|
MARTIN PREDECESSORS -7- INTRODUCTION < BR> R. Eden Martin I.J. Martin believed that our Martin predecessors came from the southern part of England to Virginia, that our earliest identified ancestor, John Martin, married Sarah Scott, and that about 1779 they came into Kentucky, where James Scott Martin was - born d uring the Indian wars. He thought John Martin was at the Battle of Kings Mountain, that he died in Kentucky, and that thereafter -- about 1803 -- the family moved to Illinois. He did not know where in Kentucky the Martins lived before moving to Illino is. 
Thanks to the research of Lou Martin and others, we can fill in some of the picture,
but much of what Grandfather believed cannot be either verified or refuted. 
After obtaining the warrant, John Martin had his land surveyed, which was done November
16, 1798. The survey shows that "James Martin" was one of two chairmen, and and "John Martin" was the "marker." Based on the survey, the actual grant was issued December 2, 1808 -- apparently to enable John to sell the land, which he did early in 1809. The name of John Martin appears in the property tax records of Logan County, Kentucky during the year 1799, when he is listed with 200 acres on Muddy River, and subsequent years (he did not appear in 1797 and there is no book for 1798) through 1817. In 1802 and 1803, he was listed as "John Mar tin Senior"; also listed was James Martin. In 1805, we find John, James, and William. In 1806 an Andrew appears. In 1807 we find John, James and William listed together. For the first time, John is listed with no land, but William is shown wit h 200 acres on the Big Muddy. In 1808, we find John Sr., John Jr., James and William. Again, John Sr. is shown with no land, but this time it is James who is listed with 200 acres on Muddy Creek. In 1809, two Johns appear, and also a Thomas Martin, with 170 acres "on Muddy, entered in name of J. Martin." The lists are clearly incomplete during some of the succeeding years; perhaps the lost lists contained the names of our Martins. Or perhaps some or all of the Martins moved som ewhere else for a few years -- maybe Tennessee. In any event, in 1813 we again find John, James, Thomas and now Samuel Martin in the Logan tax lists. Richard Bibb is listed with 500 acres entered in the name of Charles Neely, "surveyed in the name of John Martin." This land had been sold to Richard Bibb by Charles Neely in 1807. In 1814, we find John Sr. with 120 acres entered in the name of R. Bibb, and also John "Morton" Jr., James, Lewis and William Martin, and Charles Neely. Ja mes has 267 acres on Muddy, William has 164 acres on Motes, Charles has 200 acres on Little Whipporwill, and Lewis has no land. In 1815 there are John Sr., John Jr., James, William and Sam. In 1816, we find John, William, and James. In 1817, we find John, John and James. The records are missing in 1818; and by 1819, these Martin names are no longer listed -- they had left Logan County. The names James, William and Samuel are all names of Martin children of Old John and Sarah. Also, the marriage records from Logan County show Jane Martin marrying Charles Neely on September 23, 1797, James Martin marrying "Jenny" Feagle -- on March 6, 1802, and William Martin marrying Abigail Whitaker on December 17, 1805 -- all three records matching our family records and traditions. Thus, this is clearly our family of Martins. Was John's wife named Sarah Scott? We cannot be sure. Grandfather seemed quite sure about the name "Scott," and son James was given the middle name "Scott". However, the property records show John Martin and "Isabella" co nveying real estate in 1809; and Baptist church records also link an Isabella with John Martin. Was "Sarah" a nickname for Isabella? Or was Sarah married to "Old John" and Isabella married to a son, "John Jr."? We simply do not know. A marriage record might answer the question; but no such record has yet been found in Virginia, North Carolina, or Kentucky. For what it is worth, my hunch is that Mrs. John Martin's name was Isabella, that her maiden name was Scott, and that she was called Sarah by her family and friends. 
One of the overriding difficulties in attempting to resolve this and other questions
about the early Martin family is the ubiquitous nature of the name "John Martin."
The Virginia-North Carolina-Kentucky frontier had at least a dozen men with
this
name. We can be reasonably sure that it was our Martin family living in Logan County on Muddy
River from 1797 until 1817 -- but attempts to fill in the canvas during these years
or to discover where the family was prior to 1797 run squarely into the problem that we do not know if references to "John Martin" are to our John Martin. (Appended to this introduction is a note on some of the John Martins who were in Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Kentucky during the period from 1760-1820.) The parcel of land in Logan County on which John Martin lived starting in 1797 and which was sold in 1809 (in two pieces -- one of 170 acres to Thomas Morton, another of 29 acres to George Hopkins) was located near the headwaters of the Muddy River, about 7 miles east of Russellville, astride the Bowling Green Road connecting Russellville and Auburn (near what is now Dennis). (See the original survey, modern platting of that survey, and map appearing in the illustrations.) The "Indenture" for the transfer of the 29-acre portion of the land of John and Isabella Martin to George Hopkins, dated April 15, 1809, shows what app ear to be the signatures of John and Isabella (see the illustrations). Nearby (at least part of the time), also near the Muddy River, was the home of Charles and Jane Neely. Charles had married John and Sarah's daughter, Jane, in Logan County in 1797. Logan County tax records for 1802-1808 describe the Neely property as near the Muddy River. Also, a survey performed in 1804 describes 200 acres of land surveyed by David Neely as sharing a common line with John Martin's land, and also as adj oining Charles Neely's land. However, Charles and Jane apparently moved around. In the 1814 tax records, Charles Neely's land is located on Little Whipporwill, and in 1816 he is listed with land located on the Red River. According to an indenture of sale made after Charles Neely had moved to Illinois, one parcel of his Red River land, patented July 29, 1815, was located on the Kentucky-Tennessee state line. Charles sold this 194-acre parcel of land on August 18, 1818, for $448.28 to John Neely, Jr. He sold another parcel of Red River land--200 acres--to Elisha Wickware on August 30, 1820. Grandfather thought the family might have left Kentucky for Illino is about 1803, but conceded this was "little more than a guess." (Infra , at 116). In fact, it appears that the family did not leave Logan County until 1817. This appears from two sources. First, as already shown, the property tax records list John Martin and his sons as taxpayers through 1817. Second,, Baptist church records indicate that John Martin and others in the family were active in local church affairs from 1804 through 1816, after which time John's name no longer appears in those records. Grandfather knew, of course, that several of the sons and grandchildren of "Old John" were Baptist preachers, but he did not know that "Old John" was also a Baptist preacher. Here again we run int o the name problem. We know there was a John Martin (or, theoretically, perhaps more than one) who was an active Baptist preacher in the Russellville area from 1804 through 1817. For example, in December 1805 John Martin was granted leave by the Count y Court of Logan County "to solemnize the rites of matrimony." (Logan County Order Book No. 3, p. 289, December 1805.) Was he our John Martin? Probably. During several of the years in question there was only one John Martin listed as a taxpay er in Logan County. Also, in the 1810 Census, only one John Martin is listed in Logan County (p. 165). The possibility that the Baptist preacher was a different John Martin -- perhaps even John Martin, Jr., son of "Old John" -- cannot be enti rely excluded. But it appears likely that our "Old John" was the Baptist preacher. On the premise that our "Old John" was the Logan County Baptist preacher, some of his church activities are worth recording. It is well established that John Martin helped John Hightower organize the Providence Baptist Church in nearby Warren County in 1804. Warren County was created out of Logan County in 1796. The early records of this church are now lost. The standard work on Kentucky Baptists, A History of Kentucky Baptists , by J.H. Spencer, 1886, has this to say about the Providence Church (Vol. II, at 252):
This was an historic time for the churches in southwestern Kentuck y. The commencement of the "Great Revival," a period of religious excitement probably never exceeded in American history, is usually attributed to meetings held in Logan County in 1799 and the spring and summer of 1800. The Great Revi val In The West , 1797-1805, Catherine C. Cleveland, Chicago, 1916, pp. 54-69; The Kentucky Revival, Richard McNemar, 1808, pp. 19-23; Life and Times of Elder Reuben Ross , James Ross, Philadelphia, no date, pp. 233-241. One of the cornerstone events of the Great Revival period was a meeting that occurred at the Muddy River Church, a few miles north of Russellville, where hundreds of people gathered for days in a temporary encampment to hear sermons and praise the Lord . Almost certainly, the Martins of Muddy River were there. Some idea of the impact of the Great Revival may be derived from the fact that in 1799 there appear to have been just eight Baptist churches in the area of the Green River Association; in 1802 the Association had grown to 30 churches, with 1763 members. A small ray of light is cast on the history of the Providence Church by the minutes of the Twen ty Eighth Annual Session of the Clear Fork Association of Baptists, held at White Stone Quarry, Warren County, Kentucky, August 16 and 17, 1887, which contains an Appendix summarizing the early history of the Providence Church:
