The Martinet

The Martinet: A romance of early days in New South Wales, Australia was a play written for the screen by Eleanor Anne Ogilvy (nee Hewetson).  Eleanor wrote the work during the late 1920s, applying for copyright on 22 February 1930. The main characters in the screenplay are Eleanor’s own ancestors.

This was an ambitious undertaking at a time when the film industry was in its infancy. The play was never made into a film or performed anywhere.

The names against the character names are the real people. I have not worked out who all of them are so if you have any ideas please add a comment via the form at the bottom of this page. Thanks!

The Historical Scenario

The Characters

1. Major Sandys – William Sandys Elrington

2. Richard Sandys – Richard Goodall Elrington

3. Lieutenant Sandys – Clement Caines Elrington

Louisa Clark – Louisa Mary Clarke.

Louisa Mary Clarke

Louisa Mary Clarke was born in Soho, London in 1810 to George Bryant Clarke and Louisa Christina Heydinger. She arrived in Sydney on 3 October 1836. She had travelled as governess to the Huntley family on the Duchess of Northumberland. Robert Huntley was the surgeon superintendent for the voyage and her brother George Thomas Clarke, who was also a surgeon, may have played a part in Louisa’s appointment as governess.

Dr Clarke – George Thomas Clarke – George Bryant Clarke was a brother of Louisa Mary Clarke. He arrived in Sydney with his wife Kate Fitzsimons aton the Florentia. Kate died in 1846 at Richmond, New South Wales. George married Emma Rebecca Levey, daughter of Barnett Levey and Sarah Emma Wilson on the 8 April 1847 at Penrith.

Emma Clarke – Kate Fitzsimons/Emma Rebecca Levey – Eleanor appears to have conflated by accident or on purpose the two wives of George Thomas Clarke. The wife he arrived with on the Florentia was Kate Fitzsimons, Kate died in 1846.

Alice Gilbey –

Mrs Gilbey –

9. Old Smithy – Mary Smith

Mrs Willsmore –

Curran –

Berry –

Moses –

Jackey Jackey – William Westwood

Brand –

Constable Willsmore –

Captain Williams –

Colonel Wilson – Henry Croasdaile Wilson

Mrs Wilson –

Officials –

Sir Richard Bourke – Governor

Hon. A Forbes? – Sir Francis Forbes?

Alexander McLeay – Colonial Secretary

Francis Allman was appointed police magistrate at Campbelltown in 1836

Commissioner Reid

Edmund Burke Roche was appointed postmaster at Inverary in 1835 and chief constable at Yass 1836

The Martinet

Images courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. NAA: A1336, 30738