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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. The same 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, possibly in Parke Pale in Dorsetshire, England. He died before February 1675/6 in Barbados 17.

John may have been a Catholic and probably moved to the colony of Maryland in the 1640's or the 1650's with his older brother Thomas Martin. (The theory also indicates that they were the sons of Thomas Martin and Elizabeth Maunsell (or Jane Dickson) of Dorsetshire, England.) 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.

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

In about 1698 or 1699, John moved with his family to Baltimore County, Maryland, where they remained. It was also probably at about the same time that John's mother Damaris died and his father remarried to Eleanor Todd, who became his stepmother. Probably in the early 1710's John left his family to try his own luck as a farmer. It is probable that he first settled in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. John lived in a part of Anne Arundel County, Maryland that became Howard County in the 1800's. In about 1721 or 1722, John married to a woman named Lydia (probably Lydia Hanks born in 1704). They lived in Anne Arundel County and had five children: Joshua, John, Eunice, Mary, and William. Sadly in about 1732 John's wife Lydia died and John remarried in about 1733 to a widow named Ann Dorsey (probably Hannah/Ann Crouch born in 1706) who had 5 children from a previous marriage.

John and Ann had a total of eight children together: Benjamin, Tabitha, Joshua, Demaris, Zadock (see next generation), Appiah, Asa, and Asenith. They lived in Anne Arundel County for only a few more years before deciding to move to what was then the frontier of the colony of Maryland. Probably in the mid to late 1730's, John and his family moved to Prince George's County, Maryland in a part that would become Frederick County in 1749. They settled on a farm near what would eventually become the town of Walkersville. John and his family were living here at least until the 1750's, where John served as a road surveyor and also as a constable. John's farm was apparently sold in the year 1759 and any details of his life after this date are unknown. Considering the fact that so many of his children moved to North Carolina by the 1770's and possibly as early as the 1760's, John may have done the same. There is no record of his death or administration in Frederick County, Maryland. My belief is that John and Ann Martin moved with several of their children to Rowan County, North Carolina in the 1760's where they would have both died soon after.

John married first to Lydia circa 1722 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. She was born circa 1704 and died circa 1732 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland.

They had the following children:

1 Joshua Martin was born on September 21, 1723 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17. He died young.
2 John Martin was born on October 2, 1725 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17. He died in Loudon Co., Virginia. He married Louisa.
3 Eunice Martin was born on February 10, 1726/7 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17.
4 Mary Martin was born on February 17, 1728/9 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17.
5 William Martin was born on August 2, 1732 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17. He probably died in Botetourt Co., Virginia.
John married second to Ann, widow of Charles Dorsey, in about 1733 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17. She was born circa 1706 in Maryland and died after 1751.
She may have been Hannah (Ann) Crouch born in 1706 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. She was the daughter of William Crouch and Susannah Rockhold.
They had the following children:
1 Benjamin Martin was born on June 6, 1734 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17. He died after 1778. He married Elizabeth.
2 Tabitha Martin was born in about 1736 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17. She died in North Carolina.
3 Joshua Martin was born in about 1738 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland 17. He died in January 1803 in Green Co., Georgia 17. He married Mary.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.
5 Zadock Martin
6 Appiah Martin was born on February 6, 1744/5 in Prince George's (now Frederick) Co., Maryland 17.
7 Asa Martin was born on September 20, 1749 in Frederick Co., Maryland 17. He died in 1807 in Rowan Co., North Carolina. He married Elizabeth.
8 Asenith Martin was born on September 13, 1751 in Frederick Co., Maryland 17. She died after 1807. She married John Jacks.

4th Generation:

Zadock Martin was born on November 18, 1742 near what is now the town of Walkersville in Frederick (then Prince George's) County, Maryland 17. He died after 1798, probably in Kentucky or Missouri.

Father: John Martin
Mother: Hannah (Ann) Crouch

He was raised in Frederick County, Maryland. Zaddock moved away from Maryland with at least several of his family members in the 1760's or 1770's. The earliest known records show Zadock and some of his siblings living in Rowan County, North Carolina in 1778. It was probably while living there in the mid to late 1770's that Zaddock was married but unfortunately his wife's name or any record of her existence is lost.

During the American Revolution Zaddock may have been a loyalist to the English Crown, as a Zadock Martin was listed as a Tory in 1782 in Rowan County. By the late 1780's Zaddock moved with his family to nearby Wilkes County, North Carolina, he remained there until the late 1790's. Zaddock Martin had at least 4 children, and probably more. Sometime between 1798 and 1802, Zadock's family moved to Knox County, Kentucky, where they remained for many years. It is possible that before moving to Kentucky, they made a stop in Virginia for a year or two. Zaddock Martin probably died soon after arriving in Knox County, Kentucky, probably between about 1802 and 1805. Although there are questionable sources which may indicate he lived until the 1820's and moved to Missouri with his sons.

