John Marmon, known as Jacky Marmon (1798-1800?–1880)Roger Wigglesworth. 'Marmon, John - Marmon, John', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 30-Oct-2012
/ref> was an Australian sailor, who became one of the first Europeans to live as a

Pākehā Māori Pākehā Māori were early European settlers (known as Pākehā in the Māori language) who lived among the Māori in New Zealand. History Many Pākehā Māori were runaway seamen or escaped Australian convicts who settled in Māori communities ...

. His occupations included interpreter, shopkeeper, sawyer, carpenter and soldier.

Early life

Marmon was born in Sydney, New South Wales, the son of a convict stonemason of Irish descent. If Marmon's own account is to believed, he first went to sea on a whaling vessel at 5 years of age, visiting

Bay of Islands The Bay of Islands is an area on the east coast of the Far North District of the North Island of New Zealand. It is one of the most popular fishing, sailing and tourist destinations in the country, and has been renowned internationally for its ...

New Zealand in 1805 before returning to Sydney. He went to sea again at the age of 11, and sailed in merchant vessels throughout the Pacific and between the Australian colonies. In 1823 he was convicted of theft and sentenced to serve two years on government ships. From one of these he escaped while it was berthed in the north of New Zealand.

Life with the Māori

Hokianga The Hokianga is an area surrounding the Hokianga Harbour, also known as the Hokianga River, a long estuarine drowned valley on the west coast in the north of the North Island of New Zealand. The original name, still used by local Māori, is ...

Marmon lived under the protection of the local chief Muriwai and married the daughter of another. He became fluent in Māori and travelled on the

Ngāpuhi Ngāpuhi (or Ngā Puhi) is a Māori iwi associated with the Northland region of New Zealand and centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands, and Whangārei. According to the 2018 New Zealand census, the estimated population of Ngāpuhi is 165, ...

raids on the Hokianga under the leadership of

Hongi Hika Hongi Hika ( – 6 March 1828) was a New Zealand Māori rangatira (chief) and war leader of the iwi of Ngāpuhi. He was a pivotal figure in the early years of regular European contact and settlement in New Zealand. As one of the first Māori l ...

. He attempted unsuccessfully to convince Hokianga Maori not to sign the

Treaty of Waitangi The Treaty of Waitangi ( mi, Te Tiriti o Waitangi) is a document of central importance to the history, to the political constitution of the state, and to the national mythos of New Zealand. It has played a major role in the treatment of the M ...

in 1840, but later during the period now known as the

Flagstaff War The Flagstaff War, also known as Heke's War, Hōne Heke's Rebellion and the Northern War, was fought between 11 March 1845 and 11 January 1846 in and around the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. The conflict is best remembered for the actions of Hō ...

he and the Hokianga Māori supported the British troops and

Tāmati Wāka Nene Tāmati Wāka Nene (1780s – 4 August 1871) was a Māori rangatira (chief) of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe) who fought as an ally of the British in the Flagstaff War of 1845–46. Origin and mana Tāmati Wāka Nene from the ''Dictionary of New Zeala ...

; with Marmon himself recovering the bodies of the Europeans slain during the

Battle of Ohaeawai A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

. His relationships with the European population were always tainted by the suggestion that he had taken part in

cannibal Cannibalism is the act of consuming another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common ecological interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded in more than 1,500 species. Human cannibalism is well documented, bo ...

feasts in his early raids with the Māori. He died at Rawhia on 3 September 1880 and the next year many newspapers serialised his autobiography as "The life and adventures of John Marmon, the Hokianga Pakeha Maori, or, seventy-five years in New Zealand".Paperspast: Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3521, 18 November 1881, Page 3
/ref> Marmon's final resting place is unknown, but believed to be on Rawhia Point. Now lined with pine trees, now considered somewhat of a sacred area and locals have refused to log the area.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marmon, Jacky Year of birth uncertain 1880 deaths Pākehā Māori Australian sailors Australian people of Irish descent Flagstaff War