WILLIAM
RICHARD MARSTERS
aka RICHARD MASTERS (b.1831, d.1899)
From Walcote,
Leicestershire, England
to Palmerston Island, Cook Islands
Map of Palmerston Island drawn by Liam Hilyard, great (x4)-grandson of William Richard Marsters
MARSTERS FAMILY TREE
Little is known about the women to whom William Marsters had his 23 children apart from the fact that they were all from Penrhyn, the most northern island of the Cook Islands. His first child was Ritia to Arehata. The story is told that her father would not allow her to marry Marsters so that he married another Penrhyn woman. Akakaingaro, a chief's daughter.
Marsters called her Sarah. A reason for this is given in "Masters of Walcote". What little is known about the women is found in research that was done by New Zealander John C Burland in 1961.
In 2007, I made a visit to
Penrhyn - the most northern
of the islands in the Cook Islands. In the village of Tetautua, I met
the last remaining grandchild of William Marsters. She was Ann, the
daughter of Titera who was the last daughter of William and Matavia. She
told me where Tepou was buried.
* Tepou left Palmerston soon after William Marsters died, and is
buried on Tetautua, her home village on Penrhyn.
* Matavia died in
Palmerston on 1891 and is buried on her section of the
island.
* Akakaingaro died in 1908 and is buried in the churchyard on Palmerston
Island
The Descendants of William Marsters
of Palmerston Island
From the 4 women, William Marsters had 23 children
and 134 grandchildren. There are said to be thousands of
descendants of William Marsters living throughout the
world today. This genealogy was written by a Mrs Paget
in the early 1950s who consulted with family on
Palmerston and on Rarotonga to put this historical
document together. Among her informants were Ned
Marsters and his son Reverend Bill Marsters who until
his death in 2004 was acknowledged among the family as
an expert on the family's genealogy. I have had further
confirmation that the names are accurate by my uncles
Louis and Ioaba Marsters who were also experts on the
history of the Marsters family of Palmerston Island. (My
lineage is underlined)
1.
Arehata (Penrhyn)
1.1 Ritia
(Litia in the Penrhyn dialect)
m. Andrew William Ford
1.1.1- William
1.1.2- Helen
2.
Akakaingaro (whom he
married on Penrhyn. Also known as Sarah or Tata, d.1908)
2.1 Ann
(d. Samoa, about 1858)
2.2 Elizabeth
(d. Manuae, about 1859)
2.3 Joel
(b.1860, d.1918)
m(1). woman from Marquesas
2.3.1 William
2.3.2 Elizabeth
m(2). Tahua
- no issue
m(3). Elizabeth (Takapu)
2.3.3 Ann Matron
2.3.4 Tumai Sarah
2.3.5 Jimmy
2.3.6 Richard
2.3.7 Teina
2.4 William
(b.1863, d.1946 - born the day before William
and his family arrived on Palmerston Island)
m(1). Munokoa Tihau
2.4.1 Elizabeth (Tauariki)
2.4.2 Joel (Taime)
2.4.3 Richard (Dick Tama)
m(2). Tepoitemarama (Rakahanga)
2.4.4 Carl
2.4.5 Ned (Edward)
2.4.6 Tearaia
2.4.7 Sarah
2.4.8 Ann
2.4.9 Kura
2.4.10 Martha
2.4.11 Edward
2.4.12 Twin
2.4.13 James
2.4.14 Tuatai
2.5 James (Coffin)
(b.1864, d.1920)
m. Munokoa
2.6 Edward (b.1865, d.1865 - 6months old)
2.7 Elizabeth (b.1866,
d.1930)
2.7.1 Te Hinano Paruai
m. David Manuka
2.7.2 Tom
2.7.3 Mary
2.7.4 Munokoa
2.7.5 Joe
2.7.6 William
2.7.7 Caroline
2.7.8 Puaiata
2.7.9 Ketia
2.7.10 Sarah
2.8 Kura (b.?)
m. Taenga (Alfred)
2.8.1 Joel
2.8.2 Rapahua (Vivi)
2.9 Tearaia (b.1881,
d.1931)
m. Ketia Repaio
2.9.1 Elizabeth
3.