See also Pioneer Baptist Church Records of S outh Central Kentucky and the Upper Cumberland of Tennessee , 1799-1899, C.P. Cawthorn and N.L. Warnell, 1985 at pp. 257-258; A History of Baptists in Kentucky, Frank M. Masters, Louisville, 1953, at p. 101. The list of Warren County marriages shows that "J. Hightower" married a number of couples in that county in the period 1789-1810, and that "J. Martin" also performed marr iages there -- in 1806 and 1807. I asked Norman Warnell, one of the editors of the volume of church records just cited, what being "dismissed for fellowshipping a disorderly church" might have meant; and he replied as follows (letter dated April 18, 1987): "I would guess, and this is all I have to go on, that Rev. Martin had preached for some congregation that had broken correspondence with the Providence Church. Many times in those early days, if a church received a member of doubtful reputation, the churches in the vicinity would 'break correspondence' with that church; however, this was in no wise a reflection on the moral quality of the other members, but simply a form of censure. You can see that Rev. Martin was cal led back in 1813; therefore, there was no great issue at hand." In 1812, sixteen of the Green River Association churches broke off to form a new association, which took the name of Gasper River Association. One of these was the Providence Church. In 1812 at the organization of the new association, John Martin preached to a large congregation. In 1813, John Martin was a messenger to the association meeting representing Bethany Church. In 1814, he preached the introductory sermon befor e the association meeting at Sandy Creek, Butler County, and also acted as moderator. In 1815 and 1816 he again served as moderator of the association meetings. So John Martin must have been a respected figure in the regional Baptist community. The Center Baptist Church in Logan County was constituted on June 16, 1810, with 20 members -- not including any Martins or Neelys. But on subsequent pages of the church record, the name John Martin appears, but with no date to indicate when he becam e a member. The record does show that on Saturday, May 9, 1812, one of those received into full fellowship was Moses Williams -- later John Martin's son-in-law. The n on February 13, 1813, the record discloses that the church "received a petition from Brothern [sic] John Martin, Charles Neeley, Samuel Martin, Moses William, Willis Blanchard & Sisters Izebelah Martin, Jane Neeley, Sarah Martin & Lizzey Martin requesting help from us to look into there [sic] standing and constitute them into a church if found ripe for the same." Cawthorn and Warnell believe that this record referred to the formation of the Bethany Church (op. cit. at 405). Taking the men's and women's names in order, and assuming the orders were not accidental, then John matches up with "Izebelah", Charles Neely with wife Jane Martin Neely, and Samuel Martin with Sarah (I.J. believed John's son Samuel married a woman known later as "Aunt Sally"). Moses Williams later married Samuel's widow, Sarah (Aunt Sally). At the next meeting, March 13, 1813, the Center Church received into full fellowship by letter "James Martin & Jane his w ife" -- almost certainly James Scott Martin and Jane (or Jenny) Feagle Martin. Then, on April 10, 1813, the record discloses that the church "received the return of the arm which received into full fellowship James Moore & Biddy h is wife & William Martin and Abigail his wife, by letter" -- almost certainly William Harvey Martin and his first wife, Abigail Whitaker Martin who had been married December 17, 1805. As noted, after John Martin, Charles Neely and thei r families left the Center Church, they went into the Bethany Church. A list of the early members and "messengers" of that church has been preserved, and it shows: < BR>
The Gasper River Association Records , A Roll Book of Names and Deeds of Baptist Heroes in the Green River Country , by F.M. Welbourn, Louisville, 1878, at 88. James Martin and Jane, and William Martin and Abigail, however, apparently went into the Stoney Point Church rather than the Bethany Church. The records of the Stoney Point Church show the following members and "messengers":
Welbourn, op. cit. & quot;Jas." is almost certainly James Scott; and "Wm." is almost certainly William Harvey. The records of these two churches thus confirm that the Martin/Neely family left Logan County sometime in late 1816 or perhaps 1817. 
Did "Old John" die in Kentucky as I.J. believed, leaving his family to move to Illinois
without him? Again, it is difficult to be sure. Research has uncovered no record
of his death in either Kentucky or Illinois. However, a John Martin marr
ied William
Harvey Martin (one of "Old John's" sons) to his second wife, Cynthia Clarke, in Lawrence County, Illinois, on December 13, 1821. This could have been a son, John Jr., but it seems to me it was more likely "Old John." Also, the History of Edwards, Lawrence & Wabash Counties, Illinois , Philadelphia, 1883, reports t hat: "William Martin, a Yankee, as the early settlers termed him, also came in the year 1817. He located with his family on section 18 [now Lawrence County, but part of Edwards County until 1821 when Lawrence was formed in part out of Edwards], w here he erected a cabin, tilled some ground and lived for about ten years, and then left the county. His father, John Martin, resided with him until his death, which occurred a few years after he came." (p. 327.) The history also discloses that, "The first school was taught by John Martin, on section 18, in a little log cabin, in the year 1819" (pp. 327-28, 161, 73). We are reasonably sure that this William is our William Harvey, so John is likely our "Old John." Wi lliam H. Martin first purchased land just southwest of Bridgeport, then Edwards (now Lawrence) County, on May 2, 1818 -- the NE 1/4 of Section 13, T. 3 N. Range 13 West (Early Land Record Book, p. 105 -- now located in the Courthouse at Lawrenceville). Eight years later, in 1826, he purchased a nearby tract -- the south 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 18, T. 3 N. Range 12 West. (A map of Lawrence County showing the location of these two properties appears in the illustrations.) We know this is our Will iam because on April 29, 1847, William H. Martin and Cynthia Martin, of Moultrie County, sold this property for $27.50 to a Thomas Perkins (Book E, p. 451-452). Section 18 is where the History of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash Counties says William Martin "located with his family" and where John Martin taught school in a small cabin in 1819 (pp. 161, 327). Perhaps it was not long after John died that his son William brought his family to what is now Coles County with his mother , Sarah; and the next generations remembering that Old John was not with them -- simply assumed he had died in Kentucky, overlooking the brief stay of a few years in Southern Illinois. There were at least two churches located near William's land: the Springhill Church (at the S.W. corner of Section 18 ), and the Shiloh Church (at the S.E. corner of Section 18). The former was a Church of Christ; the latter was a Baptist Church. There are no cemetery records reflecting any burial of a John Martin. 
If William Harvey and his father, Old John, were in what is now Lawrence County, near
Bridgeport, in the years immediately after 1817, where was the rest of the family? 
Working "backward" if it was "our" John Martin who came into Logan County in 1797, where was the Martin family prior to that move? We do not know for sure. I.J. believed they lived somewhere in or near a fort in Central Kentucky, not far from the Kentucky River. We know that Jane Martin, one of John's daughters, married Charles Neely in September 1797 in Logan County, which suggests that the couple may h ave lived close to each other prior to the move. According to the property tax records, a large number of Neelys, including a Charles, lived in Washington County, in Central Kentucky, in 1797 and several years prior thereto. Charles Neel y is mentioned in the Record of the Proceedings of Court Martials in Washington County as having been allowed three shillings for his service as Provost Martial in October 1793 (p. 31). Clearly two members of this Neely family moved from Washington County to Logan County in 1797. (John Neely is listed in the Logan County tax records for 1797 as having 100 acres on Cartwrights Creek, Washington County; and James Neely is also listed in Logan County with 118 acres on Cartwrights Creek, W ashington County. These references are consistent with the Washington county records, which show both John and James Neely with land on Cartwrights Creek in 1795, and James with land on Cartwrights Creek in 1796; but neither is so listed in 1797.) Char les Neely, who was on the property tax records in Washington County in 1794, 1795 and 1796 (but with no cattle or land), drops off those records in 1797 and appears in the Logan County tax records in 1801 (with no land). Thus, it seems likely that thes e are the same Neelys, and that they and the Martins were acquainted in Washington County prior to the fall of 1797.* *However, there was at least one other Charles Neely in Logan County during part of this period. This other Charles Neely died in the spring of 1826, in Logan County. His wife was named Nancy, and his executor was his brother, James Neely. (Will dated April 14, 1826, produced in court June 5, 1826; Logan County Wills, Book C. p. 273.)
