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Martin Surname

This Martin family is English in origin. No concrete proof of their connection to the Old World exists, but some theories indicate that they may have come from the English county of Dorset, or from London. A theory indicates that the surname Martin derives from the family's common ancestor: Martin of Tours.

Most of the information on this web page in the first several generations is attributed to the research of Seely Foley. Seely is a historian living in Maryland who has written a well-documented history of the first three generations of the Martin family. Her 20 page history is available by contacting her at seelyfoley@hotmail.com.


1st Generation:

John Martin was born circa 1631 in England. He died before February 1675/6 in Barbados 17.

John's place of birth and origin is unknown. One theory is that he was born in London in 1624, the son of John and Ann Martin. Another theory is that he was born in Parke Pale in Dorsetshire, the son of Thomas Martin and Elizabeth Maunsell (or Jane Dickson).

John moved to Maryland during his youth, probably during the 1640s or 1650s. The first definitive record of him in Maryland was in 1661. In Maryland, John was a farmer and also a successful merchant. John was married to at least three different women: Barbara, Ann, and Mary. He had 4 known children: John, Mary, Hannah, and Elizabeth.

John owned land in Baltimore County, but probably never lived there. He and his family lived primarily in Talbot County, Maryland. In the 1660's and 1670's John may have traveled to England on several occasions to trade tobacco. He may have taken his family with him in 1674 or 1675. For some reason, John and his family ended up in the Caribbean island of Barbados where John died before February 1675/6. His family afterwards returned to Maryland.

John married first to Barbara in about 1660. She died circa 1668.

They had at least one child:

1 John Martin
2 Mary Martin
3 Elizabeth Martin
4 Hannah Martin was born circa 1668.
(Note: we don't know from which mother his daughters descended, for convenience they are all listed under first wife Barbara.)
John married second Ann in about 1668 in Maryland

John married third Mary in about 1673 in Maryland. She died after 1682 in Calvert Co., Maryland.


2nd Generation:

John Martin Jr. was born on November 15, 1662 in Kent Co., Maryland 17. He died in 1718 in Baltimore, Maryland 17.

Father: John Martin
Mother: Barbara

John Martin spent his earliest years in Kent and Talbot Counties, Maryland, where his parents lived. In the 1670's John apparently went with his family to Barbados, where his father died in 1675. After his father's death, his family returned to Maryland. John's stepmother Mary remarried and moved to Calvert County, Maryland. Instead of living with his stepmother, John went to go live with his uncle Thomas Martin who lived in Talbot County, Maryland.

John was a farmer and a boatwright. He lived in Talbot County until 1684, when he apparently sold his land and moved to Anne Arundel County. While living there in the mid-1680's he was married to a woman named Damaris Hooker. In the mid to late 1680's, they moved to Charles County, Maryland where they lived at what was then called Wiccocomico. In 1698 or 1699, John apparently moved with his family to Baltimore County, Maryland. Together John and Damaris had 3 known children: Benjamin, Penelope, and John (see next generation). Sometime during the 1690's or early 1700's, John's wife Damaris died and John remarried to Eleanor Todd before 1710. John lived the remainder of his life at what is now Baltimore, Maryland. He wrote his will on April 21, 1718 and died before May 7, 1718. In his will, he described his wife Elenor, but did not name any children. He appointed his son-in-law John Buck as the executor.

John married first to Damaris Hooker in about 1687 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17. She was born on January 29, 1666/7 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17. She died circa 1698 in Charles Co., Maryland.
She was the daughter of Thomas and Joane Hooker of Anne Arundel Co., Maryland.
They had 3 known children:
1 Benjamin Martin was born circa 1688 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17. He died about 1727 in Baltimore Co., Maryland 17.
2 Penelope Martin was born on November 13, 1690 in Charles Co., Maryland 17. She married John Buck.Seely Foley at seelyfoley@hotmail.com is a researcher/descendant of this line.
3 John Martin
John married second to Eleanor Todd about 1704 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17. She was born circa 1676 and died after 1744 in Baltimore Co., Maryland.


3rd Generation:

John Martin was born on December 7, 1693 in Charles County, Maryland 17. He died after 1759 in Maryland or North Carolina.

Father: John Martin
Mother: Damaris Hooker

Note that there is some disagreement about the origin of the John Martin who married Lydia Hanks and Ann Dorsey. Although various circumstantial evidence points to him being the John Martin, born in 1693 to John Martin and Damaris Hooker - other researchers disagree with that theory. The reasons for some people doubting the theory appear to be because 1) John's oldest son was named Joshua (and one researcher has an assumption that oldest sons were always named after the paternal grandfather), 2) neither of John's first two daughters was named Damaris (again, assuming that he would have been forced to follow strict naming conventions) and 3) John Martin was not named as an heir or executor in his father's will of 1718 (when tradition was that sons usually served that role). However none of those arguments are very strong: naming patterns were never absolute and there could have been many reasons why John would have chosen his executor or who he decided to name in his will. The names of his children actually supports the theory that he was the John Martin born in 1693, since his 4th daughter "Demarius" was probably named after his mother. If John was the son of John and Damaris, then he moved with his family to Baltimore County, Maryland as a child, where they remained for several years.

As an adult, John first moved to nearby Anne Arundel County, Maryland, where he lived in a part of the county that is now Howard County, Maryland. There, in September or October 1719, he received a 200-acre tract of land which was patented as "Martin's Luck" 35. In about 1722, John married Lydia (probably Hanks). In 1729, John sold his "Martin's Luck" estate and then received a new 116-acre land patent called "White Oak Orchard", which was also in Anne Arundel County 35. Lydia died in about 1732, and John remarried soon after to a widow named Ann Dorsey, who had 5 children from her previous marriage. After the marriage, John was involved in the administration of the estate of Ann's first husband, Charles Dorsey. He was also involved in the administration of his first wife's father, Peter Hanks. He and his family used the Queen Caroline Parish Church (later named Christ Church) in Guilford (now Columbia), in Anne Arundel County. Their extended family birth records (Martin and Dorsey) were entered at one time in in the parish register (in about 1736). In March 1738, John sold his "White Oak Orchard" estate in Anne Arundel County 36. As there is no known reference to the family in Anne Arundel County after that date, they probably moved away at that time.

Sometime between 1738 and 1742, John and his family moved to Prince George's County, Maryland, where they settled near what is now Walkersville in Frederick County (this was about 40 miles away from their previous home in Anne Arundel County). In February 1742, he purchased 100 acres there from Daniel Dulany38 (The Pioneers of Old Monocacy incorrectly transcribes the year as 1732). In the same month, John also surveyed a different 100-acre tract that he later granted to his son John Jr., patented as "Johnson's Chance" 35. They began using the All Saints Parish Church in Frederick, after it was founded in 1742. John served as a road surveyor from 1744-1747 31 and was appointed as a constable in 1749 31,32. The last definitive record of John was in 1754, when he recorded finding a stray horse. John's farm (that he purchased in 1742 from Daniel Dulany) was sold in May 1759 37 and any details of his life after this date are unknown. Most likely, he moved back to Anne Arundel County at that time, where he lived near or with his older sons John Jr. and William.

Some researchers claim that the John Martin of Anne Arundel (now Howard) County who married Lydia Hanks and Ann Dorsey was different than the John and Ann Martin couple who lived in what is now Frederick County and had children Demarius, Zadock, Assiah, Asa and Asenath. However there are many contemporary sources that tie the large family of Martin children together - which supports and proves the identification that Zadock, Asa and Asenath Martin were the siblings of Benjamin, Tabitha and Joshua; and that John Martin of Anne Arundel County was the same person as John Martin of Frederick County:

  • John Martin provided land patents for three of his sons in Frederick County (John, Benjamin and Joshua), the same names of some of the documented children of John Martin of Anne Arundel County. Note that the land patents don't explicitly refer to them as sons of John, but they are explicit that the patents were originally granted/surveyed to John Martin and then assigned/granted by him to John Martin, Jr., Joshua Martin, and Benjamin Martin.
  • Benjamin Martin and Zadock Martin were close in adulthood; they attended the same church in Rowan County, NC between 1774 and 1784; and they were neighbors of each other in Wilkes County, NC after 1786. The Benjamin Martin in Frederick County, Maryland was documented as being married to Elizabeth; the Benjamin Martin in Rowan and later Wilkes Co., NC was also documented as married to an Elizabeth.
  • Joshua Martin named two of his children Asa and Zadock; names of his younger brothers
  • Asa Martin's will of 1805 named his sister "Tabith Martin", his older sister
  • Asenath Martin Jacks named her youngest child Tabitha Jacks, the name of her older sister
  • a William Martin, Joshua Martin, and Zadock Martin were all documented in Botetourt County, Virginia during the 1780s
  • Asa Martin named two of his sons Benjamin and Joshua, probably after his older brothers
  • In 1777/1778, there is evidence of Benjamin, Zadock, Asa, and Asenath Martin in Rowan County, NC; while Joshua Martin was in neighboring Anson County, NC.
  • In August 1748, John Martin (son of John, and grandson of John) was described as "of Prince George's County". (Frederick County was formed from Prince George's County in December 1748.)
  • James Crouch (probable brother of Ann Dorsey Martin) also settled in Frederick County, Maryland. One of his estates called "Pleasant Valley" was eventually owned and sold by Benjamin Martin
John married first to Lydia Hanks circa 1722 in Anne Arundel (now Howard) Co., Maryland. She was born circa 1704 and died circa 1732 in Anne Arundel (now Howard) Co., Maryland.

