Stephen MARTIN

[toru4]

Hi Guys,
 The above worked as a shoemaker in Melbourne B4 enlisting there in the First Waikato Militia arriving New Zealand 1863. Born  1842 Colraine Ireland.
 How did he get to Australia?
Grateful for any help.
 Toru 4.

[majm]

Hi there,

Well of course he came to Australia by ship  but I am sure you are asking if there's any way to find out the details of which ship, voyage etc.

Some thoughts 

Please, do you have his d.c. and does it show how long he had been in the colonies? 

As he was born in 1842, and was in NZ by 1863, but was a shoemaker in Melbourne before going to NZ, then do you know where he learned that trade please (Ireland or Victoria etc) ?

Also, what document gives you the info that he was a shoemaker in Melbourne ... is there a street address shown on that  please?

Cheers,  JM

[toru4]

Hi,
 Sorry.I wondered if he came to Ausie as an infant with a convict mother.His militia records state enlisted  Melbourne 1 Sep 1863 age 21 ,Trade shoemaker.Sailed NZ "Star of India" D/C only states how long in NZ and  born Ireland
Thanks
 Toru 4

[majm]

Hi

From that d.c.  what names for his parents ....

 Also it is very possible he was an adult arriving in Vic chasing his fortune on the goldfields ...  perhaps even arriving same year as enlistment ....   

When did he die ....   I have forebears who died NZ but had lived NSW after migrating fom Ireland ... the printout of d.c. allowed me to confirm how long in the colonies as I knew arrival to NZ and to NSW  .... the d.c. was 1908 .... ie not that long after Aust was federated ....   NZ had been considering being in that Federation .


Cheers JM

[toru4]

Hi JM,
 Forgot to say D.C. dated 1893 states mother Mary,father unknown.How long in NZ.30 yrs. Because he joined the first Waikato Militia I  also wondered if he came to Oz as a memeber of a military escort to convicts. Do you have any knowledge of who these regiments were?
cheers
Toru 4

[majm]

Hi,

You have him as born 1842.  Transportation of convicts to NSW ceased 1840 (and was formally abolished in 1850).  Transportation of convicts to VDL ceased 1853.  Victoria was separated into its own colony in 1851.  Transportation of convicts to Moreton Bay ceased 1839, this was part of NSW, but in 1859 it became part of Qld when that colony was separated off from NSW).   South Australia did not directly receive transported convicts.  Western Australia did not receive transported convicts until 1850.  Transportation of convicts to WA ceased 1868.

There were around 165,000 convicts transported over those eighty years.   In comparison, just in 1852 over 370,000 people arrived in the colonies .... GOLD FEVER !

There were volunteer militias raised in the colonies, some of those volunteers could have previously been in any of the foot regiments, (or descendants of).   There are many well researched books about those garrison forces and their families.  Here is a link to an online site that may help you ... http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~garter1/tobegin.htm
A snip from part of the opening paragraph indicates that  "For a period of 82 years, 25 British Infantry Regiments, Several Service Regiments, and Marine Detachments, consisting of English, Scottish, Welsh & Irish service persons were assigned to duties in the Colony"
Cheers,  JM

[majm]

Another thought ....  this is speculation, and may well be completely off track.

Perhaps he was a Parkhurst Boy......

http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/convicts/park.html

Here is a link to a recent RChat thread, perhaps you may consider sending a PM to
BAC3 to ask if your lad was amongst those "Exiles"

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,534007.0.html

Cheers,  JM

[majm]

Hi again,

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 120, 23 May 1893, Page 5 mentions the Probate of Stephen Martin's will.
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast

Archives NZ online index has the file reference.
http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/Home.do

Fingers crossed there may be further information about his origins in those links.   

Also, have you tried the digitised newspapers at the National Library of Australia's trove website ... http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/home

Cheers,  JM

[toru4]

Hi,
 Thanks a million JM at least it has ruled out the convict idea and given me plenty to peruse. Will definitely investigate them.One query.Did the Parhurst boys go to Australia as well as NZ. as I have tried them in NZ
Toru 4