Martha Jane (Glasgow) Smith

Biography
Martha Jane was born about 1837-1842. She was likely the daughter of Samuel Glasgow and Ann McCormick of Gortin, Cookstown, County Tyrone.

In 1868 in Victoria, Australia, she married George Frederick Smith.
 
Marriage Registration:
"Victoria, Australia, Marriage Index, 1837-1961" 
The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Victoria, Australia, Marriage Records; Reference Number: 261 
 (accessed 28 April 2024) 
Martha Jane Glasgow marriage to George Frederick Smith in 1868 in Victoria, Australia.

In January 1930, Inspector Spedding Smith and his wife and mother moved to their estate at Spedding Downs, 27 miles north of Esperance, Western Australia.
 
1930 Newspaper:
"Trove, National Library of Australia" 
Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 - 1954), Tue 7 Jan 1930, Page 4 : PERSONAL ITEMS 
Trove Article (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/94421141) (accessed 28 April 2024)

She passed away in 1930 at Esperance, and was buried 13 February 1930 at Esperance Cemetery.
 Death Index (WA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justice/online-index-search-tool) : accessed 28 Apr 2024), Index entry for Smith, Martha Jane; Father: Samuel GLASGLOW; Mother: Annie MCCORMACK; Age: 93; Place of Death: Esperance; Year of Death: 1930; District: Esperance; Registration Number: 2500002; Registration Year: 1930 
Research Notes
Identity
Based on just the death registration, it's very plausible that Martha's parents were indeed this same couple. The "Glasgow" surname originated with this family who fought at the siege of Derry and settled in the Cookstown area, so it seems less likely there were two different such Samuels who both married Ann McCormacks. 

According to information received in email, 27 April 2024, the marriage certificate also gives her birthplace as Belfast, Ireland. It was not uncommon for emigrants from Northern Ireland to give their origin as "Belfast" rather than a more specific location. Belfast is about 50 miles by road from Cookstown. (Next door neighbours for someone who lived in Western Australia!)

The older siblings of this family are mentioned in Derryloran confirmation registers, up to 1846. Martha would be too young for those registers; but she is not mentioned in later confirmations for the same church, nor is a baptism given. It may be possible the records were not transcribed correctly, or perhaps the family changed churches at some point. Gortin was in walking distance of Kildress parish church; a lot closer than Derryloran parish church.

The possible passenger log below is also very good for this story, as these parents did have a brother Thomas of approximately correct age, who later turned up in New Zealand.

The Findagrave profiles both give Cookstown as place of birth -- no source.
Emigration
Possible passenger log: Martha J. Glasgow (16) + Thomas Glasgow (24) both Irish , arriving in Melbourne aboard the ship Africa on 18 August 1858.
 
Passenger List:
"Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923" 
Public Record Office Victoria; North Melbourne, Victoria; Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (British Ports) [Microfiche Copy of VPRS 947]; Series: VPRS 7666 
 - (accessed 28 April 2024) 
Name: Martha Glasgow; Nationality: Irish; Arrival Age: 16; Birth Date: abt 1842; Departure Place: Liverpool; Arrival Date: 17 Aug 1858; Arrival Place: Melbourne, Australia; Ship: Africa.

Although the age differs from the death registration, that is not a problem: ages were very fluid for Irish emigrants of this time; who often did not even know their true ages. Her age on the passenger log may have been an estimate by the log-taker; or the age on death might be an estimate as well.
Sources
* Marriage Certificate (see attached)

[[Category:Esperance Public Lawn Cemetery, Esperance, Western Australia]]
[[Category:Migrants from County Tyrone to Victoria]]
[[Category:Gortin Townland, Derryloran Parish, County Tyrone]]
[[Category:Africa, Arrived 11 Aug 1858]]
== Biography == 
{{Ireland Native}}
Martha Jane was born about 1837-1842. She was likely the daughter of [[Glasgow-2054|Samuel Glasgow]] and [[McCormick-8286|Ann McCormick]] of Gortin, Cookstown, County Tyrone.
<ref name="d"/>

