Introduction / William Gray and Mary Robertson / William Gray

Martha Esther Gray and Martin Thompson

Martha Esther Gray (born 24th April 1859) was born in Sydney, the fourth of eight children known of William Gray and Eliza Jane Shields.

She married Martin Thompson on 5th May 1876 in St Pauls Church, Cleveland St., Redfern, Sydney. He was a master mariner.

Martha and Martin had eleven children:

• William Martin Thompson, born 8th February 1877, Sydney; died 17th January 1878

• Arthur Anton Thompson, born 15th February 1879, Sydney; died Campsie, NSW in 1955

• Richard Boyd Thompson, born 19th May 1881, Sydney

• William Martin Thompson, born 25th December 1882, Sydney; drowned at sea on 24th October 1911

• John Ernest Thompson, born 21st March 1884, Sydney; died 15th May 1887, Sydney

• Alice Maude Thompson, born 13th August 1885, Sydney

• Ivy May Thompson, born 21st June 1888, Sydney; died 1969, Sydney

• Martin Norman Thompson, born 28th October 1895, Sydney; died 1944, Ryde, NSW

• Doris Blanche Thompson, born 8th October 1890, Sydney

• Martha Lillian Thompson, born 30th June 1899, Sydney; died 6th December 1972, Blacktown, NSW

• Norma Esther Thompson, born 1905

Martin was unfortunately captain of the SS Collaroy, which ran aground on Collaroy beach, Sydney in 1881.

He died on in 1920 in Waverly, NSW and Martha in 1932.