Indeed, according to the property tax records, there was a John Martin in Washington
County in one year -- 1797. His name does not appear either in earlier years or
later ones. He is listed as owning property on the Rolling Fork. A modern map of
th
e area shows that this may not have been far from the Cartwright Creek, where many of the
Neelys lived. Was this "our" John Martin? Maybe. John Martin is listed with 750
acres of second rate land on the Rolling Fork, and another 100 acres of
third rate
land also on Rolling Fork. (This land had all apparently been purchased by Martin from John
Muldrough -- or Muldraugh, or Muldrow -- in whose name it appeared in 1796.) This
John Martin "feels" like a land investor -- not our ance
stor, who apparently lived
on only 200 acres of second rate land in Logan County. But -- we cannot be sure. John, James Martin, age 17 next March 26, 1810 -- i.e., born in 1793 -- was bound out to learn the art of a cooper (Order Book B, July 10, 1809). The John Martin who is listed as owning property in Washington County in 17 97 obviously is not the one who died in 1796 -- nor is it the deceased's son, then 3 years old. He was not an uncle of the orphans -- there would obviously not be two brothers named John. A cousin perhaps? It seems a remarkable coincidence that the o rphan girl's name was "Isable " -- the same as Old John's wife. Another possible pre-Logan County home for our Martin family is nearby Nelson County, which was created in 1785 out of Jefferson County, and from which Washi ngton County was created in 1792. A John Martin is listed among the "tithables" in the Kentucky militia companies of north central Nelson County in both 1790 and 1792 (Nelson County Pioneer Vol. IV, p. 3; Vol. V, p. 6 1); also John Martin appears on the Nelson County tax list in 1792, with 1 white male over 21, 1 between 16-21, 2 horses, 9 cattle, and no land. He appears again in 1793, this time with 1 white male over 21, 2 between 16 and 21, 3 horses, 12 cattle and no lan d. For 1794, the list that he might have been on (Tax Commissioner Cox's list) is missing. His name does not appear on subsequent Nelson County lists. The Neelys' names do not appear on any of these Nelson County tax lists. Still another po ssibility is Lincoln County, one of three counties in the state in 1780, and a county from which many others (including Logan) were later created. The earliest tax records I have found for Lincoln County are for 1787. In that year, a Joh n Martin appears with 2 horses and 5 cattle. In 1788 the lists are incomplete, and no John Martin appears. In 1789 John "Martin" is listed with 2 horses and no cattle. A second John Martin appears with 1 black and 5 horses. In 1790, there appears a "Captain" John Martin with 5 horses. On the same page also appears another John Martin -- let's call him "Poor" John with only 3 horses. In 1791, two John Martins are listed neither designated "Captain," but each with 4 horses. In 1792, there is only one John Martin, now with 7 horses, 10 cattle, and 50 acres of land (Poor John?). In 1793, we again find a &qu ot;Captain"" John Martin with 3 horses, 33 cattle and 460 acres, and "Poor" John Martin with 5 horses, 12 cattle, and 50 acres. In 1794, we again find Captain John Martin, with 1 black, 2 horses, 30 cattle, and 458 acres of land, a nd also "Poor" John, with 2 horses, 3 cattle, but no acres. In 1795, we are back to a single John Martin, with 30 cattle (the Captain?) but no listed acreage. In 1796, we find John Martin, almost certainly Captain John, with a long list of properties, including over 400 acres on Hanging Fork in Lincoln County, and thousands of acres in Bourbon, Madison, and Clark Counties. We find no Poor John. In 1797, we again find a single John Martin with the same long lists of propert ies. In 1798, the records are missing. In 1799, we find two John Martins -- one with no listed property, one with 1 black, 7 horses, and no identified land. In 1800, we find a single John Martin with 1 black, 8 horses, and the familiar long l ist of properties, including the acreage on Hanging Fork in Lincoln County (although now the land is said to be "registered" in the names of others). There i s no point in looking further in Lincoln County. One is tempted to identify the John Martin with 1 black in 1789 as the same person as the "Captain" John who appears with 1 black in 1794, and the John with the long list of properties in 1796, 1797, and 1800. This would leave another, "Poor" John Martin -- perhaps ours? -- with little property as early as 1787, and in 1789, 1790, 1791, 1792 (with 50 acres), 1793, 1794 -- and perhaps 1799. If the 1799 Poor John is the same person as the 1787 Poor John, then he cannot be ours -- since ours by 1799 (we believe) is in Logan County. But perhaps the 1799 John is new to Lincoln County; and, therefore, perhaps the 1787-1794 "Poor" John is ours. One "fact" which tends to undercut the possibility that Poor John is ours is that property records from Lincoln County show that Captain John's wife's name was Nancy; and another John Martin -- with his wife Ann -- made several land transfers in Lincoln County, in 1788 , 1789, and 1791. This leaves no room for Isabella or Sarah. Where were the Martins prior to coming into Kentucky, and when did they move to Kentucky? Again, the evidence in inconclusive. Grandfather believed they came from Virginia, and tha t James Scott Martin was born in Kentucky in 1779. But the Illinois census records for Coles County in 1850 show that James Scott Martin reported that he was born in North Carolina. (The Moultrie County census in 1860 lists him as being from Kentucky.) Also, Courts and Lawyers of Illinois, Vol. III, Crossley, Chicago, 1916, includes a paragraph on Joel K Martin (I.J.'s brother), probably prepared by him, which states that his paternal ancestors "emigrated from North Carolina to Kentucky.. .." (p. 868). So our best guess is that they moved from North Carolina to Kentucky about 1779-1780. This guess is not inconsistent with the notion that the origi nal home of the John Martin family was in Virginia. People of that era were highly transient, often living in one place for a year or so, and then moving on to break new ground in new lands. So where might they have been in Virginia? The answe r is, of course, anywhere. One possibility is that they were near Roanoke, Virginia. This speculation is based on nothing more than the fact that there were both a John Martin and several Neelys there at the "right" time. The authoritative source on Roanoke history is Kegley's Virginia Frontier, The Beginning of the Southwest. The Roanoke of Colonial Days , 1740-1783, F.B. Kegley, Roanoke, 1938. Kegley's maps of early Roanoke, during the period, 1740-60, show John Neely an d James Neely with significant land holdings along the Roanoke River, adjacent to "Neely's Road" and north of that, near Fort William (pp. 159, 177, 537 and 563). Kegley also discloses that on December 9, 1767, a John Martin caused to be sur veyed 70 acres on Back Creek of Roanoke; and that the next day, December 10, 1767, James Neely, surveyed 200 acres on a branch of Back Creek (p. 313). John Martin received his grant of the 70 acres on Back Creek one year later, on December 9, 1768 (p. 557). It is not clear when James Neely received his grant of 200 acres; but John Neely, in 1773, purchased 104 acres on both sides of Back Creek (p. 557). Kegley writes that the Back Creek neighborhood "was an extension or suburb of the G reat Lick settlement. The communication was naturally over the trails leading south by Back Mountain and over Bent Mountain to the Southwest. The homesteaders along the Carolina Road were grouped in Captain Neely's Company, while ... those of the Bent Mountain region were under Captain Martin" (p. 553). The Captain Neely referred to was James Neely (p. 567), who. according to Kegley, "came to the Roanok e with the beginning of the settlement." There is no indication that the "Captain" Martin was John Martin. The list of residents in his company does not provide the Captain's first name, and lists only one Josiah Martin (p. 561). It is possible that the John Martin who owned 70 acres on Back Creek was our John Martin, that he went south to North Carolina sometime in the mid or late 1770's, and that he and Sarah, and their small family moved again to Kentucky sometime around 1 779-80. Another view of Roanoke property owners is provided by Botetourt County, Virginia, Early Settlers , Charles T. Burton, which lists a number of Neelys in and around Roanoke -- including four with interests at times on Back Cr eek: John Neely -- 5/12/73, acquired 104 acres, which he sold in 1789. William Neely -- 1781, acquired 138 acres, from new grant John Neely Jr. -- 4/9/94, 1/2 of 80 from Francis Smith. James Neely Jr.-- 5/9/94, 172 acre s from Robert Montgomery. The date of property acquisitions by the Neelys around Roanoke and other evidence (such as Neely Narrative , Grace P. Renshaw, 1976; and Early Marriages, Wills, and Revolutionary War Records, Botetour t County, Va. , ed. Worrell, p. 61) suggests the following family alignments: 1) James and Jane Grimes Neely (first acquisition 1745) Children: a. James Jr., b. 1741, (first acquisition 1782), wife Catherine Evans. Sons Samuel, Andrew, George, James, Charles Rufus. b. John, b. 1743, (first acquisition 1762), wife Susannah Evans; sells property on Back Creek in 1789. Sons James, John, William, Charles. c. Robert b. 1745, (first acquisition 1761), apparently moved to Maury County, Tenn. and died there. d. Williams b. 1749, (first acquisition 1776), wife Mary Friend. Son James (b. 1773). e. Sa rah, b. 1751, married William McClanahan, 1789. Renshaw believes that son James Jr., John, and Robert moved their families from Roanoke to Burke Co., N.C., and then to Tennessee and Alabama (p. 8). John is supposed to have settled in Williamso n Co., Tenn. (p. 9). 2) Dr. John and Sarah Neely (first acquisition 1751). a. Robert Jr. (first acquisition 1774). 3) John and Elizabeth Neely (first acquisition 1761) John died in 1776. a. John Jr. (inherits 165 acres from father in 1778). b. Andrew (inherits 170 acres from father in 1778). c. Robert, (d. 1780), wife Ann. Children are: John, James, Andrew, William, and Rob ert. d. Elizabeth. Perhaps two of these Johns and James are the Neelys who were on Cartwrights Creek in Washington County, Kentucky, in 1795-96, before moving to Logan County in 1797. Perhaps they took with them the family of their de ceased relative Robert -- and perhaps Robert's widow is the Ann who is shown on the Washington County tax list in 1796 and 1797 with 50 acres on Cartwrights Creek. She had purchased this land in November 1793 (no husband mentioned). And perha ps they stayed in touch with their old neighbors, the John Martin family from Back Creek; and perhaps Charles Neely became acquainted with young Jane Martin in Washington County before the families moved to Logan County in 1797. Perhaps. But p robably we will never know. NOTE ON JOHN MARTINS IN VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND KENTUCKY The reader of this volume wi ll already have observed that there were a large number of John Martins in Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky during the period from, say, the end of the French and Indian War to the time our family may confidently be identified in Logan County, Ke ntucky, in the late 1790's. Prior to 1797, when we can be reasonably sure we have identified "our" John Martin with the Logan County owner of land on Muddy River, we have no way of knowing whether references to a "John Martin" are to our John Martin. Probably the only way to be sure of an identification would be to link one of these John Martins with an Isabella or Sarah Scott Martin, or with children whose names match those of the Logan County John Martin. I have tried the first of these approaches, but with no success. The second is inherently less satisfactory because even linking a John Martin with a son given such a common name as John, James, William, or Samuel would not prove it is "our" John; and, in any event, research to date has disclosed no such linkages. A less sure approach is to try to link John Martin with the Neelys. The obvious inadequacy of this approach is that just because John Martin's daughter, Jane, married Charles Neel y in Logan County in 1797 does not prove that the families lived near each other prior to the move to Logan County. But they might have. This possibility led me to look for a John Martin in Washington County (where the Neelys were prior to 1797), with the results already reported. Without any such linkages, one may reasonably ask why I bother to include this note on John Martins in Virginia, North Carolina , and Kentucky, since there is no basis to assume any one of them is "ours." The main reason I do so is to make it clear why references in either primary or secondary sources to a "John Martin" cannot be assumed to be to "our&qu ot; John Martin. Another reason is to save a future researcher some time. The identification of blind alleys has some historical utility. A further reason is that future research may uncover facts which make one or more linkages possible, and may th us enable us to connect one or more of these John Martins or Martin families to our line. A final, possibly not the least weighty reason, is simply to memorialize the results of my research. A cautionary note is in order. The following notes are purely derivative, or secondary. If the primary researcher -- or the secondary follower of the original researcher -- made a mistake, it is probably repeated here. Where I am reasonably sure a source is wrong (based on other sources), I omit or c orrect what seems to be the mistake. But the one thing I am sure of is that what follows is inaccurate in some -- perhaps many -- respects. 1. The published lists of tax payers contain the names of a number of John Martins. Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-87, compiled, by Augusta B. Fothergill and John Mark Naugle, 1940, lists men by the name of John Martin in the following Virginia (including Kentucky) counties: London, Accomee, Henry (two), Montgomery, Lincoln, A ugusta, Caroline (four), Goochland (five), Fauquier (three) and King and Queen. North Carolina Taxpayers, 1701-1786, compiled by Clarence E. Ratcliff, Baltimore, 1986, lists (during the period after 1750) John Martins in the following North Carolina counties: Beaufort, Bertie, Bute, Chowan, Craven, Franklin-Warren-Vance, Granville, Northampton, and Pitt. 2. Another source of leads is the records of land transactions.