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

They had 5 known children:

1 Isaac Martin was born circa 1779. He died after 1840 in Buchanan Co., Missouri.
He married Esther Wilkeson on November 20, 1797 in Rowan Co., North Carolina. (She was born circa 1780 and died between 1810-1830 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
No proof of Isaac's wife name, the marriage listed above is simply most likely. Also, some newer gedcoms of this line record her name as "Martha Wilkerson." 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. In 1804, he helped form the Cumberland River Baptist Church in Knox County. Isaac moved to Ray Co., Missouri in 1816. He settled on the Crooked River (in Crooked River Township) near what is now Buffalo City. Isaac served as an early justice of Ray County, was a Road Overseer, and he also operated a mill and a ferry near his home at Crooked River. Sometime between 1830 and 1840, he moved to Buchanan County, Missouri (probably after 1837 when the "Platte Purchase" was opened for settlement).
2 Cynthia Martin
Several online family trees have indicated that Cynthia (or a sister named Phebe) were married to Ro(w)land Brown. The only published source I can find relative to this connection is from the Annals of Platte County, Missouri which says that Zadock Martin's wife [Susannah Brown] was a sister of Roland Brown. Somewhere along the line someone may have taken this to mean that Zadock Martin's sister was married to Roland Brown. Roland Brown was married to Phebe Grisson in 1810 and remained married to her until his death. Of course, he may have been married to Cynthia Martin before this, resulting in her early death.

Although it is questionable that Cynthia married Roland Brown, the existence of a daughter of this name does have more of a likelihood because she also had a niece named Cynthia Martin (daughter of Isaac). Of course, Isaac's daugher Cynthia may have brought about the confusion that he also had a sister of the same name. More research is needed.

3 Joseph Martin was born circa 1787 in North Carolina 11. He died before August 9, 1852 in 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 before 1841 in Missouri).
They had the following children:
Brightberry Martin (1811-1890)
md. Elizabeth Willis
Greenberry T. Martin (c. 1813-1858)
md. Elizabeth Bones
Sarah Martin (c. 1816-1884)
md. 1st. Jonas Sutton
md. 2nd. Thomas Harrington
Elsberry Martin (1820-1847)
md. America Brown
Franklin Martin (c. 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 Ann Martin (1829-1887)
md. Alvin A. Ross
Isaac Martin (c. 1833-aft. 1880)
md. Jane
Amanda Martin (c. 1835-???)
Stephen Maritn (c. 1840-???)
He married second Martha Senewell on May 19, 1841 in Clay Co., Missouri. (She was born circa 1799 in Kentucky.)
4 Zadock Martin

5th Generation:

Zadock Martin Jr. was born on February 12, 1789, probably in Wilkes County, North Carolina 14. 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

In his youth he moved with his family to Knox County, Kentucky. On August 13, 1807, in Knox County, Zadock was married to a woman named Susannah Brown. Zadock and Susannah lived in Knox County for several years and in 1814, Zadock built the first jail in that county. They had 9 children: Hardin, Greenberry, Franklin, William (see next generation), Gill, Millicent, Josephine, James and Elizabeth.

In about the year 1816, Zadock moved with his family to what is now Clay County, Missouri. There, they probably lived in Gallatin Township. Until 1822, this was part of Ray County, Missouri. Zadock served as Ray County Assessor in 1821 and 1822. From 1825 to 1827, Zadock served as a judge for the Clay County Court. In 1827 or 1828, they moved to Platte County, Missouri, which was near the border with the Kansas Territory. Zadock and his family were some of the earliest settlers of Platte County, and although holding no political offices, were virtual "rulers" of that area. They had the task of operating ferries over the Missouri and Platte Rivers (for Fort Leavenworth) and operated a large farm and a tavern at that location. Eventually, they created a community on the Platte River, which they called Martinsville (this was later "moved" and renamed Platte City).

In the 1840's, many of Zadock's children decided to move to the Oregon Territory. Zadock and his wife Susannah moved with several of their children in the year 1846, arriving in northern Oregon in September 1846. The Martins settled on a farm near Lafayette in Yamhill County, southwest of Portland. Zadock died here on October 10, 1849. According to one record, the following was said of Zaddock: "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."