Lydia has been accepted by most researchers as the daughter of Peter Hanks and Mary Beez. Although no known source explicitly proves that connection, John Martin was described as a "relation" in the inventory of Peter Hanks estate and various other circumstantial evidence support the connection.
They had the following children:
1 Joshua Martin was born on September 21, 1723 17,30 in Anne Arundel (now Howard) Co., Maryland. He died young.
2 John Martin was born on October 2, 1725 17,30 in Anne Arundel (now Howard) Co., Maryland. He possibly died before January 1807 Loudoun Co., Virginia.

In August 1749, John Jr. received a patent for a 100-acre tract of land in Frederick County, Maryland called "Johnsons Chance", which was originally surveyed by his father in 1742 35. John continued living in Frederick County until at least March 1754, when there was a Frederick County Court record for "Louisa, the wife of John Martin, Jr." charged with murdering her servant 32. There is no known reference to John Martin Jr. in Frederick County after 1754. (There was a John Martin who sold land there in 1759, yet because he did not use a "Jr" or Sr." it is assumed that there was only one John Martin then living in Frederick County, probably his father.)

Then, there was a John Martin Jr. who married Lois Shipley, daughter of Robert Shipley of Anne Arundel County, Maryland. In December 1754, that John was described as "of Baltimore County" when he was granted a 100-acre land parcel in Anne Arundel County, patented as "The Neglect" (surveyed by Richard Shipley) 35. In Robert Shipley's December 1761 will, he left his daughter Lois (last name not provided) twenty pounds. Then in June 1763, John Martin and Lois Martin approved the inventory of Robert's estate as "relations". John remained in Anne Arundel County until at least 1764. In 1757, he recorded finding a stray horse and in 1761, he registered the "mark" for his cattle. In October 1764, John sold his 100-acre parcel "The Neglect" to Jane Ayton 36 (this was probably Jane Dorsey, who married Richard Ayton). In the deed, he signed his name "John Martin Junr." and his wife was named as "Lois" and she released her right of dower.

John (husband of Lois Shipley) moved with his family to Loudoun County, Virginia (which borders Frederick County, Maryland) sometime before 1782. In April 1786, John received a lease for 102 acres in Shelburne Parish in Loudoun County. The lease record provided the name of his three sons: Joshua Martin, John Martin, and Robert Shipley Martin. John probably died before June 9, 1806, which was the first date from the accounts of his estate record. He definitely died before January 12, 1807, when the inventory of his estate was first filed. His estate dragged on and was finalized on April 30, 1814. The first administrator of his estate was John Martin Jr. until he was replaced by Charles Bennett Jr. The records don't specifically name any family, but John Martin Jr. and Rachel Martin were included in the accounts of the estate.

My opinion is that the above John Martin Jr. references were all the same person: John Martin Jr. married Lois Shipley (sometimes erroneously transcribed as "Louisa") and lived in Frederick County between possibly 1749 and 1754, and then in Anne Arundel County between 1754 and 1764. However one researcher believes these were different people based on the arguments that:

  • the John and Lois Martin family never lived in Frederick County, Maryland
  • they were not wealthy enough to have servants
  • John's documented wife was Lois - not Louisa
My responses to those points are:
  • the John Martin family (who married Lydia Hanks and then Ann Dorsey) very likely did live in Frederick County (see explanation above under his father); there is also no evidence of John Martin Jr. in Anne Arundel County before December 1754 - perhaps a murder allegation earlier in 1754 would have been an impetus for them to move away
  • the determination about whether or not they could have had servants is only based on one person's modern interpretation of what it means to have a servant as well whether they were considered wealthy; neither of which have any historical backing. In fact, John's step-mother's first husband Charles Dorsey is documented as having an indentured servant when he was dead in 1733. In addition, Lois Shipley's father Robert Shipley was a slaveowner (in his 1761 will he described 3 slaves and the same 3 slaves were listed in the 1763 inventory). John's maternal grandfather Peter Hanks was also documented as having one servant in the inventory of his estate.
  • the names Lois and Louisa could easily have been used interchangeably in historical records, in a time when most people were illiterate and spelling was not standardized (the name "Louisa" comes from a transcript, rater than an original record, perhaps reviewing the original court records would reveal more clues)
If Lois and Louisa were in fact different people, then the John Martin of Loudoun County, Virginia who married Lois Shipley was probably from a different family.

What was John Martin Jr. doing in Baltimore County in December 1754? Aside from the 1754 patent for "The Neglect" there is otherwise no known evidence of John in Baltimore County. The only connection I know of is that his stepbrother Aquila Dorsey was a resident of Baltimore County in 1751 when he sold land in Anne Arundel County. Perhaps John and Lois briefly lived with Aquila in 1754 before acquiring their new parcel?

Some family trees provide his wife's name as Rachel Shipley, which probably derives from the fact that Rachel Martin (presumably a widow) was enumerated as a head of household in 1810 in Loudoun County, Virginia. Because a Rachel Martin was listed in John Martin's estate papers, there may be truth to that theory. Perhaps Lois Shipley died and John remarried to a Rachel. There was in fact a John Martin who married a Rachel Dowling on April 21, 1800 in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Some online family trees also provide his wife's name as "Amanda Shipley", the source of the name Amanda is unknown.

3 Eunice Martin was born on February 10, 1726/7 17,30 in Anne Arundel (now Howard) Co., Maryland.
This child's name has been transcribed variously as "Elizabeth" and "Eleanor", yet to me the name is clearly "Eunice" in the parish register.

4 Mary Martin was born on February 17, 1728/9 17,30 in Anne Arundel (now Howard) Co., Maryland .
Some online family trees suggest that she was the Mary Martin who married James Mudd in 1743 in Charles County, Maryland; yet there is no evidence that they were the same people.
5 William Martin was born on August 2, 1732 17,30 in Anne Arundel (now Howard) Co., Maryland.

It is unclear what happened to William. Some researchers believe he died as a child (because no property in Frederick County, Maryland was claimed for him during the 1740s or 1750s - like it was for his brothers John, Benjamin and Joshua). Others suggest he lived to adulthood and was the William Martin who settled in Botetourt County, Virginia (where a Joshua Martin and a Zadock Martin were also documented, in the 1780s). There was a William Martin who purchased land in 1750 in Augusta (now Botetourt) County, Virginia from a Francis Beatty. Note that in Frederick County, Maryland John Martin and his family lived next to a Beatty family - and it is probably because of the Beatty connection that some researchers assume that this was the same William. However I have not found evidence that those two Beatty families were actually related.

In April 1759, a warrant was issued to "William Martin (son of John)" for a one-acre tract of land patented as "Martin's Delight" 35. This land was near the fork of the North and South Branch of the Patapsco River, in Baltimore County. This land was close to the 1754 patent "the Neglect" of John Martin Jr. (who married Lois Shipley), which was on the south side of the Patapsco River in Anne Arundel (now Howard) County.

There was a William Martin who settled in Loudoun County, Virginia by 1765. It is unclear if that was the same person.

John married second to Ann, widow of Charles Dorsey, in about 1733 in Anne Arundel (now Howard) Co., Maryland 17. She was born circa 1706 in Maryland and died after 1751.

There is an unverified possibility that she may have been the same person as Hannah Crouch born in 1706 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland who was the daughter of William Crouch and Susannah Rockhold.

Ann had 5 documented children from her first marriage: Margaret (name is a guess, it is torn on the original record - several sources transcribe the name as "Benjartt" which is because a portion of the previous page ("Benjamin") appears behind the torn portion), Jane, Ann, Aquila, and Ellis (female, sometimes transcribed as "Elise") Dorsey.

Some online family trees suggest that her daughter Margaret Dorsey married James Hoagland and moved west to Kentucky, where she died after 1802. That is certainly possible, but there appears to be confusion of multiple Margaret Hoaglands from different generations.

Wild guess: could her daughter Ann Dorsey have been the wife of Hugh Current of Frederick County, Maryland (1760, 1762, 1764) and and later Rowan County, North Carolina (1778, 1780), who had children: Tabitha, John and Lydia?

