Palmerston, Cook Islands, is famous for its current residents. However, it comes with ancient ones as well. When Captain James Cook found the island in 1774, it was uninhabited at the time. However, a missionary later reported that at least a dozen graves existed from before that time. No more information is available on the ancient dwellers of the island.

The original name of the island was Avarau, which translates to “200 harbors.” However, Captain Cook decided to name the island in honor of the second Viscount Palmerston. Lord Palmerston was a lord of the admiralty at the time.

One of the notable landmarks of Palmerston, Cook Islands, is Scratch My Arse Rock. This was a favored fishing spot for William Masters, the ancestor of the current island inhabitants. Masters originally arrived at the island in 1863 with two wives of Polynesian descent. Soon after, he added a third to his household. There were eventually seventeen children in the family. Masters died in 1899. His last child died in 1973. By that time, his descendants numbered over a thousand. Most of them live off island, but all consider the island their ancestral home. The descendants use the last name of Marsters instead of Masters. This is likely due to the pronunciation that William brought from his native Leicestershire.

Palmerston, Cook Islands, now has about fifty inhabitants. All of them descend from William Masters through one of his three wives. The family has full ownership of the island at this time. However, that was only after a period of struggle with the British government. The Cook Islands with help from New Zealand now govern the island. However, the family does the everyday governing tasks. Most of the work on the island does not generate cash so barter is the common currency.

The Marsters family welcomes guests many times over the year to Palmerston, Cook Islands. Yachts often visit the island as a side trip. Some people choose to stay on the island for a few days. Boats come with supplies a few times each year. Getting on and off the island is tricky and may take months. As you arrive, the islanders will come out to greet you and bring you into the island by boat. Due to their English ancestor, the people speak English. Many visitors choose to pass time fishing and boating around to the various island groups. Volleyball is a popular pastime that visitors and natives love to partake.