He married the daughter of one of the chiefs on the Island and in 1862 they moved to Manuae and then to Palmerston on 8 July 1863 (or 1861 or 1864, according to different documents[1]).

[3] In 1887, a Scotsman, George Darsie, contested an application by Marsters for a license to lease the island.

Palmerston was annexed by the UK on 23 May 1891 and in 1892, the British Government granted William a 21-year lease which was extended until 1954.

[4] Full ownership of Palmerston Atoll was granted to the Marsters family in 1954 by an amendment to the Cook Islands Act passed by the New Zealand Government.

Palmerston Islanders still pride themselves on their British heritage: they fly the British flag on special occasions, have large photos of Queen Elizabeth in their homes and remember fondly the visits of the Royal Yacht Britannia.