They had the following children:
1 Benjamin Martin was born on June 6, possibly in 1734* 17,30 in Anne Arundel (now Howard) Co., Maryland . He died between 1807 and 1810 in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
He married Elizabeth before 1761. She died after 1807, probably in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
They had the following children.
Anna Martin (c. 1763-c. 1835)
md. 1st Riddle
md. 2nd. William Ellis
James Martin (c. 1766-aft. 1807)
Charlotte Martin (c. 1771-aft. 1830)
md. 1st George Anderson
md. 2nd Thomas Cook
Benjamin and his wife Elizabeth were documented in Frederick County, Maryland between 1758 and 1766. In September 1759, Benjamin received a 75-acre land patent from his father called "Benjamin's Delight", which was next to his brother Joshua. He sold this land in November 1761. They were next documented in Rowan County, North Carolina between 1774 and 1784; where he and his wife Elizabeth attended church with his brother Zadock at the Dutchman's Creek Baptist Church at Mocksville (in what is now Davie County). In about 1786, Benjamin and Zadock both moved to nearby Wilkes County, North Carolina, where they lived on neighboring farms in the southeast part of the county. Benjamin was documented in Wilkes County from 1787 until his death. Benjamin wrote his will on October 24, 1807 and it was proven in January 1810. In his will, he described his wife Elizabeth, his children James, Charlotte, and Anna, and his grandson Enos Anderson.

His wife Elizabeth was possibly his first cousin Elizabeth Crouch (daughter of James Crouch of Frederick County, Maryland). But some online family trees provide her name as Elizabeth Gaither (source unknown).

* Benjamin's birth year is missing from the parish register, but it must have been some year during the 1730s - 1734 is the most likely.

2 Tabitha Martin was born in about 1736 in Anne Arundel (now Howard) Co., Maryland 17. She died after 1805, probably in North Carolina.
Tabitha was probably never married. She was described in her brother Asa's will of October 1805 as "my sister Tabith Martin" and the inference is that she lived with, or near, his family in Rowan County, North Carolina.
3 Joshua Martin was born in about 1738 in Anne Arundel (now Howard) Co., Maryland 17. He died in January 1803 in Greene Co., Georgia 17.
He married Mary. She died in 1818 or 1819 in Greene Co., Georgia.
They had the following children:
Joshua Martin (-c. 1798)
md. Esther Beavers
John Martin (c. 1775-1850
md. Elizabeth Ann Robertson
Mary Martin (-1848)
md. Robert Whatley
Elizabeth Martin (1783-1847)
md. 1st George Robinson
md. 2nd David Sayers
md. 3rd Ephriam Price
Zadok Martin
md. Margaret Robertson
Susannah Martin
md. George Hunt
Anna Martin
md. ??? Richards
Asa Martin (1791-c. 1842)
md. Nancy King Favor
Joshua was documented in Frederick County, Maryland in 1759, 1761 and 1773. In September 1759, Joshua received a 75-acre land patent from his father called "Joshua's Beginning", which was adjacent to his brother Benjamin. He sold this land in November 1761. In May 1772, Joshua took out a 21-year lease in Frederick County, but he transferred the lease one month later. Then sometime between 1773 and 1777, he moved to North Carolina along with his siblings (Benjamin, Tabitha, Zadock, Asa and Asenath were all documented in Rowan County, North Carolina). In 1777, he was in Anson County, North Carolina (which bordered Rowan County, North Carolina). By 1787, he had moved to Georgia; where he lived in Wilkes and Oglethorpe Counties before moving a final time to Greene County, Georgia. Joshua wrote his will on January 3, 1803, and it was proven on January 28, 1803. His widow Mary wrote her will on November 22, 1818 and it was proven in January 1819.
Steve Martin at smjamartin@farmerstel.com is a researcher/descendant of this line.
4 Demarius Martin was born on April 10, 1740 in Prince George's (now Frederick) Co., Maryland 17,29.
This child was a female. The assumption is that she was named after Damaris Hooker Martin, who was probably her paternal grandmother. "Demarius" was probably an alternate or incorrect spelling of Damaris.
5 Zadock Martin
6 Appiah Martin was born on February 6, 1744/5 in Prince George's (now Frederick) Co., Maryland 17,29.
This child was a female. The spelling of her name is listed as Appiah, Assiah, or Aquiah in different transcriptions, yet in the original parish register the spelling is clearly "Appiah".
7 Asa Martin was born on September 20, 1749 in Frederick Co., Maryland 17,29. He died in 1807 in Rowan Co., North Carolina.
He married Elizabeth.
They had the following children:
Joshua Martin
John Martin
Benjamin Martin
Sally Martin
Joseph Martin
Betsy Martin
Polly Martin
Asa Martin

Asa was first documented in Rowan County, North Carolina in 1778. He lived on a farm adjoining his sister Asenath Martin Jacks. During the late 1790s, he briefly lived in Stokes County, North Carolina before returning to Rowan County by 1799. He wrote his will on October 5, 1805, in which he named his wife Elizabeth, his son John and his sister "Tabith". He later purchased land in September 1806 and his will was proven in 1807. A subsequent estate record provided the name of his eight children.

8 Asenath Martin was born on September 13, 1751 in Frederick Co., Maryland 17,29. She died after 1810 in Kentucky.
She married John Jacks in about 1769, probably in Maryland.
They had the following children:
John Jacks (c. 1770-c. 1851)
Richard Marion Jacks (1772-1841)
md. Sophia Barnes
Thomas Jacks (c. 1775-aft. 1840)
md. Mary
Mary "Polly" Jacks (c. 1778-aft. 1850)
md. Nathaniel Wilson
Anna Jacks (c. 1784-???)
William Milton Jacks (c. 1788-1873)
md. 1st Nancy White
md. 2nd Perlina Cleeton
Tabitha Jacks (1792-1849)
md. William White

Asenath moved with many of her siblings to Rowan County, North Carolina, where they settled before 1778. The Jacks were still living in Rowan County as late as 1791, where they lived on a farm adjoining Asenath's brother Asa Martin. Sometime between 1791 and 1797, they moved out west to Kentucky. Between 1797 and 1807, they were documented in Montgomery County, Kentucky. After that, they moved to nearby Bourbon County and then to Bath County, Kentucky. Asenath probably died between the 1810 and 1820 census enumerations, in either Bath or Bourbon County.

Asenath was apparently close to her brother Zadock. Her move to Kentucky possibly inspired Zadock to also move there. Later, several of her children moved west to Missouri and retained ties with Zadock's descendants who also moved there. In 1821, her grandson Thomas Jacks married Zadock's granddaughter Cynthia Martin.

The spelling of her name has varied in surviving records, including: Asenath, Aseneth, Auseneth, Asenith. The spelling "Asenath" is used here, which is the standard spelling of this biblical name.


4th Generation:

Zadock Martin was born on November 18, 1742 in Prince George's (now Frederick) County, Maryland 17,29. He died after 1817, possibly in Kentucky, North Carolina or Missouri.

Father: John Martin
Mother: Ann

Zadock was born and raised in Frederick County, Maryland. Sometime during the 1760s or 1770s (most likely in 1773/1774), he moved to North Carolina with several of his family members. They settled in Rowan County, North Carolina (probably in the part that became Davie County in 1836). While there, Zadock was documented as being a member of the Dutchman's Creek Baptist Church in Mocksville between 1774 and 1778 (along with his brother Benjamin and Benjamin's wife Elizabeth). Zadock continued to live in Rowan County and was documented as living there as late as 1782. In 1786 his name appeared on a court summons from that county, although he might not have been living there. There was a Zadock Martin documented in Botetourt County, Virginia in 1782 and 1784; along with a Joshua Martin. Some researchers believe that they were different people, but it is also possible that this was the same Zadock. Perhaps Zadock briefly moved to Botetourt County, Virginia in about 1782, before moving back to North Carolina in about 1786.

It was probably while living in Rowan County during the 1770s that Zadock was married, but unfortunately his wife's name or any record of her existence is lost. During the American Revolution Zadock was apparently a loyalist to the English Crown, as he has been listed as a "tory" on multiple lists. In about 1786, Zadock moved with his family to Wilkes County, North Carolina; where his brother Benjamin also settled. There, the family lived on land off of Hunting Creek, in the southeast corner of the county. In addition to farming, Zadock was also a tavern keeper and a miller.

In 1798, Zadock sold some land in Wilkes County; although he continued to own some of his property there. Zadock probably moved away in 1798, but his whereabouts over the next 5 years are unknown. In 1803, Zadock was living in Russell County, Virginia (where his son Isaac had been living as early as 1799). In 1804, they were next found in Knox County, Kentucky, where Zadock was taxed for a tavern license and they were likely in the town of Barbourville. By the following year, Zadock had left Knox County, while his sons remained there. Zadock had returned to Wilkes County, North Carolina by 1810. Then in 1815 or 1816, Zadock returned to Knox County, Kentucky, perhaps to take charge of his sons' land interests there when they planned to move on to Missouri. In May 1816, Zadock settled on land in Knox County that he attempted to purchase. In 1817 in Knox County, Zadock appointed his son Isaac as his power of attorney regarding interest in land in Wilkes County. Zadock was involved in an ongoing lawsuit regarding the land he settled in 1816. In July 1820, he lost the land but was awarded a judgment and he moved away. He was possibly the Zadock Martin enumerated in August 1820 in Wilkes County, North Carolina (perhaps he had briefly returned there to settle his real estate issues). After this, he might have moved to Missouri where all of his known sons were living. In 1821, a Zadoc Martin Sr. was on a tax list in Ray County, Missouri along with his sons Isaac and Zadoc Jr. (although Zadoc Martin Sr. could have been his son (born in 1789) and Zadoc Martin Jr. could have been his grandson (born c. 1798, son of Isaac). Zadock probably died during the 1820s.

