William Martin, Snr, Free Settler "Coromandel" 1838

It was in the English seaside town of Winchelsea, in the southern county of Sussex, that a son, William, was born to William and Mary Martin (nee Jones) in 1806. Little Not a great deal is known of his childhood or teenage years, except that as a young man he followed in his father's footsteps and became a farm labourer. He had some basic education and could read and write.

In 1829, at the age of 23, he married Cordelia Sinden who was 19. They emigrated to the new colony of NSW, sailing from Plymouth on the 14th June, 1838, on the Coromandel with their 4 children William 9 years, Mary 6 years, Ann 4 years, and Sarah 18 months old, the journey lasted 3.5 months, landing in Sydney on 2nd October, 1838.

The family's emigration was sponsored by a Mr. Marshall of Sydney, who had a job available for William on arrival. How long William, Cordelia and the children spent in Sydney is unknown, but it could not have been very long before they moved to the Williams River, as their eight younger children were all born in that general area, with births taking place at Singleton, Brandon Grove, Wyleys Flat, Upper Allyn River, Williams River and Clarencetown.

The family home was for a time at Bandon Grove where he grew wheat, tobacco and ran some dairy cows, and then at Chichester River. They were still at Chichester in 1853. Ann and Mary had married and moved north to the Manning, so three years latter in 1858 William, Cordelia and other members of the family moved to the Manning Valley.

They made their home at "Kelvin Grove", William and Cordelia spent the rest of their lives there. William passed away on the 15th November, 1876 and Cordelia on 9th June, 1894. They are buried in the Uniting Church portion of the Tinonee Cemetery.

"From Winchelsea to Kelvin Grove: A Martin Family History 150 Years in Australia" 1838-1988. Published by Classic Printer. Taree NSW.