Martha Ellenor King nee McCann (#52Ancestors #2)

Week 2, King - January 8 is Elvis' birthday, January 15 is the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. So I will write about a great great aunt named King.

Martha Ellenor (Ellen) McCann was born on the 30 July 1858 to Charles John McCann and Mary (nee Johnson) at the Richmond River, New South Wales. Martha was the 5th child and 3rd daughter. The McCann family moved between Victoria and the Richmond River on two occasions that I know about. They had a child in Ballarat in 1853, two children (one was Martha Ellenor) in the Richmond River District in 1856 & 1858, the next child in 1860 back in Ballarat Victoria. So Martha was very young when the family travelled back to Victoria. I wonder how they went - possibly by coastal steamer I expect.

Martha Ellenor with her mother Mary McCann c 1880

Martha married Richard Stephen King on 1 April 1878 at Teven Creek, New South Wales. Richard was the son of Richard & Sarah King (nee Brown). Richard King Snr. was a cedar cutter and his son Richard Stephen followed in his father's footsteps.

Martha c 1921

Martha & Richard had seven children, four girls and three boys, all born in Lismore, New South Wales. I'm not sure when exactly Martha & Richard moved to Brisbane - her favourite brother George (my great grandfather) had moved to Brisbane early in 1920 - they were certainly living in Nelson Street, Dutton Park, Brisbane by 1913. Martha died on 16 January 1925 at home and was buried on 17 January at the South Brisbane Cemetery.

So that's my Week 2 King. My mother was a baby when Aunty Martha died but her grandfather George told her many stories about his big sister Martha and she is fondly remembered by the McCann family.