Note that Zadock has been challenging to research because he also had a son and a grandson (and at least one nephew) named Zadock Martin, and none of them were ever described as "Jr." or "Sr." in any records except during the few times they happened to live in the same county. Thus, some of the above activities between 1805 and 1821 could have instead been a reference to his son Zadock. The last definitive reference to the older Zadock (born 1742) was in 1817, and he was most likely the Zadock Martin in Wilkes County, NC in 1820.

Zadock married name unknown probably in the 1770's in North Carolina.

Unfortunately, nothing about her is known. She possibly died before 1798, when her husband transferred land and her name was not listed on the deed (although wives were not always listed on deeds). Some online family trees provide her name as "Ann", yet that identification is uncited and they were likely confusing her with Zadock's mother. Several online family trees provide her name as Anna Woodard, yet that is a mistake that derives from an Anna Woodard who married Zadock Harte/Haste in 1815 in Chowan Co., North Carolina. There is no reason to believe that Zadock Martin's wife had any relationship to a Woodard family.

They had at least 3 children:
1 Isaac Martin was born circa 1779, probably in Rowan (now Davie) Co., North Carolina. He died before July 13, 1841 in Jefferson (now Center) Township, Buchanan Co., Missouri.
He married Esther Wilkeson on November 20, 1797 in Rowan Co., North Carolina. (She was born circa 1780 and died between 1810 and 1830 in Kentucky or Missouri.)
They had the following children:
Zaddock Martin (c. 1798-1843)
md. Sarah McElwee
Cynthia Martin (1800-1878)
md. Thomas Jacks
Thomas Martin (c. 1800-1850's)
md. Lydia Hendrix
Rutha Martin (1802-1893)
md. Jacob Riffe
Louisiana Martin (c. 1805-1842)
md. Elisha Harrington
John Martin (1807-1865)
md. 1st. Sarah Harrington
md. 2nd. Ginett Burriss
md. 3rd. Lydia Humphreys
Hugh Martin (c. 1809-1835)
md. 1st. Elizabeth T. Bright
md. 2nd. Hester Ann Brewer
Between 1799 and 1803, Isaac was documented in Russell County, Virginia. By 1804, he had moved to nearby Knox County, Kentucky. In March 1804, he helped form the Cumberland River Baptist Church in Knox County. Isaac was Coroner for Knox Co., Kentucky from 1807 until 1815. In 1810 and again in 1814, he was a captain of the Knox County Militia. Isaac moved to Ray Co., Missouri in 1816, and was among the original white settlers of that county. However he apparently returned to Knox County briefly, as there is evidence of him there in 1817 and 1818. In Ray County, Isaac lived on a farm on the Crooked River in Crooked River Township. Later he lived in the nearby city of Richmond. Isaac served as an early justice/judge of Ray County, was a Road Overseer, and he also operated a mill, a tavern, and a ferry over the Crooked River. Sometime between 1832 and 1840, he moved to Buchanan County, Missouri (probably after 1837 when the "Platte Purchase" was opened for settlement). Most likely, he moved there in 1837, when his son John was documenting as settling in what is now Center Township. He was living there in 1840. He died before July 13, 1841, when accounts were brought in probate court regarding his estate.
2 Cynthia Martin
The Annals of Platte County, Missouri 26 indicates that Zadock Martin [Jr.] had a sister named Cynthia. This is the only known source that identifies a daughter named Cynthia, but it is not corroborated by other contemporary records. The 1790 census only records one female in the household, which was probably Zadock Sr.'s unknown wife (although she could have been dead). Various online family trees indicate that Cynthia was married to Roland or Rowland Brown, yet that was from someone confused about the same above source, which indicated that Zadock's wife was a sister of Roland Brown (not the other way around). In reality, the Annals of Platte County, Missouri was probably confusing her with her niece Cynthia Martin (1800-1878) wife of Thomas Jacks - Cynthia Martin Jacks was among the original pioneers of Platte County. Many online family trees also list another daughter named Phebe Martin, yet that is probably another misidentification because Roland Brown's wife was named Phebe.
3 Joseph Martin was born circa 1787 11, probably in Rowan or Wilkes Co., North Carolina. He died before August 9, 1852 in Pettis Twp., Platte Co., Missouri.
He married Nancy Brown on September 8, 1810 in Garrard Co., Kentucky 8. (She was born circa 1790 in Virginia or Kentucky and died sometime between 1837 and 1840 in Platte Co., Missouri.)
They had the following children:
Brightberry Martin (1811-1890)
md. Elizabeth Willis
Greenberry T. Martin (1813-1858)
md. Elizabeth Bones
Sarah "Sally" Martin (c. 1816-1884)
md. 1st. Jonas Sutton
md. 2nd. Thomas Harrington
Elsberry Martin (1820-1847)
md. America Brown
Franklin B. Martin (1824-1882)
md. Anna May Burnett
Malinda Martin (c. 1826-bef. 1852)
md. H. C. C. Gray
Rhoda Green Martin (1827-1861)
md. 1st. Jahue Holland
md. 2nd. Franklin Young Flannery
Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Martin (1829-1887)
md. Alvin A. Ross
Isaac Martin (1833-1898)
md. Jane Bell
Amanda Martin (c. 1835-bef. 1854)
Stephen Martin (c. 1840-aft. 1863)
He married second Martha "Patsy" Poage, widow of Alexander Sewell, on May 19, 1841 in Clay Co., Missouri. (She was born circa 1799 in Kentucky and died on July 7, 1866 in Platte Co., Missouri.)
They had no children.

Joseph was living with his family in Russell County, Virginia in 1803 33. Between 1804 and 1810, Joseph was located in Knox County, Kentucky 34 where he apparently lived with his brother Zadock. In September 1810, he married Nancy Brown, the sister of Zadock's wife. Between 1810 and 1816, he lived in Garrard County, Kentucky, where his wife was from. In June 1816, he sold his land in Garrard County and moved away. He probably moved to Missouri with his brothers at that time, but his place of residence between 1816 and 1824 is unknown. He lived in Howard County, Missouri before moving farther west to Clay County, Missouri by 1825. He remained in Clay County until 1837, when he moved to neighboring Platte County, Missouri. He remained there until his death.

4 Zadock Martin
?There were probably additional children that are not yet identified, the 1790 census suggests that there were probably 3 additional sons. Possibilities include William Martin and Joshua Martin, who both lived in Knox County, Kentucky during the same time as Isaac, Joseph and Zadock Jr. There was also a Benjamin Martin who lived in Russell County, Virginia at the same time as Isaac.

5th Generation:

Zadock "Zed" Martin was born on February 12, 1789 14 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He died on October 10, 1849 in Lafayette, Yamhill Co., Oregon 14. He is buried in the McMinnville Masonic Cemetery, McMinnville, Yamhill Co., Oregon.

Father: Zadock Martin
Mother: Unknown

Zadock spent his earliest years in Wilkes County, North Carolina. In his youth (sometime between 1798 and 1803) he moved with his family to Russell County, Virginia, where they lived briefly. By 1804, they had moved to Knox County, Kentucky. Zadock was first named on any record in 1805, when he was first taxed (as a 16-21 year old) in Knox County after his father moved back to North Carolina. On August 13, 1807, in Knox County, Zadock was married to Susannah "Sukey" Brown by Elijah Foley, the minister of the local Baptist church. Zadock first purchased land in Knox County in May 1808. While living in Knox County, he owned land both within the town/city of Barbourville and also rural farmland south of Barbourville (where Brush Creek meets the Cumberland River, near what is now the town of Artemus). Zadock and his family were members of the Cumberland River Baptist Church in Barbourville. In 1814, Zadock built the first jail in that county. While living in Kentucky, Zadock also served in the county militia and was also licensed as a tavern keeper.