In the sep arate section covering grants south of Green River, Jillson (in No. 33) lists:
James Martin -- 67 acres, and 200 acres, 10/24/07, Big Muddy Creek. Wm. Martin -- 200 acr es, 1 1/ 10/ 10 Mots Lick Cr. 3. Apart from the grants, entries, warrants and deeds, these are the land surveys. The definitive list of Kentucky surveys is contained in two books:
4. One of the best-known Martins in Virginia during the Revolutionary War period was General Joseph Martin, son of Captain Joseph Martin an d Susanna Chiles. See "General Joseph Martin and the War of the Revolution in the West," Stephen B. Weeks, Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1893, Washington, 1894, pp. 401-407; see also Peacemaker J oseph Martin, 1740-1808, and His Descendants, Nancy Marlene Martin Knight, 1976 (reviewed at the Filson Club Library, Louisville, Ky., 1989). General Joseph Martin had several brothers, including a John Martin (1756-1823), sometimes called "J ack," who married Nancy Shipp and lived in Rock House, Stokes County, North Carolina. In 1769 General Joseph Martin built a "station," or small fort, known as "Martin's Station," in Powell's Valley, Southwestern Virginia, located on the road to Kentucky about 20 miles north of Cumberland Gap. Both General Joseph and brother Jack had a number of children. General Joseph had t hree wives -- Sarah Lucas, Susannah Graves, and Betsy Ward (a Cherokee Indian). By wife Sarah Lucas, he had 7 children -- no John. By his second wife, Susannah Graves, he had 11 more children -- the 11th being named John Calvin, who later lived in Woodb erry, Tennessee. By his Indian wife, Betsy Ward, he had at least one son, who lived with the Indian tribes. Brother Jack Martin and his wife Nancy had a number of sons, including John, born too late to be our family's "Old John" Mar tin. Grandfather believed that our John Martin served with the American army at the Battle of Kings Mountain. However, the John Martin he had read about was apparently the "Jack" Martin of Stokes County, North Carolina. In Kings Mountain and Its Heroes, Cincinnati, 1881, Lyman Draper tells that John Martin was seriously wounded by Tories near Broad River while spying for the American forces, and thus missed the great Battle by a few days. Draper based his statement on a pension application filed by Thomas Shipp on August 25, 1840, on behalf of his sister, Nancy, the widow of John Martin. (Draper manuscripts, Reel 89, 2 DD 424-27). North Carolina "Jack" was apparently the only John Martin who " participated" in the Battle of Kings Mountain. See also The Kings Mountain Men, Katherine Keogh White, Dayton, Virginia, 1924, p. 207. 5. The best-known Kentucky Martin during the relevant period was "Captain" John Martin. According to Ledger A of the Hendersen Company, once in possession of Captain Nathaniel Hart and a copy of which is included in the Ly man C. Draper Manuscripts (Reel 85, 17 CC 191-209), John Martin "settled Martin's Station on Hinkston's fork of Licking, in Bourbon, 10 miles the other side of Paris. This station was taken, with Riddle's, by the British and Indians. Many who we re taken prisoners at this invasion enlisted under the British, who eagerly held out persuasive propositions, and thus made their circumstances easier ... Martin was the man who volunteered his service with Genl. Logan at St. Asaph's, or Logan's Stati on, to bring in the wounded man, but who, when he got out, thought the skin was closer than the shirt. Genl. Logan wrapped a feather bed about him." Lyman C. Draper's unpublished manuscript biography of Daniel Boone provides further inf ormation (Draper Manuscripts, p. 486): "John Martin was born near Goshen, Orange County, N.Y., in the year 1736. He served one year in the New York provincials on the Northern frontier during the French War, and saw active service in the field. Early in 1775, he went down the Ohio with Capt. John Hinkston and others, to Kentucky, and raised a crop of corn that year on the South Fork of Licking; aided, in 1776 in rescuing the captive girls; and the next year he was one of two spies em ployed at Logan's Station, and took part in the defence of that station when attacked in May 1777 by a large body of Indians. In June 1778 he was wounded in a skirmish with the Indians, at or near the present town of Washington, Kentucky. When Boones borough was attacked in September 1778, a report reached Logan's Station where Martin then was, that Boonesborough had been taken, when Martin hastened alone to the Holston settlements, and procured a reinforcement of 150 men for the defence of Kentucky. During the winter 1779-80, he erected Martin's Station, a mile below the present town of Paris, on Licking, but was not there when it was captured the ensuing June. He served in Clark's Indian campaign of 1780, and, in 1781, we find him in service as a captain building boats for Clark's intended Detroit expedition. He aided Logan in burying the dead at the Blue Lick defeat in August 1782, and again led forth hi s company on Clark's Shawanoe campaign in the fall of that year, as well also in Logan's campaign in 1786. He was a member of the Danville, Ky., Convention of May 1785. He settled in Lincoln County, Kentucky, where he died April 18th, 1821, at the ag e of 85 years. Capt. Martin was a man of large frame, and was familiarly known, in early times, as 'the Big Yankee.' He deservedly ranked among the most efficient and meritorious of the early pioneers of Kentucky." Draper's account is based on l etters written to him by Captain Martin's son, John L. Martin. A somewhat different account is contained in "Destruction of Ruddle's and Martin's Forts in the Revolutionary War," Maude Ward Lafferty, The Register of the Kentucky Hi storical Society, Vol 54, No. 189, 1956, p. 297 et seq. This author agrees with Draper that Martin arrived in Kentucky in 1775 with Hinkston, but says Martin was born in 1723 of Quaker Irish parents (p. 333, fn. 15) and that he brought his family t o Kentucky from Uniontown, Pennsylvania (p. 302). I.J. Martin, in his history of the family, referred to the incident at Logan's Station when a man named John Martin started to help Logan rescue a wounded man, but turned back. Both the writer of the Ledger A record and Draper believed that Captain John Martin was at Logan's Station, although Draper tells the story of the attack without referring to Martin as having had any lapse of courage (pp. 567-68). Other Kentucky historians, however, repeated the Ledger A story of Martin's cowardice, with various elaborations. The History of Kentucky, Humphrey Marshall, Frankfort, 1812, at 64-65; Chronic les of Border Warfare, Alexander Withers, Clarksburg, 1831, at 146-147; Sketches of Westem Adventure, John H. M'Clung, Philadelphia, 1832, 127-128; A History of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Mann Butler, Louisville, 1834, at 91-92; History of Kentucky, Lewis Collins, Maysville, 1847, at 403. This repetition casts more light on the nature of much historical writing than it does on the facts. Whether or not the story of John Martin's cowardice at Logan's Station is true , it is reasonably clear that the John Martin who built Martin's Station and who was at the battle of Logan's Station was not "our" John Martin. He was in Kentucky several years before ours was. His wife's name was apparently Nancy, not Isabella or Sarah. John and Nancy deeded several parcels of Lincoln County property in the 1780's. (There is a record of a John Martin marrying a Nancy Berry on January 17, 1781, in Lincoln County.) His one identified son, John L. Martin, born Apr il 28, 1786, does not fit any of the known names of our John's sons. Captain John had large land claims -- not the profile of a poor Baptist preacher living on 200 acres in Logan County. Captain John lived on the Hanging Fork branch of Dicks River in Lincoln County, where he died in 1821; there is no record that he ever lived in Logan County. Another account has Captain John courting a young lady named Betty Thompson in Lexington in the early 1780's (apparently he married his Nancy after t hat) -- a time when our John had already pretty clearly been married for several years. Lexington 1779, Bettye Lee Mastin, Lexington, 1979, at 67, 84-85 (relying on interviews of old settlers conducted by Rev. John D. Shane and passed on by hi m to Draper). 6. John Martin married Mary Means in Lincoln County on February 14, 1784. Perhaps this is "Poor John" (see supra, at p. 23). 7 . John Martin, son of Thomas Martin and Ann Moorman Martin, was the first sheriff of Clark County, Kentucky. He was born March 20, 1749, in Albemarle County, Virginia, married Elizabeth Lewis in 1775, commanded a company at Yorktown and was pro moted to major, moved to Kentucky in 1784, had a number of sons, including a John Lewis and a Samuel D. Martin, and died in 1837 in Clark County. This "Sheriff John" Martin was part of an old Virginia family, and thus may be related t o other John Martins mentioned here, including ours. His grandfather was also named John Martin. This John the first was born about 1685, lived in King William County, Virginia, and married a woman named Letitia, and had at least three sons -- John the second (b. 1710), Thomas (b. 1714), and Abram (b. 1716) -- and died in 1756. One of his daughters is said to have married the father of George Rogers Clark. a) John the second (1710-1789) first married a Mary and had a son, John Mar tin, the third, who married Mary Rogers on October 2, 1751, in or near Goochland County, Virginia (married by Rev. Douglas). Among their children was John Martin, the fourth, born June 17, 1764. b) Thomas, born 1714 in Albemarle County, Virginia was the father of "Sheriff John" Martin. (Draper Manuscripts, Reel 309, Vol. 37, pp. 227-229; Genealogical Record of the Martin Family, Samuel D. Martin, 1857.) c) Abram (Sheriff John's Uncle), who had been at Fort Duquesne with Washington, also had a son -- "General" John Martin -- born November 19, 1751, who lived in Edgefield, S.C., was first married to Elizabeth Terry t hen to a second wife, the "widow" Barksdale. 