MARMON, JOHN (1800-80) was born in Sydney, the son of an Irish stonemason. At the age of five years he went to sea with Captain Mullory in a whaler, calling at Bay of Islands, where he met some Maori chiefs. He spent the next five years at school and again went to sea, as cabin boy to Captain Garbet, of the brig Comerel. The vessel called at the Macquarie islands, at Three Kings and Bay of Islands, obtaining there a cargo of spars. On this voyage (1811) Marmon met Tapsell (q.v.), then carpenter of the whaler Catherine. While trading for sandalwood and other native produce they met at Nukuhiva Captain Porter of the U.S.S. frigate Essex, who had lost a boat's crew by being cast ashore. In 1816 Marmon shipped with his old owners (Underwoods) for the island trade, again in the King George, which was to land sealers on the west coast of the South Island. On arriving at Borabora, Tahiti, he ran away and lived for two years under the protection of the Tahitians, returning to Sydney in the brig Hawser. After several voyages to Tasmania he shipped in the Government brig Earl of Bathurst, Captain King, for extensive explorations in northern Australia (including Dampier archipelago and Isle of France). Having been apprehended in Sydney in possession of a stolen watch, he received a sentence of one year's imprisonment, which he worked out aboard the Government ship Henrietta, carrying convicts and stores from port to port. In Nov 1823 he was in the Macquarie under Captain Kent, returning some Otago chiefs to their homes and calling at numerous ports in the South Island. Marmon spent some weeks aboard H.M.S. Tees. He left his own ship in Hokianga and was taken under the protection of the Ngapuhi chief Muriwai. There he married Ihipera, daughter of Raumata (better known as Hone Kingi) and took up his permanent residence, being given a piece of land at the junction of Waihou creek and Hokianga harbour. He claims to have co-operated with Muriwai in saving the brig Glory from being captured when she was in Hokianga with Te Rauparaha and Te Hiko on board (1826). He seems also to have been present when the brig Wellington was recaptured from the convicts through the instrumentality of the Rev Henry Williams. He died on 2 Sep 1880.

Thomson; Webster; N.Z. Herald, 13 Sep-11 Dec 1880. Marmon's narrative (last cited) is to be accepted with reserve.

Reference: Volume 2, page 30

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