In June 1816, Zadock sold his land in Knox County, Kentucky and probably moved away at that time. He likely moved to Missouri at that time with his brothers Isaac and Joseph. His exact place of residence between 1816 and 1821 is unknown. However like his brother Isaac, he might have gone back and forth between Kentucky and Missouri. There was a Zadock Martin documented in Knox County, Kentucky between 1816 and 1820, who was involved with an ongoing lawsuit regarding a land issue. Yet it is more likely that that person was his father Zadock Martin Sr. who had moved to Knox County, Kentucky in 1815 or 1816. By April 1821 (but probably earlier), this Zadock (born in 1789) had settled in what is now Gallatin Township in Clay County, Missouri (but was previously in Howard and then Ray County). Zadock served as Ray County Assessor in 1821 and 1822. Zadock then served as a judge for the Clay County Court from 1824 to 1827. In 1828, Zadock moved to what is now Platte County, Missouri, but at the time was in a frontier area outside of Missouri. There, they lived at the falls of the Platte River, near what is now Platte City. Zadock operated ferries over the Platte and Missouri Rivers for soldiers at Fort Leavenworth, and also operated a tavern out of their home as well as a mill. He and his family were the only white settlers allowed by the government to remain in the area, and their nearest neighbor was 15 miles away. In 1836, the 'Platte Purchase' opened up the area for settlement and there was a steady influx of settlers. Soon, a town sprang up near their home, which was aptly named Martinsville. From 1837 to 1838, Zadock served as postmaster for Martinsville. Soon though, the city was "moved" and in 1839 was renamed Platte City, although Zadock is still credited as being the city's founder. For many years, there was a "Zed Martin Days" annual festival and there is still a Zed Martin Street in Platte City.

In 1844, Zadock's son William returned from an expedition to Oregon and California and began inspiring his family to move out west. In 1845, Zadock's children Hardin and Elizabeth made the trip over the Oregon Trail. Then in the spring of 1846, Zadock and his family left on the Oregon Trail, bound for the Oregon Territory. They arrived in northern Oregon in September 1846 and settled in what is now Yamhill County, Oregon. Zadock first settled on the South Yamhill River, just south of what is now McMinnville, Oregon. Then in 1848, they settled on a 640-acre claim farther west, between what is now McMinnville and Sheridan. In 1849, Zadock became ill and went to live with his son Franklin in the nearby town of Lafayette, where he died on October 10, 1849. Unfortunately his family was not able to retain ownership of his land claim, because he died before passage of the Donation Land Claim Act in 1850. According to one record, the following was said of Zadock: "Tall and brawny, he weighed about 275 pounds. He wore a broad-rimmed hat and carried a hickory cane. His eyes flashed lightning, and his mouth reverberated thunder. He demanded instantaneous obedience of friend or foe. Yet he was just and charitable, and loved by his family and his servants."

Note that Zadock has been listed in contemporary records as both Jr. (to differentiate him from his father) and Sr. (to differentiate him from his nephew).

Zadock married Susannah Brown on August 13, 1807 in Knox Co., Kentucky 15.
They had the following children:
1 Green* Taylor Martin was born circa 1808 in Knox Co., Kentucky 11. He died on September 22, 1878 in Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California.
He married first Margaret S. Logan on April 20, 1835 in Claiborne Co., Mississippi. (She was born on February 24, 1816 in Madison County, Kentucky and died on September 26, 1843 in Rodney, Jefferson Co., Mississippi. She is buried at Beechlands Plantation, Claiborne Co., Mississippi).
They apparently had one daughter, born between 1835 and 1840, who probably died during the 1840s or at least before 1853.
He married third Anna Maria Harrison on August 8, 1844 in Boyle Co., Kentucky. (She was born on October 25, 1814 and died on April 27, 1849. She is buried in the Oakland College Cemetery, Claiborne Co., Mississippi.)
They had no known children.
He married third Cornelia Smith Beazley, widow of David Nelson Hunt, sometime between 1860 and 1862 in California. (She was born on November 24, 1839 in Tennessee and died on March 3, 1883 in Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California. She is buried in the City Cemetery, Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California.) They divorced on July 19, 1877 in San Joaquin Co., California.
They had the following children:
Katherine "Kate" Louise Martin (1862-1938)
md. Edward Wells Ballantine
Alexander Gamble Martin (1864-1932)
md. 1st Emma J. Young
md. 2nd Hettie Benton Grimsley, ex-wife of Charles Leon Aydelotte
Bessie P. Martin (1872-1930)
md. Louis Hans Peterson

Green was a lawyer. The estate papers of his father indicate that in 1853 he was alive, and a resident of Louisiana (since he was actually living in California at that time, it may be an indication that the family had lost touch with each other.) He is sometimes confused with his cousin Green T. Martin, 1813-1858 (son of Joseph) who married Elizabeth Bones and lived and died in Platte County, Missouri. In actuality, these were different people who happened to have the same name. The above three marriages are conjectures and it has not been definitively proven that all women were married to the same man.

As a young man, Green apparently moved to western Mississippi. There he married Margaret Logan in 1835 in Claiborne County. In 1840, they were living in neighboring Jefferson County, Mississippi, next to his brother Gill. It was there that Margaret died from a yellow fever epidemic in 1843. After this, he apparently traveled to Kentucky where he married Anna Harrison in 1844 in Boyle County. They returned to Mississippi, where Anna died in 1849 of unknown causes. During this time period, Green also owned land on the other side of the Mississippi River in Louisiana. After his second wife's death, he decided to go west to California for the gold rush. Subsequent records suggest that Green abandoned whatever land that he owned in Louisiana or Mississippi.

He probably made the trip west to California in 1849 or 1850. In April 1850, he was living in Big Oak Flat, California, working as a miner. Eventually, he started working as a lawyer in California and was eventually created County Judge for Tuolumne County. In 1860, he was living in Sonora, California. Then in 1863 or 1864, Green moved with his third wife and family to Stockton, California, where he remained. There, Green worked as a lawyer and Justice of the Peace until his death.

* His original first name was probably Greenberry, yet he always used the name Green (probably to differentiate himself from his cousin who used the full Greenberry).

2 Hardin Davis Martin was born circa 1810 in Knox Co., Kentucky 11. He died circa 1882 39, probably in Waitsburg, Walla Walla Co., Washington.
He married Evalina Searcy on November 1, 1838 in Clay (now Platte) Co., Missouri 7. (She was born on December 13, 1809 in Woodford Co., Kentucky 8 and died on February 11, 1884 in Waitsburg, Walla Walla Co., Washington 39.)
They had one known child:
William Thomas Martin (c. 1850-aft. 1860)
Hardin and his wife to moved to Oregon in 1845, with Hardin serving as Lieutenant of their wagon train company. They settled in Yamhill County, Oregon. They probably lived in the town of Lafayette, Oregon. In 1850, Hardin was enumerated as a merchant. In 1851, he served as first postmaster for Lafayette, Oregon. He was in Yamhill County as late as 1856. In 1856, he sold most of his land in Yamhill County and moved elsewhere. In 1860, he and his family were living in Tuolumne County, California where his brother Green also lived. Hardin's occupation at the time was listed as "miner." In April 1860, there is a reference that Green Martin had deeded some land or portion of the Alice and Emily Quartz Claim in Tuolumne County to "Harden and Martin" (which may have been a typo for "Hardin D. Martin"). Then in May 1861, Hardin was in Yamhill Co., Oregon when he was a witness to his sister-in-law's remarriage. Then in February 1866, Hardin and Evalina were residents of Washington Co., Oregon when they sold land in Lafayette, Yamhill Co., Oregon. At some point they lived in Idaho before moving to Washington Territory (later State), where they both died. In old age, they both lived with the family of Archibald Saling. One source indicates they also lived in Texas, yet that is questionable.
3 Franklin B. Martin was born on December 17, 1811 in Knox Co., Kentucky 14. He died on July 11, 1860 in Lafayette, Yamhill Co., Oregon 14. He is buried in the McMinnville Masonic Cemetery, McMinnville, Yamhill Co., Oregon.
He married Lucretia Gordon on January 11, 1844 in Platte City, Platte Co., Missouri 7. (She was born on September 23, 1827 in Kentucky 14 and died on February 4, 1892 in McMinnville, Yamhill Co., Oregon 14. She is buried in the McMinnville Masonic Cemetery, McMinnville, Yamhill Co., Oregon. She is buried in the McMinnville Masonic Cemetery, McMinnville, Yamhill Co., Oregon.
They had the following children:
David A. Martin (1847-1849)
Zaddock Martin (1849-1850)
Addison Martin (1851-1852)
It appears that Franklin always used the name "Frank" or initials "F.B.", probably to differentiate him from his cousin Franklin Martin, who also settled in Yamhill County. Franklin B. Martin moved with his family to Yamhill County, Oregon in 1846; where he remained until his death. Apparently, Franklin raised his orphaned nephew William F. Martin (son of Gill). In 1861, his widow Lucretia married John W. Cowls. By this marriage, she had one daughter that died in infancy.
4 Gill Earl Martin was born circa 1813 in Knox Co., Kentucky. He died on September 8, 1843 in St. Louis, St. Louis Co., Missouri.
He married first Tabithia Thorpe on July 21, 1834 in Clay (now Platte) Co., Missouri 7. (She was born circa 1812 in Madison Co., Kentucky 8. They divorced in about December 1838 in Jefferson Co., Mississippi.)
They had one child:
William Franklin Martin (1836-1858)
He married second Eliza V. Williamson in April 1840 in Jefferson Co., Mississippi.
They had no known children.
Gill's birth is usually placed about 1816-1817, and between his siblings William and Millicent. My guess though is that he was older than this. Sometime between 1834 and 1838, he moved to Rodney, Mississippi where he lived near his brother Green. There they practiced law together as lawyers. Gill also served as editor for a newspaper and was acknowledged as a popular orator/public speaker.
5 William Jennings Martin
6 Millicent "Milly" G.* Martin was born on October 28, 1820 in Clay Co., Missouri 19. She died on August 17, 1869 in Matfield Green, Chase Co., Kansas 19. She is buried in the Matfield Green Cemetery, Matfield Green, Chase Co., Kansas.
She married Elisha Harrington on January 1, 1843 in Platte Co., Missouri 7. (He was born on February 6, 1802 in Kentucky 8 and died on February 9, 1853 in Platte Co., Missouri 8.)
They had three children:
David A. Harrington (1845-1891)
md. Sarah Jane Lammon
Emeline Leuticia Malissa Harrington (1847-1929)
md. 1st. James E. Perkins
md. 2nd. Alfred Greason Meyers
Nancy Harrington (c. 1849-aft. 1850)

Millicent also helped to raise seven stepchildren, progeny of her husband and his first marriage to her first cousin, Louisiana Martin. Millicent has not been found in the 1860 census, but she is said to have remained in Platte County until 1866, when she moved with her daughter to Chase County, Kansas.