Zaddock married Susannah Brown on August 13, 1807 in Knox Co., Kentucky 15. She was born circa 1788 in Virginia. She died aft 1850, probably in Oregon or California.
The parents of Susannah Brown are not known. For a discussion of her possible ancestry and issues surrounding it, please visit my dead ends page.

Susannah (called "Sukey" or "Sooky") was born sometime during the 1780's in Virginia, although most likely towards the end of that decade. She apparently moved with her family to southeast Kentucky in the late 1780's or early 1790's. They probably lived in Garrard or Knox County, Kentucky prior to her marriage to Zadock Martin in 1807.

Susannah was found in the 1850 census in Yamhill County, Oregon, living with her son Hardin. It had previously been assumed she died shortly after this, because in 1853, she is not listed as a survivor/heir in her husband's estate papers. Of course, this does not definitively indicate she was dead. In 1858, she was listed as the heir in her grandson William F. Martin's estate papers. Also, in an online index, her name appears on tax rolls for Yamhill County, Oregon in 1857 and 1859. No known source has any information on her after this date. Mostly likely, she had died before the enumeration of the 1860 census. Unfortunately, there is no record that she was buried with her husband and son in the McMinnville Masonic Cemetery, which would have been likely had she died in Yamhill County between 1859-1860. Before her death, she may have moved to Tuolumne County, California to live with her two oldest sons Hardin and Green. More than likely though, Hardin moved to California sometime between 1855-1857 without her. Another possibility is that Susannah had moved back east to live with her daughter Milly Harrington in Missouri, whose enumeration in the 1860 census has not been found.

They had the following children:
1 Green T. Martin was born circa 1808 in Knox Co., Kentucky 11. He died on March 18, 1880 in Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California.
He married 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 1840's or at least before 1853.
He married second Cornelia, widow of a Mr. Hunt, sometime between 1860 and 1862 in California. (She was born circa 1837 in Tennessee and died after 1880 in California?)
They had the following children:
Kate L. Martin (c. 1862-aft. 1880)
Alexander Martin (c. 1865-aft. 1880)
Bessie Martin (c. 1872-aft. 1880)
Green Martin was a lawyer. Only two known sources provide information on him in connection to his family. The Annals of Platte County just provides his name and that he was a "lawyer of Missouri." Also, the estate papers of his father indicate that in 1853 he was alive, and a resident of Louisiana. Until recently, he has been confused with his cousin of the same name who married Elizabeth Bones and lived in Platte County, Missouri. In actuality, these were different people.

The above two marriages and his date and place of death are conjectures and are unproven. Our Green Martin was most likely the single man of that name living in Tuolumne County, California in 1850 and 1860. There, he was a miner and later a lawyer and County Judge. A source also indicates that Green T. Martin "of Rodney, Miss." was mining in California during the period of 1848 to 1850. Additionally, in the 1840 census of Jefferson County, Mississippi, he is enumerated near a "Gill E. Martin," who was probably his brother. It is most likely then that our Green Martin was the one that married Margaret Logan in 1835 in Mississippi and was found living with her and an unknown female child in 1840 in Mississippi (Rodney was located in Jefferson County). Margaret and the child both died during the 1840's, which may have been an impetus for Green to move out west to California to be a gold miner. Green has so far been found in Tuolumne County records through 1861. At about that time, he apparently remarried to a widow and before 1870 had moved with his new family to Stockton, San Joaquin County, California. There, he was working as a lawyer in 1870. It is not known why his father's estate records indicated he was living in Louisiana in 1853, as he had moved to California prior to 1850. He may have moved back east briefly during the 1850's before returning to California. Also, no known contemporary source indicates that he ever lived in Louisiana, yet the counties in Mississippi he lived in bordered the Mississippi River and the state of Louisiana.

2 Hardin Davis Martin was born circa 1810 in Knox Co., Kentucky 11. He died after 1860, perhaps in California or Texas?
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 after 1860.)
They had one known child:
William Martin (c. 1850-aft. 1860)
It is not proven that the above William Martin was their child, as he was born some 12 years after they were married. No further record of Hardin, Evalina or William are found after 1860. One source indicates that Hardin moved to Texas.

Hardin and his wife to moved to Oregon in 1845, with Hardin being elected as Lieutenant of the wagon train company. They settled in Yamhill County, 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 1855. Sometime between 1855 and 1857, he apparently moved to Tuolumne County, California where his brother Green was living. In 1860, Hardin was living there with his family and was a miner. In April 1860, there is reference that Green Martin had deeded some kind of land or portion of the Alice and Emily Quartz Claim in Tuolumne County to "Harden and Martin."