8. Another Clark County John Martin was born about 1740 in Cumberland County, Virginia, the son of Valentine Martin and Jane Bridgewater Martin. This John married Rachel Pace, Janu ary 3, 1757, and moved to Clark County, Kentucky, about 1790. This John Martin, call him "Senior," had several sons, including a John Martin, call him "Junior." John Senior also had a brother, Orson, who had a son, < I>John, call him "cousin," born about 1769, who married Elizabeth Boatright on March 2, 1789. 9. Another John Martin, born in 1747 in Fluvanna County, Virginia, married Rachel Pierce (not Pace), about 1766, resided in Orang e County, Virginia, during the War, and served as a sergeant in the Second Regiment, Virginia Continental Line. He had several children, including a son John, born in 1771; and he died in Clark County, Kentucky, after November 1830. His son Jo hn married Polly Elkin on January 9, 1815. John and Rachel Martin may have moved to Kentucky in 1780 with a group of Baptists known as the "Traveling Church" (there may have been more than one such church, not to mention John Martins in the congregations). This is an appropriate place to note again that genealogies are a mixed bag. Some appear carefully and reliably prepared; others seem to be compiled carelessly, and appear to represent a jumble of different families and names. In some of the materials I have reviewed, there is clearly confusion between the John Martin who supposedly married Rachel Pace, and the John Martin who supposedly married Rachel Pierce. 10. Still another Clark County John Martin was born about 1761, served with the Augusta County, Va., regiment during the Revolution, married Sarah Jeffries, moved to Washington County, Indiana, in 1814, and applied for a pension in Clark County. in 1818 (at the age of 57). (Cert. Nos. 17544.) 11. Among the early settlers of what is now Barren County, two counties east of Logan and established in 1799 from portions of Warren and Green Counties, were a John Martin "and his twin brother William," who are supposed by the author to have settled on either Peter's Creek or Big Barren River. The Times of Long Ago, Barren County, Kentucky, Franklin Gorin, Louisville, 1929, p. 24. The First Surve yor's Book-Warren County, Kentucky, 1796-1815, Gayle R. Carver, reports (pp. 45-46) that William Martin entered 200 acres of second rate land on Peter's Creek on September 22, 1798, adjoining John Martin and Joseph Martin. (cert. No. 1950); and th at John Martin entered 200 acres adjoining Williams on September 23, 1798 (cert. No. 1951) probably the twins. The same day James Martin entered 200 acres, also on Peter's Creek. So we have four Martins -- including the twins -- with comparab le patents, all located on Peter's Creek. A year later, on July 4, 1799, David Martin entered another 200 acres, this time on Cooks Creek. 12. John Martin is listed in the 1795 "first tax list" of Green County, Kentucky, with one white male over 21, none between 16-21, 2 horses, and 10 cattle. A will for Green County John Martin, dated November 13, 1807, refers to wife Peggy, five sons (John, Francis, James, Neal and Charles), and four daughters, and also to the division of the profits from his ferry and still. 13. Colonel John Martin of Caroline County, Virginia, was a well-known Virginia figure. He came to Virginia from Bristol, England, married Martha Burwell (daughter of Colonel Lewis Burwell) of Gloucester County, established his home at Clifton, Caroline County, and was elected from there to the House of Burgess where he served from 1738 to 1742. The Colonel mov ed to Dublin on the death of his brother George, and died there about 1760, leaving behind three sons. One son -- or perhaps a nephew (son of his brother James) -- John Martin, married Haley Jones, lived for a time in King William County, was a lawyer, represented his father (or uncle) John, and died in 1756. Old New Kent County History, Vol. II, pp. 775-77; Wingfelds History of Caroline County, Va, p. 445. 14. One of the early Huguenot emigrants from France was Jean -- or John -- Martin. His wife's name was Margaret; he died in Goochland County, Virginia, in 1739. He is apparently the same John Martin who wrote a will on March 12, 1738, which was probated on May 15, 1739. He may be the John Martin w ho received title to a large tract of land of Manakintown, Virginia, in 1716. John and Margaret lived on the James River. He had land in Henrico County, which he deeded to son James. Second son, John Martin, was by 1739 deceased; but he left a son (3rd generation), John Martin, who inherited the James River home (Goochland County, Virginia, Wills & Deeds, 1736-1742, ed. by Weisiger). Third son, Peter, lived in Goochland County, and had a son John Martin, probably sometim e in the 1730's. Monograph on the Huguenot Emigration to Virginia, Brock. This John Martin inherited a plantation from his father, Peter, whose will was dated March 6, 1742, probated May 17, 1743. (Goochland County, Virginia, Wills, 1742-49). 15. The first Presbyterian minister ordained in Virginia was John Martin, who prepared for the ministry under Samuel Davies of Virginia, was licensed August 25, 175 6, and was called to Albemarle, Virginia, April 27, 1757, and was ordained June 9, 1757. He engaged in a mission to the Cherokee Indians in what is now Tennessee on January 25, 1758. His mission was abandoned on the outbreak of the war with the Frenc h. Martin later settled in South Carolina. Sketches of Virginia, William. H. Foote, Philadelphia, 1856, pp. 56-57; Encyclopedia of the Presbyterian Church, ed. Alfred Nevin, Philadelphia, 1884, p. 472; Presbyterians in the South, Vol. 1, Ernest T. Thompson, pp. 69, 189; History of the Presbyterian Church of South Carolina, Vol. 1, George Howe, Columbia, 1870, pp. 267-268. This preacher may be the same John Martin who later served at Wappetaw, and became paster at the Wi lton Church in 1772, and who died in June 1774, leaving a son, Hawkins Martin (Howe, at p. 399). 16. John Martin of King William Parish, Henrico County, Virginia, wrote a will March 15, 1735/36, probated May 3, 1736, leaving his plantati on on the James River to his son, John Martin, with other properties to other sons, William and Matthew, (Henrico Co., Will & Deed Book, 1725-1737, p. 541). 17. John Martin of Goochland County, Virginia, was the son of Henry M artin and grandson of Roger Martin. John had a son, Hudson, who married Jane Lewis. John died about 1787. 18. John Martin married Rebecca Holman, daughter of Jacob Holman, who died in 1783. One of John and Rebecca's children was name d John. After John and Rebecca died, the children were living with William Cathey. Chronicles of the Scotch Irish Settlement , Lyman Chalkley, II, p. 152. 19. John Martin, of Lee County, Virginia, appeared in court on October 21, 1833, at the age of 71, and made a declaration to obtain a military pension: he was born in 1762, entered service as a substitute for his father, ser ved in the South Carolina militia, fought against the Cherokees at the "overhill" towns, lived for a time in Hawkins County, Tennessee, and then returned to Lee County about 1804 (Draper manuscripts, Reel 89, 2 DD 424-30). 20. J ohn Martin married Ann Barbara Lewis on August 7, 1763, in or near Goochland County, Virginia (recorded in Rev. Douglas' Register, and married by him). Among their children is John Martin, born December 26, 1769. 21. John Martin was born September 3, 1756, the son of Will Martin and Judith Hemus Martin (John was baptized by Rev. Douglas). 22. John Martin married Mary Cairden in Cumberland Co., Virginia, before January 7, 1769. One of thei r children (baptized by Rev. Douglas) was John Martin, born October 1, 1772. 23. John Martin was born March 18, 1766, in or near Goochland County, Virginia, the son of John Martin and Mary Clarkson Martin (baptized by Rev. Douglas). 24. John Martin married Lucy Lane on March 16, 1779, in or near Goochland County, Virginia (married by Rev. Douglas). 25. John Ma rtin of Chesterfield County, Virginia, with wife named Mary, wrote a will January 5, 1778, and codicil dated February 7, 1778, probated April 4, 1778, leaving to son John Martin the North Carolina land "left to me by my brother, Jame s Martin." (Chesterfield County, Virginia, Wills, 1774-1795, ed. Weisiger; Will Book 3, p. 168)@ 26. John Martin of Fauquier Co., Virginia, probably son of Joseph and Katherine Martin, married Sarah Jeffties March 24, 1778. John died in about 1791, apparently in Lincoln County, Kentucky, while trying to cross Dicks River. His children include a John Martin, who married Mary Martin, daughter of Peter Martin and Sarah Redding. 27. Hinshaw's Encyclopedi a of American Quaker Genealogy ,Vol. 1, pp. 361, 408, North Carolina, reports a George and Sarah Martin, from Chester Co., Pennsylvania, with a number of children, including John Martin, born May 6, 1756, in Orange County, N.C. John was re ported disowned on March 1, 1783 for "marriage out of unity." This John looked like a good candidate to be ours. But, unfortunately, he rejoined the Society of Friends at Deep Creek Monthly Meeting, Surry County, on September 7, 1816. John married Margaret (probably Hadley), and lived in that part of Surry that later became Yadkin County. He died March 24, 1836 (Hinshaw, p. 978; errata, p. 10.) 