Alexander Cousley FORBES c. 1836-1897, b. Co Derry, Ireland, son of Alexander FORBES and Esther COUSLEY was married in 1867 at Sandford, S-W Victoria to Sophia Elizabeth BENFORD 1849-1913, b. Portland, S-W Victoria, daughter of George BENFORD and Emma DAVIS. Emma BENFORD (nee DAVIS) remarried in 1849 to Edward WILLIAMS who died in 1853 and again in 1854 to Richard PRICE.

Alexander FORBES died at Sandford in 1897 and his wife Sophia died in 1913 at Merino and both are buried in the Sandford Cemetery.

Alexander Cousley FORBES & Sophia Elizabeth BENFORD had the following known family in the Sandford area...

1. George FORBES b. 1868, Casterton, Vic., d. 1889, Melbourne, Vic.
2. Elizabeth Ann FORBES b. 1869, Merino, Vic., m. 1889 Henry DAVIS, she had a son in 1887 prior to her marriage...
1. William Jackson FORBES, b. 1887, Henty, Vic, d. 1919, m. 1908, Margaret Ann GRAHAM 1885-1924, chn at Henty & Sandford.
3. Robert Alexander FORBES b. 1871, Sandford, Vic., d. 1948, m. Elizabeth SHEPHERD and they had 12 children in the Sandford area...
1. Robert Alexander FORBES, b. 1897, Sandford, Vic, d. 1973
• enlisted WW1, 14 June 1916
• served as Cpl 2074, 39th Battalion, AIF
• RTA 27 May 1919
• Named on Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll
• Named on Merino War Memorial
• Named on Sandford War Memorial
2. Mary Eileen FORBES, b. 1899, Sandford, d. 1947, Vic, m. Thomas BOURKE
3. James Henry FORBES, b. 1901, Sandford, Vic,
4. Christina Elizabeth FORBES, b. 1904, Sandford, Vic, m. Wilfred Spencley GARDINER
5. Annie Agnes FORBES, b. 1905, d. 1905, Sandford, Vic,
6. Nellie FORBES, b. 1907, Sandford, Vic, d. 1977, m. Leonard James HICKLETON
7. Bridget Kathleen FORBES, b. 1909, Sandford, Vic, m. William Robert KURTZE, m. ___ SMITH
8. Thomas Edward FORBES, b. 1912, Sandford, Vic, d. 1964, m. Phyllis BAXTER
9. Charlotte Lillian FORBES, b. 1916, Sandford, Vic,
10. Edna May FORBES, b. 1917, Hamilton, Vic, m. Stanley Thomas BROOKER
11. John Noel FORBES, b. 1919, Casteron, Vic, m. Norma Catherine DONNE
12. Arthur James FORBES, b. 1924, Hamilton, Vic, m. Dorothy Joyse THOMPSON
4. Sarah Jane FORBES b. 1873, Sandford, Vic., d. 1956, m. ___ LOUGHLIN
5. Mary Emma FORBES b. 1875, d. 1875, Sandford, Vic.
6. John Henry "Jack" FORBES b. 1878, Sandford, Vic., d. 1955, Dunedin, NZ, m. 1916 NZ to Agnes WATHERSTON 1891-1985
7. James Alexander FORBES b. 1881, Sandford, Vic., ................?
8. Eleanor "Ellen" FORBES b. 1884, Sandford, Vic., d. 1977, m. Albert Edward JINNETTE 1885-1954, chn at Merino & Melbourne.