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." 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. In 1861, his widow Lucretia married John W. Cowls. By this marriage, she had one daughter that died in infancy. Lucretia was the last representative of the family in Yamhill County until her death in 1892.
4 Gill E. Martin was born circa 1813 in Knox Co., Kentucky. He died sometime between 1835-1853, perhaps in Mississippi.
He married Tabithia Thorpe on July 21, 1834 in Clay (now Platte) Co., Missouri 7. (She was born circa 1812 in Madison Co., Kentucky 8 and died between 1836-1846 in Missouri.)
They had one child:
William Franklin Martin (1836-1858)
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. He was the first of the Martin children to be married and was apparently living on his own in 1840, when only his two oldest brothers were. It is assumed that Gill died prior to 1846, because that is when his son moved to Oregon with the rest of his family. Gill's wife Tabithia may have died not long after the birth of their son in 1836, or at least before 1840. In 1840, he was most likely the man of that name living in Jefferson County, Mississippi, near his brother Green T. Martin. If that is the case, he was most likely the Gill E. Martin who married Eliza Williamson in 1841 in Jefferson County, Mississippi. Although he was assuredly dead before 1853, he probably died in Mississippi during the 1840's.
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
Malissa Emeline 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 supposed to have remained in Platte County until 1866, when she apparently moved with her daughter to Chase County, Kansas.
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 (1854-1850's)
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 Owen (c. 1843-aft. 1853) (She apparently died "upon verging womanhood.")
9 Elizabeth Jane Martin was born circa 1825 in Clay Co., Missouri 11. She died sometime between 1865-1870 in Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington.
She married 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" Wiesedalle
The Knightons traversed the Oregon Trail in 1845. They settled first at Oregon City, Oregon and then settled at what would become St. Helens, Oregon in 1847. They eventually moved to The Dalles, Oregon and then to Vancouver, Washington. Son Sagarlin remained in the area of Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington but the remaining children moved to Seattle.

6th Generation:

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

Father: Zadock Martin
Mother: Susannah Brown

In about 1816-1817, he moved with his family to what is now Clay County, Missouri. In about 1827-1828, 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 severely wounded in December 1837 and was discharged in May 1838. William returned to Missouri, where he was married to Harriet Crobarger on July 31 or August 22, 1839 in Platte County, Missouri. In 1843, William left on an expedition wagon train to explore the Oregon and California Territories. 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 out to Oregon permanently.

It was not until the spring of 1846 that William and his family (wife, three daughters, parents, mother-in-law, brother, sister-in-law, and a cousin) made their way across the huge distance of the Oregon Trail, arriving in northern Oregon in September of 1846. They immediately settled in Yamhill County, Oregon, where they lived near the town of Lafayette. In Yamhill County, William worked his farm and also served as a Representative of the Provisional Legislature of Oregon before it was recognized as a territory. Afterwards, he served one term on the Territorial Legislature as a Representative of Yamhill County. During the Cayuse Indian War of 1847-1848, he served as Captain of the Yamhill County troops. While living in Yamhill County, William also jointly owned and operated a general store (called "Cheap Store") in Lafayette. In 1851, William moved with his family to southern Oregon, settling a 640-acre land claim near the town of Winchester, in Douglas County, Oregon. He and his friend reopened the "Cheap Store" in the town of Winchester. After the Table Rock incident in 1853 (an Indian "conflict" and resulting "treaty"), he served the government as "Indian Service Agent." During the Rogue River Indian War (1855-1856) he was elected as Lieutenant-Colonel of the army and was a person held in high esteem during the conflict. After the war was over in 1856, he was appointed to 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 and in about 1863, he moved with his family to Galesville, in Douglas County, Oregon, where in 1867 he was operating a hotel. In the year 1884, his wife Harriet died and sometime in the late 1880's, he moved to the town of Glendale, Douglas County. He was married there in 1891, to a Mrs. Margaret Trible, who died in 1899. In his old age, his health deteriorated, and William was forced to move into the home of his daughter, Fannie Roberts Miller, who lived in Glendale. He died there on April 26, 1901. He was buried soon after in the Glendale Masonic Cemetery, Glendale, Oregon.

William married first to Harriet Catherine Crobarger on August 22, 1839 in Platte City, Platte Co., Missouri 7.