* a guess is that her middle name was Garrett. There was a "Milly Garrett" who was a member of the Cumberland River Baptist Church in Barbourville while the Martins were also members of that church. A Garrett family also lived near the Martins in Missouri.

Patti Bates at PATTIBATES@aol.com is a researcher/descendant of this line.
7 James B. Martin was born circa 1822 in Clay Co., Missouri 11. He died on February 6, 1855 in Kansas 8.
He married first Malvina Ramey on October 30, 1844 in Platte Co., Missouri 7. (She was born circa 1826 and died on September 2, 1848 in Platte Co., Missouri.)
They had no children.
He married second Flora Ann Jack on October 31, 1850 in Platte Co., Missouri 7. (She was born on April 8, 1831 in Lafayette Co., Missouri and died after 1880 in Texas.)
They had two children:
Davidella Martin (1851-1868)
Cubbie P. Martin (1854-1858)

James remained in Missouri when his parents and most of his relatives moved to Oregon in 1846. Between 1849 and 1852, James was a judge of the Platte County Court. James mostly worked by operating water mills in Platte City. In 1853, he moved to Kansas where he became a farmer. Apparently he was found dead in his shanty one night after "a night's debauch". His widow and children moved back to Missouri. After James' death, his widow Flora married George R. Hines and moved to Texas.

8 Josephine J. Martin was born on April 16, 1822 in Clay Co., Missouri 8. She died on February 14, 1843 in Platte City, Platte Co., Missouri 8.
She married first Samuel Winter on March 25, 1838 in Clay Co., Missouri 7. They divorced sometime between 1838-1840.
They had no children.
She married second John Riley Owen on June 18, 1840 in Platte Co., Missouri 7. (He was born circa 1806 in Bumcombe Co., North Carolina and died on July 6, 1847 during the Mexican-American War at Senegal Creek, New Mexico.)
They had two children:
John Owen (1842-1843)
Susannah E. Owen (c. 1843-c. 1855)
9 Elizabeth Jane Martin was born circa 1825 in Clay Co., Missouri 11. She died on August 20, 1867 in Boise, Ada Co., Idaho 20.
She married first Henry Montgomery Knighton on April 23, 1841 in Platte City, Platte Co., Missouri 7. (He was born in 1818 in Morris Co., New Jersey and died on June 17, 1863 in The Dalles, Wasco Co., Oregon. He is buried in the Old City Cemetery, Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington.)
They had the following children:
Josephine Susan Knighton (1842-1869)
Lascelle Florence Knighton (1844-1903)
md. Henry Gordon Struve
Sagarlin Columbia Knighton (1847-1930)
md. Bertha Adeline Henrici
infant male Knighton (1851-1851)
Anna Blandine Knighton (1858-1926)
md. William A. Harrington
Mary Emma Knighton (1858-1945)
md. Gilmore Hays Parker
Alonzo Witherell Knighton (1861-1923)
md. Almina "Minnie" Weisedepp
She married second Charles Henry Wilkinson on January 10, 1865 (or 1866) * in Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington 20.
* The matrimonial notice indicated that the marriage took place on January 10, 1865, yet since the article was published on January 13, 1866, it's likely the 1865 was a typo.
They had no children.
The Knightons traversed the Oregon Trail in 1845 in the same wagon train with Elizabeth's brother Hardin and his family. The Knightons first settled at Oregon City, Oregon, where Henry operated a hotel, a tavern and a ferry over the river. Then in 1847 they moved to what is now St. Helens, Oregon. Henry is widely credited with founding the city of St. Helens, which was established in 1848. Their house, built in 1851, is still standing to this day (The Knighton House). Eventually, the family moved on to Vancouver, Washington. After her second marriage, Elizabeth apparently moved to Boise, Idaho, where she died. Her children afterwards returned to Vancouver, Washington.

6th Generation:

William Jennings Martin was born on February 2, 1814 6 or February 2, 1815 5 in Knox County, Kentucky. He died on April 26, 1901 in Glendale, Douglas Co., Oregon 6,28. He is buried in the Glendale Memorial Cemetery, Glendale, Douglas Co., Oregon.

Father: Zadock Martin
Mother: Susannah Brown

In about 1816, he moved with his family to what is now Clay County, Missouri. In about 1827, they moved again to what is now Platte County, Missouri. In 1837, William enlisted in the military during the Seminole Indian War. He served for a short time in Florida until he was wounded in December 1837 and was discharged in May 1838. William returned to Missouri, where he married Harriet Crobarger in 1839. It is not known what William did to support his family within the first few years of marriage, but likely helped with his family business (farming, operating ferries and operating a tavern). In 1840, he and his wife were apparently enumerated in his parents' household. In 1843, William left on an expedition wagon train to explore Oregon and California. During their expedition, the train captain resigned and the train split in two; leaving William as captain of the smaller group. William was gone on the expedition for an entire year and after visiting several places in Oregon in California, he returned to his wife and child in the summer of 1844. William quickly decided that he wanted to move his family to Oregon permanently.

In the spring of 1846, William and his family (wife, three daughters, parents, mother-in-law, brother, sister-in-law, and a cousin) left Missouri on the Oregon Trail. They arrived in northern Oregon in September 1846 after a 6-month journey. They settled in Yamhill County, Oregon. There, William moved with his family to the newly platted town of Lafayette. With his partner Daniel Barnes, William opened a general store called "Cheap Store" in the town of Lafayette. During this time period, William also served as an elected Representative of the Provisional Legislature of Oregon, before it was recognized as a territory (1848-1850). Afterwards, he served one term on the Territorial Legislature as a Representative for Yamhill County (1850-1851). During the Cayuse Indian War of 1847-1848, he served as Captain of the Yamhill County troops. In Yamhill County, William owned one lot in the town of Lafayette (which is today at the northeast corner of 2nd Street and Adams Street in Lafayette - the current site of a parking lot for a convenience store.)

In 1851, William moved with his family to southern Oregon, settling a 640-acre donation land claim near the town of Winchester, in Douglas County, Oregon. In 1851, William was also operating a ferry over the North Umpqua River (a vocation he had known since childhood). He and Daniel Barnes also reopened the "Cheap Store" in the town of Winchester. After the Table Rock incident in 1853, he served the government as "Indian Service Agent", with the goal of keeping peace between local tribes and white settlers. He served in that role from 1853 to 1855, when tensions escalated into war. During the Rogue River Indian War (1855-1856), he served in the Oregon Mounted Volunteers and was a leader in the war effort. He was first elected as a Major, but then quickly elevated to Lieutenant Colonel. He was called Colonel Martin for the duration of his life. In 1856, he was appointed to the position of Receiver of the Land Office at Winchester. In 1859 the land office was moved from Winchester to Roseburg, and in that year he moved with his family to Roseburg, Douglas County, Oregon.

William was a militantly political and opinionated man. He was an ardent Democrat (pro-South, pro-slavery), which as a party fell from favor in Oregon. (Click here to read 25 letters written between 1855 and 1871 from William to his close friend and political ally, General (also Senator and Governor) Joseph Lane.) In 1861, William was not reappointed as Land Receiver and in that year moved with his family to the rural location of Myrtle Creek, in Douglas County, where he briefly operated a mill. His pursuits there were apparently not successful. In about 1863, he moved with his family to Galesville, in Douglas County, Oregon.

