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Telford (Tom) Martin (1877–1954)

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Telford (Tom) Martin (1877-1954) carpenter and trade union official 

Birth: 25 October 1877 at Wellington, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, eldest son of Telford Stephenson Martin (1852-1925), pattern maker later engineer, born at Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and Charlotte A. (Lotttie), née Allan (1855-1920), born at Peterborough, Ontario. Marriage: 4 May 1904 at the Congregational Church, Burwood, Sydney, New South Wales, to Emily Eastwood (c.1880-1930), born at Halifax, Yorkshire, England. They had one daughter and one son. Death: 3 December 1954 in his residence at Alma Street, Hurstville, Sydney. Religion: Unitarian. 

  • Arrived in NSW about 1882. His father was founder and principal of the Sydney School of Mechanical Drawing.
  • Tom joined the Sydney branch of the Australian Society of Progressive Carpenters and Joiners in 1902.
  • Held offices of check-steward, vice-president, and president from 1902 to 1907. Elected honorary secretary with a membership of 200 and became full-time secretary three years later when membership had increased to 1000.
  • Elected Federal President of the new organisation, the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners in 1919.
  • Was a prominent member of the Masonic Fraternity, Past Assistant Grand Director of the Craft Lodge, member of the Mark Master Masons, Ark Mariners and Royal Arch Chapter, being a Past District Grand Inspector of Workings of those lodges. He was also a Past General C of C of the Cryptic Council and a member of the Masonic Club.
  • Cause of death: aneurysm of aorta (8 years).

Sources
Carpenters’ Monthly Journal, February 1923.

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Citation details

'Martin, Telford (Tom) (1877–1954)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/martin-telford-tom-34470/text43282, accessed 13 October 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

25 October, 1877
Wellington, Ontario, Canada

Death

3 December, 1954 (aged 77)
Hurstville, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

aneurysm

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation
Key Organisations