They had the following children:

1 Catherine Susannah Martin was born on December 2, 1842 in Platte City, Platte Co., Missouri 8. She died on June 7, 1916 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon 9.
She married Alfred Slocum on October 26, 1858 in Winchester, Douglas Co., Oregon 10. (He was born on April 21, 1833 in Easton Twp., Washington Co., New York and died on September 28, 1911 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon 9.)
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 (1868-1940)
md. 1st. Mary Seamans
md. 2nd. Josephine W.
Harriet Nellie Slocum (1869-1925)
md. Herbert Clark Smith
Juliet Mosher Slocum (1872-aft. 1920)
George Joseph Luzerne Slocum (1873-1875)
Samuel Cecil Slocum (1876-1936)
md. Virginia DeLano
infant male Slocum (1878-1878)
2 Josephine Lucretia Martin
3 Frances A. 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 1880-1893.
They had the following children:
Josephine Roberts (c. 1864-???)
Susan Barbara Roberts (c. 1866-???)
George Washington Roberts (1869-1910's)
md. Mary E. Tally
Joseph Louis Roberts (1871-1948)
md. Gertrude Howard
Alice Roberts (c. 1873-???)
Pearl Frank Roberts (1876-1964)
md. Florence Ann Powers
Percival "Percy" Hardin Roberts (1876-1946)
md. Luella Frances Pruitt
William Carll Roberts (1878-1878)
Violet "Daisy" Ruth Roberts (1879-1965)
md. Charles Flint
Genevieve Roberts (1881-1957)
md. 1st. John E. Churchill
md. 2nd. Robert A. Barnes
infant male Roberts (1886-1886)
She married second Abraham Miller on November 2, 1893 in Douglas Co., Oregon 10. (He was born in September 1850 in Oregon 11.)
They had no children.
Nothing further is known of Fanny's three oldest daughters: Josephine, Susan and Alice. The 1900 census suggests that by that time only one of them was still living. Fanny was divorced from her first husband and her second husband abandoned the family sometime between 1900-1910. One might guess that there might have been some kind of personal issue there, especially given the fiery personalities of Fannie's father and twin sister. Aside from having 11 children, Fannie also 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."
Rose McIntosh at msmc31529@aol.com is a research/descendant of this line.

Mary Alvarado (Rose's sister) at Maryalvarado13@aol.com is a researcher/descendant of this line.

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 between 1900-1920 in Oregon.)
They had two children:
Fred W. Martin (c. 1879-???)
Ethel Lillian Martin (1880-1963)
md. Nat L. Eddy
Kathryn Leona Martin (1884-1945)
md. 1st. Chester Smith
md. 2nd. Arthur J. Cuff
5 Joseph Lane Martin was born on February 5, 1850 in Lafayette, Yamhill Co., Oregon 8. He died sometime between 1870-1901.
His middle name is not known, we only know that his middle initial was "L." It is assumed he was named after General (Governor) Joseph Lane, his father's close friend and political ally. Joseph probably died prior to 1880, yet there are three children of "J.L. and J.C. Martin" who were buried in the Glendale Memorial Cemetery 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-aft. 1910)
Grover Cleveland Martin (1894-1970)
md. Carolina Paulina Lewerenz
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 Posey 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 Glendale, Douglas 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 almost immediately after her father returned to Missouri after returning from Oregon and 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 Yamhill County, Oregon near the small town of Lafayette. They lived there until 1851, when they settled a land claim in Douglas County, Oregon near the small town of Winchester. Josephine lived with her family on the Winchester estate until 1859, when they moved to a house in Roseburg, Douglas County, Oregon. When her father lost his position as Land Receiver in 1861, and was looking for a new place to live and a new occupation, Josephine decided to move away. In about 1861 or 1862, she left her family and went by herself south to the town of Jacksonville, in Jackson County, Oregon, where she became a school teacher.

Josephine did not remain single for long and on July 9, 1863, in Jacksonville, she married to a man named William J. Plymale. Soon after, the couple began living on his family's ranch, in an area called Manzanita Precinct, a few miles east of Jacksonville (but which is now within Medford's city limits). They were not content as farmers and in 1875, after William had a position in the Oregon State Legislature, they moved to the city of Jacksonville, where they began living in a house on Oregon Street, making money by operating a livery stable there. Josephine had 12 children: William, Ada, Kate, Walter, Louis, Frank, Emaline, Marie, McDonough, David, Victor and Benjamin.

Josephine was a model citizen and also probably something of an early feminist. While her husband was by political affiliation a Democrat, she remained a Republican. She was a member of the Methodist Church, and was a gifted writer. She gave speeches for The Grange, was a member of the Southern Oregon Pioneer Association, was a correspondent for several newspapers in the area, ran for the political office of Jackson County Recorder and at times worked in the Jacksonville Town Clerk office. 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/illness 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