William and his family lived on their farm at Galesville for over 20 years. In 1867, William was operating a hotel there. The family lived on an estate of about 320 acres (adjoining homesteads of William and his mother-in-law Catherine Crobarger). There, the family lived in a farmhouse on the northeast corner of Catherine's homestead (at what is now 1517 Azalea-Glen Road). This location is today near the town of Azalea, Oregon. In 1874, the family sold the majority of Catherine's homestead. In 1878, William transferred 160 of his acres to his son George, who later sold it to his brother Hardin. William and his wife continued to own a 20-acre section of their homestead where their house was located. They were still living there in 1884 when Harriet died from paralysis [stroke?]. Not long after this, William decided to move away. During the mid-1880s, he frequently visited his daughter Josephine in Jacksonville, Oregon and apparently considered moving there. Instead, he moved to the nearby small city of Glendale, Oregon, sometime between 1885 and 1889.

It was while living in Glendale that William met and married his second wife, a widow named Margaret Trible, in 1891. In 1891, the newly-married couple moved to Jacksonville, Oregon, where they lived for several years. In June 1899, both William's wife and his daughter Josephine died in Jacksonville. In August 1899, he moved back to Glendale, Oregon, where he spent the remainder of his life living with his daughter Fanny Miller.

Note: there are at least two sources which indicate that William was also a veteran of the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. However, that is not corroborated by most other records and doesn't seem possible. William arrived in northern Oregon in September 1846, and was documented there almost continuously into 1851. His son was conceived in about February 1847, he participated in the Cayuse Indian War over the winter of 1847-1848, and was elected to the Oregon congress in November 1848. It is possible he could have gone to the war during 1847 or 1848; but not much time to get all the way to Texas and back. However, it is possible that he participated in the war effort in northern California. There is one source (from his daughter) which indicates that William had made two different trips to Sutter's Fort (in Sacramento), California. Since the only trip we know of was in early 1844, it is possible he came back in 1847 or 1848.

William married first to Harriet Catherine Crobarger on July 16 6,27 or August 22 7,25,26, 1839 in Platte City, Platte Co., Missouri.

They had the following children:

1 Catherine "Kate" Susannah Martin was born on December 2, 1841 in Platte City, Platte Co., Missouri 23. She died on June 7, 1916 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon 9,23.
She married Alfred Slocum on October 26, 1858 in Winchester, Douglas Co., Oregon 10,24. (He was born on April 21, 1833 in Easton Twp., Washington Co., New York 24 and died on September 28, 1911 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon 9,24.)
They had the following children:
infant male Slocum (1860-1860)
infant female twins Slocum (1861-1861)
Alfred Kenyon Slocum (1862-1915)
md. Agnes Hutsby
Frederick William Slocum (1865-1924)
Frank Martin Slocum (1867-1940)
md. 1st. Margaret Seamans
md. 2nd. Josephine W. Lorenz
Harriet Nellie Slocum (1869-1925)
md. Herbert Clark Smith
Juliet Mosher Slocum (1872-1937)
md. Alfred A. Closset(t)
George Joseph Luzerne Slocum (1873-1875)
Samuel Cecil Slocum (1876-1936)
md. Virginia DeLano
infant male Slocum (1878-1878)
After their marriage in 1858, Alfred and Kate lived in Winchester and also spent time in nearby Roseburg, Oregon. Then in 1862, they moved to Pioneer City (now the ghost town of Pioneerville), Idaho, where gold had just been discovered. Alfred was elected Treasurer of Boise County, Idaho in 1864, but was arrested in 1865 and tried in 1866 for embezzling public funds. The case was apparently thrown out and they afterwards moved to nearby Idaho City, Idaho. They were in Idaho as late as 1867. In 1868 or 1869 they returned to Oregon, where they lived near Kate's parents at Galesville, Douglas County, Oregon. There, Alfred was working as a school teacher in 1870. Sometime between 1870 and 1873, they moved to California where they lived in South Vallejo in Solano County. Sometime between 1875 and 1876, they returned to Oregon, where they settled in Portland. Then sometime between 1897 and 1899, they moved to Glendale, Douglas County, Oregon (where Kate's father and sister Fanny were living). In 1910 or 1911, they returned to Portland, where they both died.
2 Josephine Lucretia Martin
3 Frances "Fanny" Amelia* Martin was born on June 3, 1845 in Platte City, Platte Co., Missouri 8. She died on December 9, 1923 in Glendale, Douglas Co., Oregon. She is buried in the Glendale Memorial Cemetery, Glendale, Douglas Co.,Oregon.
She married first George Washington Roberts on July 2, 1863 in Canyonville, Douglas Co., Oregon 10. (He was born circa 1844 in Missouri 11 and died circa 1922.) They divorced sometime between 1886-1893.
They had the following children:
Mary Josephine Roberts (c. 1864-1930)
md. 1st Wallace B. Shank(s) (divorced)
md. 2nd Carl Nelson
md. 3rd Charles Augustus Hathaway (divorced)
Susan Emma Roberts (1866-1885)
md. William L. Morton
George Washington Roberts (1869-after 1923)
md. Mary E. Tally (divorced)
Joseph Louis Roberts (1871-1948)
md. 1st Emma Gertrude Obenchain (divorced)
md. 2nd Gertrude Howard
Jennie Alice Roberts (1873-1881)
Pearl Frank Roberts (1876-1964)
md. Florence Ann Powers
Percival "Percy" Hardin Roberts (1876-1946)
md. 1st Luella Frances Pruitt (divorced)
md. 2nd Ida E. Clark, widow of Andrew Carpenter and Edward Dompier
William Carll Roberts (1878-1878)
Ruth Kathryn (Violet Daisy) Roberts (1879-1965)
md. 1st Frank Taylor Lady (divorced)
md. 2nd Charles Flint (divorced)
Her name was originally "Daisy", but used the name "Violet Ruth" for the first half of her life. She changed her name to "Ruth Kathryn", probably after her second divorce in the 1920s.
Genevieve "Jennie" Roberts (1881-1957)
md. 1st. John E. Churchill (divorced)
md. 2nd. Robert A. Barnes (divorced)
then remarried (and redivorced) John E. Churchill
Alfred Slocum Roberts (1883-1886)
She married second Abraham Miller on November 2, 1893 in Douglas Co., Oregon 10. (He was born in September 1850 in Oregon 11.) They were separated (but not divorced) after 1900.
They had no children.

* Frances' middle name is unknown, and she is only listed on known contemporary records with a middle initial "A." However, her oldest grandchild was named Frances Amelia Shank, presumably after her grandmother.

George was a stage driver and was probably gone from the home frequently. In 1870 and 1871, they were living near Canyonville, Douglas County, Oregon. In 1876, they were living in Jacksonville, Oregon. In 1878 and 1880 they were living in Roseburg, Oregon. In 1881 and 1882, they were living in Vancouver, Washington. By 1885, they had returned to Douglas County, Oregon, and settled in the small city of Glendale, where they remained.

Aside from raising her children, Fannie worked as a midwife. For many years she was also was a correspondent for the Roseburg Plaindealer newspaper, in which she wrote under the pen name "Mollie."

4 Hardin Davis Martin was born on November 29, 1847 in Lafayette, Yamhill Co., Oregon 12. He died on March 17, 1921 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon 12.
He married first Letitia Floyd Overstreet on April 9, 1873 in Douglas Co., Oregon 10. (She was born on April 18, 1856 in Iowa 18 and died on November 13, 1874 in Grants Pass, Josephine Co., Oregon 18.)
They had two children:
Emma May Martin (1873-1873)
Effie Josephine Martin (1874-1874)
He married second Cassie Ione Burch on October 3, 1877 in Josephine Co., Oregon 8. (She was born on January 11, 1861 in Douglas Co., Oregon 8 and died on October 13, 1910 in Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington 22.) They divorced sometime between 1899 and 1901. (Cassie filed for divorce in September 1899, but that case was dismissed. She later filed a successful divorce suit, sometime before she remarried in February 1901).
They had two children:
Fred Earl Martin (1878-1938)
md. Maude Ethel Thomas
Ethel Lillian Martin (1880-1963)
md. Nat Ladd Eddy
Kathryn Leona Martin (1884-1945)
md. 1st. Chester Smith
md. 2nd. Arthur J. Cuff

Hardin usually went by the pet name "Tobe". He was a stage driver, which required him to be gone from his family frequently. In 1881, his brother George deeded him 160 acres of their family land near Galesville, Oregon. Tobe and his family apparently lived there until 1889, when they sold the land. He and his wife were probably separated at about that time (his wife later claimed that he deserted her in 1888). Tobe went to live near Grants Pass, Oregon, while his wife and children moved to Eugene, Oregon. In 1900, Tobe was working as a logger. He has not been located in the 1910 census. Sometime before 1920, he moved to Portland, Oregon, where he spent the remainder of his life in the home of his daughter Ethel.

5 Joseph L.* Martin was born on February 5, 1850 in Lafayette, Yamhill Co., Oregon 8. He died sometime between 1870-1901.

* We don't know his middle. I assume though that his middle name was Lane, and that he was named after General Joseph Lane, who at the time was Governor of Oregon and his father's political ally.

