Abraham Martin (1716 - aft. 1771)

Born 7 Feb 1716 in Caroline County, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died after 6 Sep 1771 after age 55 in Edgefield, Province of South Carolina, British Colonial America

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Biography

By Jouett Taylor Prisley

Captain Abraham Martin served under George Washington in Braddock's campaign and on the Fort Duquesne Expedition.^[1] He had homes in Caroline County VA, and in Georgia. He was killed by Indians while on a trip to locate land in Georgia. He is buried in the Martin Cemetery in Edgefield, South Carolina. He is credited to be the head of the North Carolina Martin branch.

The first of nine children was born to Abraham and Betsy about 11 months after their marriage, and eight more were added in a total span of 18 years. They all lived to adulthood and apparently left no time in between for the loss of any other children. This hearty mother lived to be 70, surviving her husband by almost 26 years.

In Lunenburg county (including the Cub Creek area), 1764, Abraham recorded 11 tithables, himself, his wife and nine children, and 4,058 acres. Of the children, William, the eldest, was the only male over 16. As mentioned above, Abraham was slain by Indians in 1771. His wife was left with children ranging in age from 26 to eight.

Letitia, or Letty, was the second-born and the only daughter. Of her eight brothers, six are known to have fought in the Revolution in Georgia and South Carolina. They were William, James, John, George, Marshall and Matthew. Matt, at age 16, entered a militia unit near Augusta, commanded by his brother Barklay, offering himself in substitution for their older brother George.

Wife and Children

On 17 October 1744, Abraham Martin married Elizabeth Marshall in Caroline County, Virginia.^[2] Abraham and Elizabeth (called Betsy or Betty) had nine children over 18 years,^[3] including

• William Martin^[3][4]
• Letitia, or Letty^[3] (Martin) Wade,^[5] married (2) Charles Edwards^[2]
• James Martin^[3] married Obedience Bugg^[2][6]
• John Martin^[3] married Elizabeth Terry^[2][7]
• Barklay Martin^[3][8]
• George Martin^[3] married Alice Freeman^[2][9]
• Marshall Martin^[3] married Mary Isham Key^[2][10]
• Matthew Martin^[3] married Sarah "Sallie" Clay^[2][11][12]

At Abraham's death in 1771, their nine children ranged in age "from 26 to eight."^[3]

Elizabeth died after 2 May 1797 in Edgefield County, Ninety-Six District, South Carolina,^[2] having survived Abraham by almost 26 years.^[3]

Will

Abstract of Abraham's will by Jouett Taylor Prisley, 1997.^[5]

Resident in Cornwall Parish, Charlotte County VA, his will was dated 27 November 1769. He died 6 September 1771 and the will was proved in Charlotte County 6 September 1773.^[5]

Legatees: Life estate to wife Betty Martin, in all lands in South Carolina and all personal property. At her decease to be equally divided among his sons and daughter after deducting one hundred & Twenty-five Pounds out of my daughter LETTY WADE's part for two negroes which she has in her Possession.

Executors: ELIZABETH MARTIN, Edward Wade, William Martin & James Martin.

Witnesses: Margaret Mullins, James Mullins, William Matthews

Securities: Isaac Read, Robert Williams, Thomas Collier, Thomas Williams and Sylvanus Stokes

Slaves

Two unnamed slaves willed to daughter Letty Wade (already in her possession). See wife Betty's will for slaves named in her estate.

Research Notes

The pension application of Matt Martin calls George his brother but not Captain Berkeley/Barkley Martin.^[12] The DAR record for Barkley Martin has no information and notes that you can not join the DAR on his record.^[13]

Place of birth needs verified pre-merge status had New Kent Co., VA vs. King William Co., VA.

Sources

1. ↑ According to records of Daughters of the Colonial Wars.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} DAR record, descendant of Letitia Martin, daughter of Patriot Ancestor Elizabeth (Marshall) Martin:
   • Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 10 October 2019), "Record of Elizabeth Marshall Martin", Ancestor # A074180.
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10} From Biography written for this profile by Jouett Taylor Prisley
4. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 10 October 2019), "Record of Captain William Marshall Martin", Ancestor # A074595.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Written 27 Nov 1769 in Cornwall Parish, Charlotte County, Virginia; proved 06 Sep 1773 in Charlotte County; recorded in Charlotte County, VA Will Book 1765-91, p.105.
6. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 10 October 2019), "Record of Colonel James Martin", Ancestor # A074271.
7. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 10 October 2019), "Record of Captain John Martin", Ancestor # A074341.
8. ↑ See Research Notes (above).
9. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 10 October 2019), "Record of Captain George Martin", Ancestor # A074214.
10. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 10 October 2019), "Record of Captain Marshall Martin", Ancestor # A074409.
11. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 10 October 2019), "Record of Private Matthew Martin", Ancestor # A074416.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Pension application S2726 for Matthew Martin (pdf, transcribed by Will Graves, posted by Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters, accessed 10 October 2019).
13. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 10 October 2019), "Record of Barclay Martin (officer)", Ancestor # A074086.

See also:

• Porcher, Anne Carrington (Martin). Martin Family, 1680-1934. Brooklyn, 1935, pp. 23 (images 90 of 164). Internet Archive Books. Accessed 18 Aug 2021.
• Chapman, John A. History of Edgefield County From the Earliest Settlement to 1897. Newberry, SC: E.H. Aull, 1897, pp. 392-393. Google Books. Accessed 18 Aug 2021.
• Martin, Abraham: Bible Record, published 1756, Martin Family Quarterly, Vol. 2, Nr. 2, pp. 26-28
• Martin, Abraham's will: Charlotte Co VA Will Book 1765-91, p105
• Martin, Samuel Davis: records published in 1857
• Porcher, Anne C.: The Martin Family
• Woodland, Naaman J. Jr.: associate professor of history at Lamar U., Beaumont TX (much information from his own family research, and establishment of inaccuracies in the Martin line)
• Martin Family Quarterly, Vol. 2, Nr. 2, 15 Aug 1976: Abram Martin - B. CA. 1645 and Some of His Descendants (contributed by Mrs. Melva R. Campbell, 211 N. Walnut St., Woodland, CA)
• Martin Family Quarterly, Vol. 9, Nr. 2, Aug 1983: "Abram Martin and Betty Marshall," pp. 48-59.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #88680420 for Capt Abram Martin (7 Feb 1716–3 Sep 1771), citing Martin Cemetery, Edgefield County, South Carolina, USA ; Maintained by Twig Of The Tree (contributor 48280310) .
• Colonial Families of the USA 1607-1775
• US Grave Index
• US Sons of the Revolution Application
• US & International Marriage Records
• American Geneaological Biographical Index
• Colonial Families of the Southern States
• Chapman, John Abney; History of Edgefield County from the earliest settlement to 1897; Page 150-151 https://archive.org/details/historyofedgefie00chap/page/150/mode/2up?q=martin