Israel Rayner born about 1762 in London, England. A shoemaker by trade when he arrived as a free settler on the ship 'Nile' on the 14 December 1801 with his wife Elizabeth, nee Carpenter born on 21 October 1775,in London and their two daughters Elizabeth Jemima 1798-1872 and Sarah 1799-1803.
Elizabeth Jemima known as Jemima was born 1798 in England she married John MARTIN 1792-1848 at St. Lukes Church of England Liverpool, New South Wales and died at Forestwood Farm, Beckham, near Gostwyck in New South Wales, on the 16 January 1872.

On arrival he was granted 100 acres of land, given twelve months of supplies and two convicts to help work the land, which was considered by most to be an excellent start in the new colony. However, Israel was lazy, had no idea about farming and and got heavily into debt.

Phillip Gidley King, the then governor of New South Wales, described Israel Rayner as "worthless and the laziest man I've ever met".

His treatment of Elizabeth was appalling and she endured terrible hardship.
Indeed, legend has it he once dragged Elizabeth through the market on a rope offering to sell her. This is partly true.
The proven story is that around 1802 Elizabeth met and fell in love with Henry BALDWIN. Henry had been born in Chipping Barnet, Hertfordshire on the 4 October 1769 and had arrived in New South Wales, on the 'Admiral Barrington in 1791.

Elizabeth left Israel and went to live with Baldwin. Israel refused to give Elizabeth a divorce and placed an ad in classifieds of The Sydney Gazette on 16 October 1803 threatening any person who harbours or shelters his wife with legal action. When Henry Baldwin seemed not to be too worried about any legal action Israel might bring upon him, Israel negotiated a price for his wife with Baldwin and agreed to hand her over for six bushells of wheat and a pig.
Wives were considered as a mercenary commodity, and the disposal of them for a certain price was not an uncommon occurrence. It was at the time legal provided the wife was wearing a halter when handed over at the time of purchase.

Below is the transcription of Henry BALDWIN's reply to Israel RAYNER's advertisement in The Sydney Gazette, appeared on October 1803

"The man at Baulkham Hills who lately cried down the Credit of his wife did so merely to raise her reputation, and enhance her Worth, as he was desirous probably of making the "best of a bad bargain". He has since converted her into an article of traffick, the nett produce of which amounted to six bushels of wheat and a large black inhabitant of the stye, received in barter from a settler at Hawkesbury.
His public Notice was simply intended as a caution against sheltering; and though we cannot readily ascertain the Rate per cent Advance upon the prime colt, yet the demand does not appear exorbitant, when we consider the expense and trouble attending the Importation of so brittle a Merchandise, that was ever in danger of "slipping though his fingers".

The children of Henry BALDWIN and Elizabeth were:-
Wellow Baldwin 1804 - 1869 m. Elizabeth CONNOLLY
Edwin Baldwin 1805 - 1868 m Alice CLARKE 1810-1863 parents of Charles BALDWIN
Job Baldwin 1806 - 1806
Eve Baldwin 1807 - 1881 m. William John Robert PHILLIPS 1814-1884
Otto Baldwin 1809 - 1874 m. Mary Ann MASKEY 1811-1890
Wynn Baldwin 1811 - 1860 m. Julia YOUNG
Arletta Baldwin 1812 - 1881 m. William EVANS
Harvest Baldwin 1813 - 1865 m. Kezia MASKEY 1816-
Tulip Baldwin 1814 - 1869 m. Henry MASKEY 1814-
Virgo Baldwin 1816 - 1816
Bemarr Baldwin 1817 - 1878 m Catherine WILLIAMSON
Dio Baldwin 1818 - 1878 m. Phoebe GOUGH 1823-1905


SOURCES:Middlesex, England, Extracted Parish Records Israel Rayner & Eliz. Carpenter 25 Dec 1796 Book: Marriages at Ealing, 1582 to 1837. (Marriage) Collection: Middlesex: - Register of Marriages, 1582-1837, Pallot's Marriage Index for England: 1780 - 1837
MARTIN RAYNER FAMILY
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