There is no evidence of Joseph after 1870, when he was 20 years old and living with his parents. He had definitely died before 1901, when he was not listed as a survivor of his father. He probably died before 1880, as he has not been found in that year's census. However, in the Glendale Cemetery (where his father and sister are buried) there are three children of "J.L. and J.C. Martin" who died in 1887, 1888 and 1890. No idea who this family was.

6 George Francis Martin was born on August 10, 1852 in Winchester, Douglas Co., Oregon 8. He died on June 29, 1934 in Santa Clara Co., California 13.
He married Olive May Gilmore on October 8, 1879 in Douglas Co., Oregon 10. (She was born on July 21, 1858 in Roseburg, Douglas Co., Oregon 8 and died on March 25, 1939 in Santa Clara Co., California 13.)
They had the following children:
Claude Frank Martin (1881-1935)
md. Mamie F. Buchler
William Adney Martin (1883-1949)
md. Ina Lemoine
Nelle Martin (1884-1886)
Della A. Martin (1887-1972)
md. Ed Bailiff
Grover Cleveland Martin (1894-1970)
md. Carolina Paulina Lewerenz

He usually went by the name "Frank". In 1878, his parents deeded him 160 acres of land from the family homestead near Galesville, Oregon. Frank and his wife lived there until 1881, when he deeded the land to his brother Hardin and moved away. In 1883, they were nearby in Roseburg, Oregon. Then by 1885, they had moved to Centerville in Klickitat County, Washington; where they lived for several years. Sometime between 1894 and 1900, the family moved again, to The Dalles, Oregon; where they again lived for several years. Sometime between 1903 and 1910, he moved to Monterey, California. In 1920, Frank was living with their son Claude near Seattle, Washington and his wife Olive was living with their son Grover in San Francisco, California. In 1930, they were again living together with their son Grover in San Francisco, California.

Frank worked for most of his adulthood as a house carpenter.

7 Emma Martin was born circa 1856 in Winchester, Douglas Co., Oregon 11. She died sometime between 1860-1870 in Douglas Co., Oregon.
One source indicates that Emma died on October 2, 1879, yet she most likely died before 1870. Could the date have been October 2, 1869?
William married second to Margaret Page, widow first of Daniel Duty and second of George Trible, on December 14, 1891 in Glendale, Douglas Co., Oregon 10. She was born circa 1815 in Tennessee. She died on June 4, 1899 in Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon 6.
Margaret only had one known child, Abijah Duty, from her first husband. She was living with her family in Vanderburgh Co., Indiana from 1849 to 1860. In 1864, they were in Posey Co., Indiana and were in Gibson Co., Indiana in 1872. In 1880, she and her son were in La Bette Co., Kansas. They had moved to Jacksonville, Oregon, by 1891.


7th Generation:

Josephine Lucretia Martin was born on June 3, 1845 in Platte City, Platte County, Missouri 1,2,3. She died on June 16, 1899 in Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon 1,3. She is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon.

Father: William Jennings Martin
Mother: Harriet Catherine Crobarger

Josephine was conceived soon after her father returned to Missouri from his year-long expedition to California. She was named after her aunt Josephine Martin Owen, who had died 2 years earlier. Even at her birth, Josephine's parents were probably making plans to move the entire family to Oregon. In the spring of 1846, when she was about 9 months old, the family left Missouri in a wagon train bound for the Oregon Territory. The train arrived in northern Oregon in September 1846 and the family immediately settled in the small town of Lafayette in Yamhill County, Oregon. They lived in Lafayette from 1846 to 1851. In 1851, they moved to Douglas County, in southern Oregon. In Douglas County, they lived in Winchester from 1851 to 1859, Roseburg from 1859 to 1861 and moved to Myrtle Creek in 1861. It was while living in Myrtle Creek that young Josephine left her family. In about 1862, when she would have been 16 or 17, she moved to somewhere in rural Josephine County, Oregon, where she began working as a school teacher. She also might have worked as a teacher briefly in Jacksonville, Jackson County, Oregon. It was during this time she attracted the attention of a young man named William Plymale, who lived with his family on a farm near Jacksonville, Oregon. (It is possible though that she had already known William; when her family lived in Roseburg from 1859-1861, they were neighbors of William's sister Elizabeth and her family). William and Josephine were married on July 9, 1863 in Jacksonville; she was 18 and he was 26.

After their marriage, the couple began living on his family's ranch, in an area called Manzanita Precinct in the Bear Creek valley, a few miles east of Jacksonville (now within Medford's city limits). In 1875, they moved to the city of Jacksonville, where they began living in a house on Oregon Street and operated a livery stable business which was across the street from their home.

Aside from being a wife and mother of 12 children, Josephine had a very active civic life. She had apparently inherited her fiery personality from her father, and seems to have been passionate about various issues. She was also very political, and held her own views and convictions. Apparently throughout most of her life, her husband and father were Democrats but Josephine was a Republican (which tended to be the more Progressive party at the time). Among her various activities, she: was a prominent Women's' Suffrage activist, was a Temperate activist, worked as a writer for two different newspapers (Ashland Tidings and Portland Oregonian), ran for political office (Jackson County Recorder), worked as a committee clerk for the state legislature, worked as a deputy town clerk (in Jacksonville), and was a noted public speaker, often chosen to give speeches to various groups. She was also actively involved with many groups, including: the Grange, the Jackson County Agricultural Society, the Oregon State Women's Suffrage Association, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the National Press Association, the Oregon Press Association, the Madrona Lodge, the Ruth Rebekah Lodge, the Southern Oregon Pioneer Association, the Oregon Pioneer Association, and the Methodist Church.

In the year 1888, the Plymale's house burned down and the family moved the following year to a house across the street. This house is still standing today where it is aptly called "The Plymale House." Josephine became ill in December of 1898 and suffered from an unknown disease or illness ("a complication of diseases") for about 6 months. She died on June 16, 1899 in Jacksonville, Jackson County, Oregon. She was 54 years old and was buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Oregon.

Josephine married William Jasper Plymale on July 9, 1863 in Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon 4.
For information on her children, see his page.

Sources:

1. Obituary of Josephine Plymale, Medford Mail, June 23, 1899.
2. Jacksonville Cemetery Index, Jacksonville, Oregon
3. Resolution on Deaths of Members, Southern Oregon Pioneer Association
4. Marriage records, Jackson Co., Oregon
5. The Umpqua Trapper. Douglas County Historical Society. Roseburg, OR. Vol 13, No. 4, 1977.
6. Obituary of William J. Martin, Roseburg Plaindealer, April 29, 1901
7. Missouri Marriages to 1850. Ancestry.com
8. Online gedcom family files
9. Oregon state death index
10. Marriage records, Douglas Co., Oregon
11. Assorted US Federal census records
12. Death Certificate of Hardin Martin, 1921, Multnomah Co., OR
13. California state death index
14. Tombstone Inscriptions, McMinnville Masonic Cemetery, McMinnville, OR
15. Kentucky Marriages to 1850. Ancestry.com
16. Online cemetery index, Old Parkville Cemetery, Parkville, Platte Co., Missouri. http://www.rootsweb.com/~moplatte/oldparvillecemetery.htm
17. Research of Seely Foley at seelyfoley@hotmail.com
18. Death notice of Letitia Martin, Roseburg Plaindealer, December 12, 1874
19. Online cemetery index, Matfield Green Cemetery, Matfield Green, Chase Co., Kansas. http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/chase.htm
20. Death notice, The Vancouver Register, Aug. 31, 1867
21. Marriage notice, The Vancouver Register, Jan. 13, 1866
22. Washington State Death Index, 1907-1960. http://beta.familysearch.org
23. Obituary of Mrs. Catherine Slocum, Oregonian [Portland, OR], Jun. 8, 1916, Pg. 16
24. Slocum, Charles E. A Short History of the Slocums, Slocumbs, and Slocombs of America. Syracuse, NY, 1882.
25. Marriage record of William Martin and Harriet Crobarger, Platte County Marriage Records, Vol 1, Pg 5
26. Paxton, W.M. Annals of Platte County, Missouri. Hudson Kimberly Publishing Co., 1897.
27. Information from Ralph Roberts at RRob689080@aol.com
28. Obituary of William Martin, the Medford Enquirer, May 4, 1901
29. All Saint's Parish Register, Frederick, Maryland.
30. Christ Church, Queen Caroline Parish Register, Guilford (Columbia), Maryland.
31. Tracey, Grace L. and Dern, John P. Pioneers of Old Monocacy, The Early Settlement of Frederick County, Maryland, 1721-1743. Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1989.
32. Rice, Millard M. This Was The Life, Excerpts from the Judgment Records of Frederick County, Maryland, 1748-1765. Clearfield Company, Baltimore, 2002.
33. Personal Property Tax Lists, Russell Co., Virginia
34. Personal Property Tax Lists, Knox Co., Kentucky
35. Maryland Land Patents
36. Anne Arundel County Land Records
37. Frederick County Land Records
38. Prince George's County Land Records
39. Obituary of Evaline Martin, Christian Herald [Portland, OR], Feb. 22, 1884, Pg. 12