28. A John Martin , born about 1760, was in Vincennes as early as 1785. His wife was a Pottawatomie Indian --Kit-chi-gami -- and her English name was Mary Griffin. They had three children: Jane (1796-1862, married Nathan Ballow), and Elizabeth (1798-1864, married John LaPlante); and Laurent (1790-1804). It appears that J ohn, his wife, and their son all died in 1804. (Byron Lewis Library, Vincennes University, Box 18 No. 23 folder.) 29. Three generations of John Martins led to a family of Martins who settled in Crawford County, Illinois, not far from where our family of Martins arrived from Kentucky. Of this other family, the "Grandfather" John Martin was born in 1736, and served with George Washin gton at Braddock's defeat. He had two known sons: Thomas, and John Martin, born 1759 on the Great Peedee River in South Carolina. This second John Martin entered service in the South Carolina militia, then served for a time in the Georgia Continental Line. (Draper manuscripts, Reel 89, 2 DD 42430; Rev. War Pension File #516459). After the War he lived in Christian and Henderson Counties, Kentucky, and married Drusilla Williams. He appeared in court in Henderson County on July 17, 1832, at the age of 73, to make a declaration to obtain a military pension. John and Drusilla had at least five children: Thomas, Daniel, John, (b. Jan. 7, 1784 in Georgia; d. Oct. 15, 1858), Stephen, and Ruth -- and perhaps Ezekial. This third generation John and his brother Daniel were among the early settlers of Crawford County (about 1810). Martin's Township was named after brother Daniel. Our Crawford County Illinois Heritage , compiled by Donna Gowin Johnston, pp. 401-410. 30. There were also one or more John Martins in Western Pennsylvania, and one or more of these could easily have moved to Virginia and then to North Carolina and Kentucky. For example, in 1750 a John Martin (along with other settlers) was found in Big Cove, in Western Pennsylvania, on land not yet purchased from the Indians, in violation of colonial law; as a result, he was convicted of trespass, and several cabins (perhaps incl uding his) were burned by the authorities. History of Cumberland and Adams Counties , Pennsylvania, Chicago, 1886, p. 18. History of the Early Settle ment of Juniata Valley , U.J. Jones, Philadelphia, 1856, P. 47. This is probably the same John Martin who was in Peter's Township of Franklin County, Pa. in 1751-52, History of Franklin County, Pa, Chicago, 1887, p. 155. Indians made incu rsions into Great Cove in 1755 during which John Martin's wife and five children were captured (id., p. 163; Jones, op. cit., at pp. 209-210; see also Indian Natives, Archibald Loudon, Vol. H, Carlisle, 1816, p. 195). John Martin 's wife was released nine years later and rejoined her husband in 1764 at Fort Pitt; from there they returned to Great Cove. History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884 , Waterman & Watkins, p. 641. 31. Another Penn sylvania John Martin was born about 1740, lived in Bedford County -- possibly Morrison's Cove -- married a Mary or Maria, and died about 1825. He may have been related to the well-known Brethren Minister, George Adam Martin (1715-94) a le ader of the Conewago congregation, and later the Ephrata Community, and who then moved to Bedford County about 1770 where he established the Stoney Creek Congregation. Two Centuries of Brothers Valley , 1762-1962, H. Austin Cooper Westmins ter, 1962, p. 112-13. John and Maria Martin were members of the Ephrata Community. Materials Towards A History of the Baptists , Vol. I, Danielsville, 1984, p. 72 (as were John "Neagley" and his wife). John and Maria had a num ber of children, including a "Johannes" (Will dated October 31, 1822). (Just to confuse things further, another John Martin , on September 6, 1813, "now in Bedford County, Pa., but of Lewisville, Jefferson County, and State o f Kentucky," wrote a will referring to a Joseph Martin and several sisters.) The John Martin of Morrison's Cove is referred to as the "first bishop" of that place. History of Bedford, Somerset & Fulton Co.'s, Pennsylvania , 1884, Waterman & Watkins, p. 307. JOHN AND ISABELLA (SARAH?) SCOTT MARTIN Louis H. Martin*
*At Louis' suggestion, Eden Martin prepared a first draft of the text dealing with
John and Isabella Martin. This draft thus incorporates portions of the Introduction
to this volume.
JOHN(1)MARTIN, born ca. 1755, probably in Virginia. John Martin died in Lawrence County, Illinois, sometime in the early 1820's. See History of Edwards, Lawrence & Wabash Counties, Illinois, Philadelphia , 1883, pp. 327-28. A family tradition reported by I.J. Martin in 1941 is that our Martin predecessors, including John Martin, came from Virginia -- and before that, from England. However, no evidence has been found to support the tradition that the M artins were from England. And there is evidence that John Martin and his family were in North Carolina prior to moving to Kentucky. Illinois census records for Coles County in 1850 show that one of John Martin's sons, James Scott Martin, reported tha t he was born in North Carolina. Also a paragraph on Joel K. Martin (a brother of I.J. Martin) in Courts and Lawyers of Illinois, Vol. III, Crossley, Chicago, 1916, at p. 868, reports that his paternal ancestors emigrated from North Carol ina to Kentucky The possibility that the Martins moved from North Carolina to Kentucky is, of course, not inconsistent with the possibility that before North Carolina they lived in Virginia. The name of John Martin's wife is not certainly known , but it was probably Isabella. I.J. Martin believed and reported that her name was Sarah. However, land records in Logan County, Kentucky, show a John Martin and "Isabella" conveying real estate in 1809. Also, Baptist Church records from the Center Church in Logan County list members in a way that seems to link a John Martin with an "lzebelah" Martin. It is possible that "Sarah" was a nickname used by the family. I.J. Martin also believed that Sarah's last name was Scott. If he was wrong about her first name being "Sarah," this suggests that he might also have been wrong about her last name -- but then again he may have been correct. On balance, the most likely possibility seems to be that her correct name was Isabella Scott. Old John Martin and his wife apparently moved with two or perhaps more young children into Kentucky about 1779-80. They are thought to have lived somewhere in Central Kentucky, not far from the Kentucky River, but the precise location has not yet been determined. Part of the problem is that there were several "John Martins" living in Cen tral Kentucky, during the relevant period. Early Kentucky tax records show that by 1787 one John Martin was living in Lincoln County; and by 1789, there were two John Martins in that county. There was also a John Martin on the Nelson County tax list i n 1792 and 1793. And there was a John Martin in Washington County (created out of Nelson County in 1792) in 1797. We are reasonably sure that it is our "Old John" Martin who, on October 5, 1798, obtained a commissioners certificate (#2781) to purchase 200 acres of second rate land in Logan County lying on the Sinking Branch of Muddy River, "including the said Martin's improvements," for $70.93. Kentucky law at the time permitted such warrants to be issued to persons who were settlers for at least one year before coming into lawful possession. This suggests that John settled on his parcel of land in the fall of 1797. We also know that John's dau ghter, Jane, married Charles Neely in Logan County on September 23, 1797. So we can safely assume that John Martin and his family moved from wherever they were in Central Kentucky to Logan County in the summer or fall of 1797. The parcel of la nd which John Martin lived on in 1797 and for several years thereafter was located on the headwaters of the Muddy River, east of Russellville, adjacent to the Bowling Green Road connecting Russellville and Auburn. This property was sold in 1809. Howe ver, John Martin and his family did not then leave Logan County. "John Martin Senior" was listed in the Logan County property tax records in 1802, 1803, 1808, 1814, and 1815; a "John Martin" is also listed in 1805, 1806, 1813, 1816, and 1817. The records for some other years, including 1818, are missing. By 1819, a year for which the records do exist, the Martins had left Logan County for Illinois. Baptist Church records from Logan County confirm that the Martin family was there through 1816. "Old John" was evidently a Baptist Minister of the Gospel ("M.G."). He was instrumental in helping John Hightower organize the Providence Church seven miles west of Bowling Green, in Warren County, in Septem ber 1804. A History of Kentucky Baptists,, J.H. Spencer, 1886, Vol. II, at 242. He preached there from 1804 until 1808, when he was "dismissed for fellowshipping a disorderly church." Pioneer Baptist Church Records of South Centra l Kentucky and the Upper Cumberland of Tennessee, 1799-1899, C.P. Cawthorn and N.L. Warnell, 1985, at 257-258. He was recalled as pastor in 1813 when the regular pastor of the church was drafted to fight the British. At other times, John Martin was active in other Baptist Churches in the same area. He is listed as a member of the Center Baptist Church in Logan County in 1813. In that year he and a group of family members (including his son-in-law Charles Neely and his wife Jane Martin Neely, son Samuel Martin and his wife Sarah , future son-in-law Moses Williams, and