Martha was born in 1829 in Raithby and her baptism took place there on May 19th, 1829. Martha's father was George DAWSON and her mother was Elizabeth JOLL. Her maternal grandparents were Digory JOLL and Martha MAW. She had five brothers and two sisters, named John, George, Samuel, Joseph, Robert, Elizabeth and Mildred. She was the oldest of the eight children. She died at the age of 60 on August 16th, 1889 in Spilsby. She was buried on August 19th, 1889 in Stickford.12