4th Great Grandparents; William Martin and Euphemia (Elizabeth or Effie) Fraser

William Martin (1807-1890)

William Martin born Nov 1 1811 christened Nov 20 1811 Inverness.  He married Elizabeth (Elisabeth or Effie) Fraser Dec 08, 1831 Kiltarlity, Inverses-shire, Scotland. Elizabeth was the daughter of William Fraser and Jane ?. When they emigrated on the Heber, 1839, they entered NSW with two children Catherine b about 1834 and William born abt 1836 both in Inverness.  He was listed as a labourer. The family moved to New South Wales around 1837 and became farmers (Wikipedia). A grant of 400 acres to Mr William Martin at Ellalong, (near Wollombi NSW), is referred to in New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900)  Sat 2 Feb 1839 [Issue No.387 (SUPPLEMENT)]  Page 156, SALE OF LAND).    This land grant to a William Martin is also referred to here. It was granted 2 February 1839.

They had three children in 10 years. He died on May 22, 1890, in New South Wales, Australia, having lived a long life of 83 years. Unfortunately, William Martin was in Australia in 1890, during a decade when the country was completely undone by a depression that affected every facet of daily living.

His younger brother, Donald Martin emigrated later.  He was born Sep 07, 1820 christened Sept 17 1820 and married Margaret Grant Jun 16, 1843 at Cawdor, Nairn, Scotland. When they emigrated in 1852 they arrived with three children John Mar 10, 1844 Crawdor Nairn; Alexander Born Feb 09, 1846 Of Milton Of Kilravock, Inverness and James Jun 26, 1848 Crawdor, Nairn.  The parents of both William and Donald are Alexander Martin Apr 12, 1780 Inverness and Catherine McLean Apr 10, 1783. 

Euphemia (Elizabeth or Effie) Fraser (1799-1889)

Euphemia (Elizabeth or Effie) Fraser was born in 1799 in Inverness-shire, Scotland. She married William Martin on December 8, 1831, in her hometown. They came to  Australia on the Heber 1839.  She was listed as a farm servant. They had three children in 10 years. She died on November 6, 1889, in Raymond Terrace, New South Wales, Australia, at the impressive age of 90.

She died at a place called Martin's Wharf, presumably named after the family.

Kiltarlity

From Wikipedia, 

Kiltarlity is a very small village about 20k west of Inverness and just over 2k south of Beauly.  

Scottish Gaelic: Cill Targhlain which means "Church of Talorcan/Talorgan, named after Pictish kings.

Above; The voyage of the Heber.

Above; William Fraser Martin MP

 William Fraser Martin

William, Wiliam and Effie's son, became a member of parliament.

 (from WIKIPEDIA); "William was a commercial agent and produce merchant. Arrived in New South Wales c.1837 with his parents, who took up farming. He travelled extensively in New South Wales and Victoria during gold rushes, prospecting and digging. In 1859 he became a farmer. Later he became a commercial agent and produce merchant in Sydney. Orangeman. Son of William Martin, farmer, and Elizabeth Fraser. Married Mary McFarlane on 28 April 1859 at Morpeth and had issue, 2 sons. Presbyterian."

It is noted that Wiliam was an Orangeman. Orangemen were those who followed and supported William of Orange when he overthrew the Catholic James as King of England (c1688). When the republican Irish catholics rose up against the Protestants and British in 1795 in Ulster, Orangemen from Scotland were sent to help subdue them. The Orange order grew in Scotland when many working-class Ulster Protestants returned to the Scottish Lowlands with the Scottish allies. Many of these immigrants saw themselves as returning to the land of their forefathers. So the Orangemen had strong Irish ties and were allied with the British.

Highland Clearances

During the Highland Clearances of the 18th and 19th centuries, Euphemia (Elizabeth or Effie) Fraser moved from the Scottish Highlands.  Many of my family left during the famine years of 1837/38, due to both the famine and the collapse of the seaweed trade, which left them unable to pay the rents on their crofts and small lands.