Tepou Tinioi (cousin
of Akakaingaro, originally brought to Palmerston to help
her look after the children)
3.1 Marion
m(1). Nuiean man
3.1.1 Vaevae
m(2). Raki
3.2 John Maretapu (d.1905)
m(1). Metua
3.2.1 Richard (Dicky Boy)
3.2.2 Marion
3.2.3 Aaron
3.2.4 David
m(2). Raono
3.2.5 Poutapu
3.3 Thomas (d.1918)
m. Munokoa Poto
3.3.1 John (Monday)
3.3.2 Elizabeth (Paruai)
3.3.3 Kairenga
3.3.4 Jacob
3.3.5 Jimmy
3.3.6 Ann (Painkiller)
3.3.7 Joe
3.3.8 Aaron
3.3.9 Carry
3.3.10 Temu
3.3.11 Jacob
3.3.12 Joel
3.3.13 Nooroa (Blind)
3.3.14 Martha Maki
3.4 Richard (Dick Rahi) (d.1945)
m. Tavake (Gilbertese woman)
3.4.1 Tom
3.4.2 John
3.4.3 Mata
3.4.4 Richard
3.4.5 Marion
3.4.6 Teroru
3.4.7 Korinako
3.4.8 Ann
3.5 Ann Rahi (d.1943)
m. Raki
3.5.1 William
3.5.2 Tom
3.5.3 Joe
3.5.4 Tepou
3.5.5 Puroua Raki
3.6 Rapahua Carry (Kare)
m(1). Raono
- no issue
m(2). Kaiei (in Aitutaki)
3.6.1 Richard
3.6.2 Vaine
3.6.3 Daniel
3.6.4 Tom
3.6.5 Tuatai
3.6.6 Daniel
3.6.7 Kesi
3.6.8 Haua
3.6.9 John
3.6.10 Repaio
3.6.11 Martha
3.6.12 Marion
3.6.13 Joe
4. Matavia (Matauia in the Penrhyn dialect), wife of William Marsters' Portugese friend, Jean Baptiste Fernandos. They had a son called Mahuta who was 'adopted' by Marsters after the death of his friend.
4.1 Pedrin (f, d.1939)
m. Ngaropi
4.1.1 Andrew
4.1.2 Taenga
4.1.3 Sarah
4.1.4 Aaron
4.1.5 John
4.1.6 Are
4.1.7 Kurapare
4.1.8 William
4.2 Andrew (d.1942)
m. Matetai
4.2.1 Pedrin
4.2.2 Tekena
4.2.3 Titera
4.2.4 Joe
4.2.5 Aaron
4.2.6 Andiline
4.2.7 Marion
4.2.8 Lizzie
4.2.9 Mary
4.3 Taenga (Alfred)
(d.1951)
m(1). Kura
4.3.1 Joel
m(2). Hauatuatai
4.3.2 Tamapi
4.3.3 Mary
4.3.4 Aaron
4.3.5 Martin
4.3.6 Pedrin
4.3.7 Tauromi
4.3.8 Mose
4.3.9 Tiarua
4.3.10 Maihia
4.2.11 Bob
4.3.12 Matavia
4.2.13 Turu
4.3.14 William
4.3.15 Rubena
4.4 Joe (d.1947)
m. Ruta
- no issue
4.5 Mary
m(1). Harris
No Issue
m(2). Tikaroa
4.5.1 Matavia Terapii
4.5.2 Ngarea
4.5.3 Tom
4.5.4 Paora
4.5.5 Mana
4.5.6 Makaro
4.5.7 Tungane
4.5.8 Mary
4.5.9 William
4.5.10 Egypt
m(3). Teuringaru
4.5.11 Tako
4.6 Aaron Bury
m(1). Vai
m(2). Puatama
4.7 Titera
m. Tangi
4.7.1 Ngarengare
4.7.2 William
4.7.3 Andrew
4.7.4 Taenga
4.7.5 Joe
4.7.6 Bill Pou
4.7.7 Aaron Petero
4.7.8 Ann
*Mahuta Fernandos
m. Munokoa Tangipatu
- Pedrin
- Toma
- Matavia
- Aaron Toka
- Rahui
Matavia's gravesite on Palmerston Island on the section of land designated for her children and their descendants.
.JPG)
.JPG)
Akakaingaro's gravesite which lies next to the church on Palmerston and in front of that of her husband, William Marsters.
Unmarked site of Tepou's grave
in Tetautua
Ann Tangi and her grand-daughter at
Tetautua village, Penrhyn, 2005
