-3- 1867 after an inquest held on the 15th. Jack was just 6 years old, Bob 4 and Hannah 7 months when their father died. 

When George " Jurgen " Laudehr was born in 1830 in Hamburg, Germany, his father, Johann, was 30 and his mother, Johanna, was 30. He married Mary Louisa (Polly) WELLS in 1860 in Frankston, Victoria. They had four children during their marriage. He died on 14 March 1867 in Frankston, Victoria, at the age of 37.