Stephen Martin Sr. (abt. 1705 - bef. 1769)

Born about 1705 in New Kent, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Anna (Anderson) Martin — married about 1728 in St James, New Kent, Virginia

Descendants

Died before 7 Aug 1769 before about age 64 in Amherst, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

Stephen was probably born about 1705, as he was married by 1730.^[1] He wrote his will on 15 Dec 1768 in Amherst, Virginia and died sometime before it was probated there on 7 Aug 1769. Stephen was posthumously revealed to have been a brother to James Martin in a deed involving land that had been bought and sold between their heirs.^[2] His children married into the same Bryant family that the proven children of John Martin also married into, so Stephen is also believed to have been his son, or possibly a nephew.

Stephen and his wife were likely born in New Kent, Virginia, as that is where the earliest records are found for them, with the births of two daughters:

1. Eliz'th the Daughter of Stephen & Ann Martin born Jun 1st bap't Aug't: 3'd: 1730 ^[1]
2. *Fanny--Daughter of Stephen and Ann Martin........Aug't. 2 1736

   * Note! This whole entry has been scratched through with a pen; evidently by the writer of it, for the ink of the erasure is identical with that of the entry.--C. G. C.^[3]

Will of Stephen Martin ^[4]

I Steven Martin Being in my Proper sences do appoint this my Last Will & Testament. It is my Desire that my Negro Fellow Harry shall be sold and that my son John Martin shall have twenty pounds of the money that he is sold for and that my Wife Anne shall have the Remainder I also give to my wife Ann one Feather Bed one cow two Iron pots & all the Pewter that I have and one third part of my Stock of Hogs. I give to my son Giddion Martin all the Land with in the following Bounds Beginning at Oen Crawfords Line and Running parilile with Simpson Branch (so as to include Gideon Martin's Plantation) to John Martins line all my land on the suth side of the above Line I give to my son Stephen Martin all my Land on the North side of the above mentioned Bounds on provise that my Wife have the Plantation whereon I Live as long as she Lives I give to my son John Martin one Bay Mare & my Saddle and two Cattle I give to my daughter Ann Smith two Cattle I give to my daughter Elezebth Gragg one Cow I give to my Wife Ann my sorrill Horse I give the remaining part of all my stock of Horses Cattle Hoggs my stock of Sheep to be equally devided amongest all my Children Elizabeth gragg Mary Martin Sherod Martin Stephen Martin Ann Smith John Martin I do appoint William Martin sole Executor

December the 15th. 1768 -- Steven (his X mark) Martin {SS}

Sealed & Signed in the presence of

Fran. Meriwether

James Martin

William Henderson

Research Notes

"Big Y" DNA results prove that James was of the same patrilinial descent as documented members of the family of Dr. Jeremy Martin of Redland Court, Bristol, England, but the exact relationship has not yet been proven by a paper trail, and likely never will be due to the near-total loss of colonial records in New Kent, Virginia. Stephen and his documented brother James both named their firstborn sons "John," as did their closest Big Y match Henry, who was the very-well-documented son of John Martin Sr. of New Kent. These three men appear to have all been brothers following the traditional English naming pattern.

3 May 1759, James Martin of the Parish of S't Ann in the County of Albemarle to Stephen Martin of same for 22£, 200 acres on the south side of Merriweathers branch in Amherst whereon the said Stephen now lives; witnesses: David Martin, William Martin, Obediah Martin, John Martin, James Martin Jun'r & John Staples.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} The vestry book and register of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent and James City counties, Virginia, 1684-1786, p. 481.
2. ↑ See Genealogically Remarkable Deed in the Research Notes section of the profile for James.
3. ↑ The vestry book and register of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent and James City counties, Virginia, 1684-1786, p. 532.
4. ↑ Amherst, Virginia, Will Book 1, pp. 139-140 & 198.
5. ↑ Albemarle, Virginia, Deed Book 2, pp. 135-136.