daughter "Lizzey" Martin) all withdrew from the Center Church and formed the Bethany Church,, also in Logan County. Bethany Church records show that in 1813 that church had 10 members, and that the two messengers from that church to the regional church association -- the Gasper River Association -- were John Martin and Charles Neely. "O ld John" continued to serve as a messenger until 1816; in 1817 his name no longer appears on the list. In 1814 , in addition to representing the Bethany Church at the association meeting, John Martin preached the introductory sermon before the as sociation meeting at Sandy Creek, Butler County, and he also acted as moderator of the meeting. In 1815 and 1816, he again served as moderator of the association meeting. During the period 1814-16, while "Old John" and part of his fam ily were members of the Bethany Church, it appears that two of his sons and their families -- James Scott Martin and his wife Jennie Feagle Martin, and William Harvey Martin and his wife Abigail Whitaker Martin -- were active members of the Stoney Poin t Church. T'he family moved to Southeastern Illinois sometime in late 1816 to 1817. I.J. Martin believed that John Martin died in Kentucky before the family move to Illinois, but it appears that this was not correct. The History of Edwards , Lawrence & Wabash Counties, Illinois, Philadelphia, 1883, reports that one of the early settlers of Edwards County in 1817 (a part of Edwards County that was separated and became Lawrence County in 1821) was William Martin, and that, "His father, John Martin, resided with him until his death, which occurred a few years after he came" (p. 327). The history also discloses that "The first school was taught by John Martin, on section 18, in a little log cabin, in the year 1819" (pp. 327-28, 161, 73). We also know that John Martin married William Harvey Martin, one of "Old John's" sons, to his second wife, Cynthia Clarke, in Lawrence County, Il linois, on December 13, 1821. It is possible that the minister who performed this marriage was another John Martin -- perhaps the son of "Old John" -- but it seems more likely, particularly in light of the report in the county history, that it was "Old John" who married his son William Harvey in late 1821. That is the last date as to which we have any reported activity of John Martin. No local cemetery or other records report the date of his death or place of burial. C hildren: I. John Jr.: John Martin Jr. was a chain carrier and John Martin was director in a survey of 200 acres on Motes Creek, for William Martin, 3 October 1806. John Martin has certificate #1527 for 100 acres on Muddy River, surveyed 25 November 1806; chain carriers Charles Neely, James Martin and Rager. Taxpayers of Logan County, Kentucky 1797: John Martin, over 21 years - 2, include: horses - 5, perhaps John Sr. and John Jr. 1803: John Martin, over 21- 1, 700 acres in Logan County on Muddy River in name of Snodgrass, surveyed by Snodgrass. 1807: John Martin Jr. 100 acres. John Martin Sr. 400 acres 1808: John Martin Jr. same John Martin Sr., same - horses 6 On 24 August 1805, John Martin married Nancy Taylor; perhaps this is our John Jr. II. James Scott, born c. 1779, North Carolina; died 26 March 1865, Moultrie County, Illinois. III. Jane, born c. 1782, Lincoln County, Virginia, an area which in 1792 became the State of Kentucky; married Charles Neely on 23 September 1797; date of death unknown. IV. William H., born 7 March 1784, Lincoln County, Virginia; married (1) Abigai l Whitaker, and then (2) Cynthia Clarke; died 19 November 1852, Moultrie County, Illinois. V. Samuel, born c. 1786, Lincoln County, Virginia; married Sarah, who later married Moses Williams; date of death unknown, probably in Crawford County, I llinois. VI. Lewis H., born 19 December 1791, Lincoln County, Virginia; died 30 April 1872, Sullivan County, Missouri. VII. Euphamia, born 1796, Kentucky; married William Rawlins; died 21 October 1850, Dallas, Texas. VIII. Philip W., born 20 January 1801, Logan County, Kentucky; died 27 April 1874. Louis H. Martin JAMES SCOTT (2)MARTIN (John (1)M.G.) born ca. 1779, North Carolina, (1850 U.S. Census Coles County, Illinois), the fourth year of the American Revolution. James Scott Martin, die d 26 March 1865, in Moultrie County, Illinois, 15 days before Robert E. Lee surrendered 27,000 Confederate troops to General U.S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, 9 April 1865. The earliest record found for James Scott Martin is payme nt of bounty for wolf scalps by Logan County, Kentucky, 14 November 1797 (County Court Records Book 1, page 72). It is uncertain when his parents bought James Scott to what is now the state of Kentucky. His younger brother, William H. Martin, was bor n 7 March 1784, in Kentucky (U.S. Census 1850, Moultrie County, Illinois). A daughter of Jane (Martin) Neely, sister of James Scott Martin, stated in the 1880 U.S. Census of Hood County, Texas, that her mother was born. in Kentucky, which would place the Martins in Kentucky ca. 1780 while Kentucky was still part of Virginia. In 1780, Kentucky County, Virginia, was divided into three counties: Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln. By 1790, these three counties were subdivided into nine counties: Mason, Bourbon, Woodford, Fayette, Madison, Jefferson, Mercer, Nelson and Lincoln. On 1 June 1792, Kentucky became the 15th state admitted to the Union. Logan County, cut from Lincoln County, was the 13th county formed in the state of Kentucky it was formed 28 June 1792, effective 1 September 1792. The Martins, after leaving North Carolina, apparently were in Central Kentucky until the fall of 1797, when they moved to Logan County, in the southwestern part of the state. Edward Coffman, in The Story of Logan County, states: "During a period of about fifteen years -- from 1780 to 1795 -- the Indians waged war upon the settlers. 'This was thought to be somewhat in retaliation for the building of a fort at the mouth of the Ohio by Gen. George Rogers Clark. After about 1795 there was no more trouble from the red men in Logan County." Following the move to Logan County, survey recor ds and land deeds make several references to James Scott Martin. He first appears as a taxpayer in 1804 shown as over 21, with no land, one horse and one black over age 16. In 1808 for the first time he appears with land -- 200 acres on Muddy Creek a nd -- one horse. James Scott Martin is not listed in the 1810 U.S. Census for Logan County and the tax records are incomplete for 1810 and 1811. In 1813 James Scott Martin appears with 267 acres on Muddy River; he sold the 67 acres before leav ing Kentucky, but kept the 200 acres until 1824. By 1818, James Scott and other Martin family members are in Crawford County, Illinois (1818 Illinois State Census). Crawford County, was formed 31 December 1816, and embraced about one third of the entire state. Clark County was formed out of Crawford County in 1819. "From 1819 to 1823 immigration to Clark County, and in fact to the Wabash Valley, almost ceased, on account of their unhealthiness. The principal disease were bil ious and intermittent fevers. These fevers took their most malignant character in the bottom lands bordering large streams, especially the Wabash. There, in the rich black loom, formed from the alluvial deposits of the spring floods, and of great depth, vegetation luxuriated in almost tropical profusion. Immense quantities were produced, the decay of which generated vast volumes of miasma. Here, at fated periods, these disor ders or Wabash chills as they were termed found their most numerous victims. Some seasons they became epidemic a pestilence, almost prostrating the entire community. Physicians were few, and the victims of those distressing plagues seldom received any medical attention or remedies. Every family was its own doctor and treated using roots and herbs .... As the country was opened up and reduced to cultivation, and the people became acclimated, these fevers became less prevalent, and lost in some degre e their virulence." (History of Crawford and Clark Counties, Illinois, 1883, Chicago.) James Scott Martin sold his Kentucky land in 1824, from his Clark County home. In 1830, the population of Clark County had increased to such an extent (for a wilderness) that the people began to think of forming a new county. What is now Coles County was then part of Clark, and Darwin, the county seat, was remote from the settlements of this region. Coles County, Illinois, was formed 25 December 1830. According to the provision of the act approving creation, an election was held in February 1831, at Ashmore's -- the only voting place in the county; about sixty votes were cast. At this election, George Hanson, Andrew Caldwell and Isaac Lewis were elected County Commissioners, and constituted a County Court for the transaction of county business. In 1832, Isaac Lewis, Andrew Clarke and James S. Martin, all related by marriage, were elected County Commissioners. In 1836 James S. Martin was re-elected. Land owned by James Scott Martin originally in Clark County, Illinois, after the division of the county, fell into Coles County. He was also an original buyer of governmental land in Coles County: 87.32 acres in Charleston Township on 18 January 1830, and 40 acres in Lafayette Township on 7 June 1834. On 7 December 1841, James S. and wife "Mary" sold 40 acres owned in Lawrence County, Illinois, Section 5, township 3, for $400 (Book 1, page 133). James S. Martin is recorded in the 1850 U.S. Census for Coles County, Illinois, as a resident of Charleston Township. However, by 1854 he is residing