The Maynard origins are from the beautiful area south of England known as Cornwall. In particular, the Stratton parish reveals details about Maynard's in the parish records. A close connection with the Church of England existed, however John and Jane Maynard were converts to the Wesleyan branch.

There are distinct branches of Maynard in Cornwall, one of which is very well documented and sources back to the 1500's. Unfortunately this is not the case for this family line and records can only be confirmed to about 1800 and by name only (12 July 2002).

The very earliest mention is of Johanna Maynierde of Marhamchurch and Kilkhampton who married Degorius Gyste June 7,1559.
Fifteenth and sixteenth century Maynard’s are shown variously as Mainerd, Meinardus, Meinard, Mainard, Meginard, and Maganhard.

The name is mentioned in the Domesday Book with the derivation being Norman(William of Normandy).
There are no other records enabling earlier research.

Searching for records in Victoria in early 1850's is Difficult, as in 1851 Victoria was declared its own state and became self governing. Prior to that records for Port Phillip and other southern towns were listed under New South Wales.

(Source Hughes: "Passengers from Overseas to Port Phillip pre-1862"):
A ‘Mr. and Mrs. Maynard’ arrived in c.1851 on the ship Himalaya. Port Phillip is the old name for the area now known as Victoria. The record does not say where the ship came from; it could have come from another port in Australia though it is most likely the journey he took with his wife to emigrate to Australia.

The Marriage of Maynard and Jolliffe in Stratton, Cornwall, England in the early 1800's, linked deeper history from the family lines from the Maternal lineage.  From the wife of John Hancock Maynard, maternal names of Jolliffe, then Wannacott, and then Scown connect many other families to the Maynard line into the early 1700's.

(Source: Michael Jolliffe, CANADA.
Michael is a descendant of the Jolliffe lineage; a brother-in-law of John Hancock Maynard settled in Canada in the mid-1800's)

The descendants of this Maynard lineage have their ancestry based in the County of Stratton, in the Shires of Devon, Launcells, Bude and Marhamchurch earlier than the 1600's. This lineage, which changed for this author only when my Mother (a Maynard) married is rooted in Australia.  Many Maynard's emigrated to Canada in the mid 1800's.

(Source: John Maysmith, British Columbia, CANADA.
Michael is a descendant of the marriage between a Maynard and a Smith in the early 1900's)

The family line of Sellick extends the family into the early 1600's, but with a connection in the early 1900's to Reginald Richard Maynard.  This family name originates from within central Europe, most likely Germany.

Edward Maynard lived in around Launcells in County Stratton in the early 1600's.

William Maynard lived in the Shire of Stratton in County Cornwall England.  During his adult years, he worked with the local Parish Church in Stratton.

John Hancock Maynard emigrated to Australia from Cornwall and settled at 10 Perry Street, East Collingwood.  Here he raised his family and they remained in Collingwood for the next two generations, including John Francis.

Reginald Richard raised his family at 233 Napier Street, Fitzroy.  They later moved to Johnston Street, Fitzroy, near the corner of  Fitzroy Street in 1939.  Later Reginald built the family home at 244 Doncaster Road, North Balwyn in 1950.  His second wife remained here until her death in the mid 90's.

Irene Mavis settled with her husband Bernard in Stanhope Street, Collingwood when married and the family remained on the move for many years after.