In 1868 in Victoria, Australia, she married George Frederick Smith.
<ref>
'''Marriage Registration''':
"Victoria, Australia, Marriage Index, 1837-1961"<br/>
The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Victoria, Australia, Marriage Records; Reference Number: 261<br/>
{{Ancestry Record|61649|263546}} (accessed 28 April 2024)<br/>
Martha Jane Glasgow marriage to George Frederick Smith in 1868 in Victoria, Australia.
</ref>

In January 1930, Inspector Spedding Smith and his wife and mother moved to their estate at Spedding Downs, 27 miles north of Esperance, Western Australia.
<ref>
'''1930 Newspaper''':
"Trove, National Library of Australia"<br/>
Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 - 1954), Tue 7 Jan 1930, Page 4 : PERSONAL ITEMS<br/>
[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/94421141 Trove Article] (accessed 28 April 2024)
</ref>

She passed away in 1930 at Esperance, and was buried 13 February 1930 at Esperance Cemetery.
<ref name="d">Death Index ([https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justice/online-index-search-tool WA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages] : accessed 28 Apr 2024), Index entry for Smith, Martha Jane; Father: Samuel GLASGLOW; Mother: Annie MCCORMACK; Age: 93; Place of Death: Esperance; Year of Death: 1930; District: Esperance; Registration Number: 2500002; Registration Year: 1930</ref>
<ref>{{FindAGrave|130831334}}</ref>

== Research Notes ==
=== Identity ===
Based on just the death registration, it's very plausible that Martha's parents were indeed this same couple. The "Glasgow" surname originated with this family who fought at the siege of Derry and settled in the Cookstown area, so it seems less likely there were two different such Samuels who both married Ann McCormacks. 

According to information received in email, 27 April 2024, the marriage certificate also gives her birthplace as Belfast, Ireland.  It was not uncommon for emigrants from Northern Ireland to give their origin as "Belfast" rather than a more specific location. Belfast is about 50 miles by road from Cookstown. (Next door neighbours for someone who lived in Western Australia!)

The older siblings of this family are  mentioned in Derryloran confirmation registers, up to 1846. Martha would be too young for those registers; but she is not mentioned in later confirmations for the same church, nor is a baptism given. It may be possible the records were not transcribed correctly, or perhaps the family changed churches at some point. Gortin was in walking distance of Kildress parish church; a lot closer than Derryloran parish church.

The possible passenger log below is also very good for this story, as these parents did have a brother Thomas of approximately correct age, who later turned up in New Zealand.

The Findagrave profiles both give Cookstown as place of birth -- no source.

=== Emigration ===
Possible passenger log: Martha J. Glasgow (16) + Thomas Glasgow (24) both Irish , arriving in Melbourne aboard the ship ''Africa'' on 18 August 1858.
<ref>
'''Passenger List''':
"Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923"<br/>
Public Record Office Victoria; North Melbourne, Victoria; Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (British Ports) [Microfiche Copy of VPRS 947]; Series: VPRS 7666<br/>
{{Ancestry Sharing|13419733|7b22746f6b656e223a2274474a7372506f79722f4677715a67534158477157515a67436d5939434e66725036344d665547467a6c343d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d}} - {{Ancestry Record|1635|2759924}} (accessed 28 April 2024)<br/>
Name: Martha Glasgow; Nationality: Irish; Arrival Age: 16; Birth Date: abt 1842; Departure Place: Liverpool; Arrival Date: 17 Aug 1858; Arrival Place: Melbourne, Australia; Ship: Africa.
</ref>

Although the age differs from the death registration, that is not a problem: ages were very fluid for Irish emigrants of this time; who often did not even know their true ages. Her age on the passenger log may have been an estimate by the log-taker; or the age on death might be an estimate as well.

== Sources ==
<references />
* Marriage Certificate (see attached)