in Moultrie County, I llinois, where he bought from John and Ann Martin, his son and daughter-in-law, 60 acres in section 36, T. 13-5, Moultrie County, deed $600, dated 4 December 1854. Also, in Moultrie County, Illinois, James S. Martin bought from John & Eliza Jane Calfee 40 acres in section 36, T 13-5, deed $400, 10 November 1859; and he bought from James W. & Martha B. Loving, 40 acres in section 2 T 12-5, 19 March 1864, Moultrie County, Illinois, deed $600. James Scott Martin, married in Loga n County, Kentucky, 6 March 1802, Jenny (Jane or Mary Jane), born 1780 in North Carolina, daughter of John and Susan Feagle. It is reported by members of the Feagle family that John Feagle served in the Revolutionary War and received warrant fo r land in Kentucky but failed to get proper title and lost the land to a prior claim when Kentucky was surveyed. (Many experienced this misfortune including Daniel Boone.) John Fe agle, after losing his land, moved to Indiana, and entered Spencer County, at Grandview. Soon after, with pack-horses and a young son, he returned to Kentucky for salt. En route he was killed by Indians and his son taken prisoner; the son was eventua lly released and returned home. James Scott and Jane (Feagle) Martin lived a long and productive life and enjoyed 63 plus years of marriage. Both were members of the Primitive Baptist Church and are buried together in the Lynn Creek Baptist Ce metery, Moultrie County, Illinois. James Scott Martin was described by a great-grandson as "not a tall man, maybe five feet, eight or nine inches, rather stout with a full face, round and ruddy, and merry twinkling eyes." Children:< BR> I. John, born 29 January 1803, Logan County, Kentucky; married 2 May 1824 Ann Neely, his cousin, daughter of Charles and Jane (Martin) Neely; died 10 January 1856, Moultrie County, Illinois. II. Mary Jane, born c. 1805, Logan County; m arried Wilson Pinckney, 17 August 1837, Coles County, Illinois; date of death unknown. III. Joel Feagle, born c. 1808, Logan County; married Elizabeth Clements; died 1 January 1866; Moultrie County, Illinois. IV. Euphemia Martin, born c. 1809, Logan County; married (1) 27 March 1834 Clark County, Illinois, James Martin Neely, her first cousin, son of Charles and Jane (Martin) Neely; then (2) James Martin, her f irst cousin, son of William H. and Abigail (Whitaker) Martin; then (3) 13 February 1861, William Dupay, Cooke County, Texas. V. Susanna, born c. 1812, married John, her first cousin, son of William H. and Abigail (Whitaker) Martin. VI. James Frost, born 22 February 1815, Logan County; died 4 October 1904, Farnham, Nebraska. VIII. Rezin C., born c. 1807, married "Polly" Clemmens, c.1830; died 21 May 1858, Moultrie County, Illinois. VIII. Charles N., born c. 1819, Crawford County, Illinois; died March 1860, Cooke County, Texas. IX. Archibald Lane, foster son, born c. 1831, Kentucky; married Emily Lewis; died July 1905, Moultrie County, Illinois. JOHN AND ANN NEELY MARTIN Louis H. Martin JOHN MARTIN (James Scott (2), John (1) M.G.), first child of James Sc ott and Jane (Feagle) Martin, was born 29 January 1803, Logan County, Kentucky. He accompanied his parents and other family members in their move from Kentucky to Illinois. In Clark County, Illinois, John married Ann Neely, his first cousin, 2 May 1824; she was born 29 March 1801, Logan County, Kentucky, a daughter of his Aunt Jane (Martin) Neely, and Charles Neely. Jane (Martin) Neely was the daughter of John and Isabella (or Sarah) (Scott) Martin. Their marriage ceremony was solemnized by Elder Daniel Parker, a Baptist minister and family friend. John bought his first land, 46 acres in Clark County, Illinois, from his aunt (mother-in-law) Jane (Martin) Neely, in Section 13 T 12 RB., 9 June 1830, price $60. Later he was one of the first to buy land from the Federal Government in Coles County, which was set off from Clark County in December 1830. On 13 April he entered 40 acres in Charleston Township; on 25 May 1831, he entered another 40 acres; and on 30 December he enter ed an additional 40 acres. All of these parcels of land were in Lafayette township, 13 TW 12 N R9E. He, like most settlers, claimed land near running water and standing timber. In his case the water was Kickapoo Creek, where timber for buildi ng was readily available. It was not until the 1840's, after most of the timberland had been claimed, that settlers ventured onto the prairie and with new methods and iron plows developed some of the best farm land in the county. In 1838 he moved his family to Shelby County, Illinois, where on 21 May he bought 120 acres of land from Milton and Sally Cox, and 200 acres from Isaac and Elizabeth Sheily. On 1 November 1839 he bou ght 80 acres from the Federal Government. John and Ann Martin now had 400 acres located in Whitley Township, Section 6-8 TW 12-R9E, Shelby County. On 16 February 1843, Moultrie County was formed from Shelby and Macon Counties, and their land fell int o Moultrie County. John was a farmer, but it is said "that his older male children concluded that operating a grist mill would be more to their taste then breaking prairie sod for farming and persuaded him to sell 80 acres of good prairie land and build a water powered grist mill at the point where Whitley Creek joined the Okaw River." Apparently this bit of family tradition is correct; in 1854 John Martin began selling his land, and a "Martins Mill" was built. Moultrie C ounty Court records refer to "Martins Mill" as a location to post court documents. John and his family were members of the Lynn Creek Baptist Church; he served the church as a "messenger" (delegate) to the Okaw Baptist Assoc iation in 1844 and 1845. He was called "Squire John Martin" apparently out of respect; no record is found of his holding political or judicial office.. John Martin died 10 January 1856; his wife Ann (Neely) Martin died 16 Marc h 1858; both are buried in the "old section" of the Lynn Creek Baptist Cemetery. Children: I. Isabella, born 29 March 1829, Clark County, Illinois; married 3 Feb ruary 1848, N.N. Martin, her first cousin, son of William H. Martin; died c. 1853, Moultrie County, Illinois. II. James Lewis, born 20 December 1830, Clark County, Illinois; died 10 March 1923, Moultrie County, Illinois. III. John Nee ly, born 9 February 1833, Coles County, Illinois; married 8 November 1853, Rachel Elvina Martin, his first cousin, daughter of Joel Feagle and Elizabeth (Clements) Martin; died 10 March 1923, Moultrie County, Illinois. IV. William Thomas, born 6 May 1835, Coles County, Illinois; died 21 March 1923, Moultrie County, Illinois. V. Serilda J., born 29 March 1838, Coles County,, Illinois; marriage license issued to Serilda J. Martin and John Duty, August 1875, Moultrie County, Illinois; d ied Wednesday 25 January 1929, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Will Sutton , west of Palmyra school. At the time of her death she was ninety years nine months and 25 days of age. Her obituary stated: "She was one of two surviving members of the pioneering Martin family which played so prominent a part in the affairs of Moultrie County. The surviving member is Rev. D. P. Martin of Joplin, Missouri." "She also leaves a son R.A. Martin, who is blind and is now living at the home of Mrs. Mary A. Lane in this city (Sullivan)." "Following funeral services Serilda J. Martin was buried at the French Cemetery." VI. Rhoda A., born 21 October 1840, Shelby County, Illinois; married 4 August 1859, her first cousin, Miles F. Martin, son of James Frost Martin; died 23 September 1921, Farnam, Nebraska. VII. Mary Katherine, born 1842 Shelby County, Illinois; married (1) Willia m Bathe; (2) William Robinson and moved to Arkansas; date of death unknown. VIII. Daniel Parker, born 2 November 1845, Moultrie County, Illinois; died 7 July 1930, Joplin, Missouri. IX. Charles A., born 1851, Moultrie County, Illinois; died 1856, Moultrie County, Illinois. John Martin's will written in his own hand, made 24 June 1854, probated 5 May 1859, Moultrie County, Illinois, is reproduced below as written, followed by the report of administrators. WILL Know by all men by these presents that I John Martin of Whitley Crick, Moultrie County State of Illinois. Being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and publish this My last will and testament. First I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Ann Martin all real estate together with all my personal property after paying off all just debts as long as she remains unmarried and my widow but on her decease or marriage the remainder thereof I give and devise to my children and their heirs respectively giving to each younger Child seventy five dollars in case I have not given them a setting out of that amount before my death giving to my two daughters Serilda Jane and Mar y Katherine each, three equal Shears with my other Children in consequence of their deficiency in eyesight and last I ordain and appoint Ann Martin my beloved wife as executor of this my last will and Testament without bond and security so long as she remains my widow. In testimony where of I hereunto set my hand and publish and declare this to be my last will and testament in presence of the witnesses named below this 24 day June in the year AD 1854. John Martin Rezin C. Martin John Martins Will, filed 23 Jan. 1856 Gilbert Waggoner John A. Freeland
- Clerk Testator to have been in sound mind and capable of making such a will this January 31st 1858. James L. Martin, John N. Martin, W.T. Martin administrators of John Martin deceased in account with Moultrie County Court
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
