John Marsh, (1752 - 1828) was a gifted amateur musician, composer, fiddle player, organist and writer on musical topics. His output of orchestral music was by far the most prolific of anyone in England in his time and he was the only English composer of the latter half of the 18th. century to write symphonies. He was also the author of a textbook on astronomy and during the invasion scare of 1803 he studied military tactics and achieved promotion to the rank of Captain with a company of volunteers. Towards the end of his life he took an interest in a movement established to convert the Jews to Anglican Christianity and in 1822 joined with several others to form a local auxiliary society of the same association, in which Mr Plumptre was chairman, he was treasurer and his brother William was also a member. Source: http://www.williams.gen.nz/18and19a.html