Arrived with his uncle - John Hole Duffield on the Warrior. John Foss Tonkin was then 18 years of age. John Foss Tonkin was indentured to Lionel Samson of Fremantle to build a timber mill. In the early 1830's he left Fremantle for the Upper Swan area where he was working with Richard Edwards, a brick and tile maker. John Foss Tonkin worked with the Edwards building, a two storeyed house on the estate of Henley Park. He married Dinah Edwards on 26 December 1836 at St Matthews Church, Guildford. They had eleven children with most of their children surviving to adulthood. They lived in the Upper Swan area in the early years of their marriage, which was closer to Dinah's parents Richard and Elizabeth. In 1837 their first home was 'Clear Hills' and then in 1848 they moved to 'Wisewoods' the properties belonging to her father. Later on in their marriage (1851) they moved to Fremantle, where they lived in South Terrace. He was a red headed man with blue eyes and a likeable personality, with a reputation of being a storyteller. Much loved by all, including the natives of the area who were fascinated by the colour of his hair. His son Edward Matthew Tonkin inherited his attributes. John Foss and Dinah along with Edwards were worshippers at the All Saints Church in Upper Swan. Dinah died 5 May 1885, aged 67 years, at the residence of their youngest daughter Maria Tapper. John Foss died 11 January 1896 also at the home of Maria.