James Martin (abt. 1730 - abt. 1799)

Born about 1 May 1730 in Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Harris) Martin — married 29 May 1762 in Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died about Feb 1799 at about age 68 in Madison, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

James Martin's birth date is unsourced, possibly from a bible record. His parents are believed to have married somewhere in the Colony of Virginia sometime in the 1720s, at least two decades prior to moving circa 1745 ^[1] to the part of Albemarle County that became Amherst in 1761, then Nelson in 1808.^[2] Many online sources list a middle name of 'Thomas' for James,^[3] but almost no one had a middle name when James was born,^[4] and there is no record of him having one.

James was listed in the first Amherst County personal property tax list of 1782 with 19 slaves, 13 cows & 4 horses,^[5] apparently still on the plantation given to him by his father in 1759.^[6] By 1784 he and Sarah had sold this land, as well as the remainder of a neighboring tract he patented there in 1766,^[7] and emigrated to Madison County, Kentucky, where he appeared in the tax rolls from 1789 to 1797. He was charged with 200 acres from 1795 to 1797.^[8] He also owned a greater amount of land in neighhboring Clark County which he mentioned in his will.^[9] After James’ death, Sarah remarried to George Jones, the husband of her deceased sister Mary.^{[citation needed]}

Partial Transcript of the Will of James Martin: ^[9]

I James Martin of Madison County and State of Kentucky

to my son Azariah Martin 200 acres laid off for him & part sold to John Hill & the balance on which he lived in Clark County

to my son Christopher Martin 100 acres where he now lives in Clarke County and a negro Boy called Ruben

to my son David Martin 100 acres where he now lives in Clarke County and a negro Boy called Lewis

to my three Sons... William Martin Tyree Martin & Robert Martin all my Interest & Claim to a tract of Land which I bought of Laurence Thompson by a bond on John (now & the benefit of the bond if the land is not obtained

to my son William... a negro boy called Jerry

to my son Tyree a negro boy called Thomas

to my son Robert... a negro Boy called James

to my Sons Hudson Martin and Nathan Martin... to be equally Divided between them the plantation and tract of land where I now live at the Death of my wife Sarah

to my son Hudson... one negro boy called Isaac

to my son Nathan one negro Boy called Ach

to my Grand Son David Martin Son of James Martin Dec'd one negro girl called Rachel

I lend to my Son Inlaw Pleasant Profitt & my Daughter Mary his wife two negros called Frank and Jean

to the Children of my Daughter Mary.. two last named negros to wit Frank and Jean

I lend to my wife Sarah Martin the Plantation and tract of land where I live Also two negros called moses and writer

I lend to my wife Sarah the following Slaves to wit Apper, Sarah, Jack, Robert, Roland, Ann, Venus and Beck...

I appoint wife Sarah my three Sons William Tyree and Robert my Executors

any disputes...final Judgement & decision of Thomas Clay Green Clay and Jame French

I have hereunto Set my hand and seal 25 Jul 1796

proved in court 5 Mar 1799 by James French & Green Clay

Research Notes

Note - his wife had a second husband after he died -- (about Sarah Harris: she had a sister named Mary - Mary's widower George Jones married Mary's widowed sister, Sarah, later in his life):^{[citation needed]}

• Sarah Harris was born to Christopher and Mary (Dabney) Harris in Albemarle County, Virginia.^{[citation needed]}
• She married James Martin in Albemarle County. They emigrated to Madison County, Kentucky, with the large group that accompanied Sarah’s father, Christopher Harris, about 1789. Their ten children were: Azariah, Christopher, David, William, Tyre, Robert, Hudson, Nathan, James, and Mary, who married Pleasant Proffit. All of their children came to Madison County, except for Hudson, who remained in Virginia and James who married and died there.^{[citation needed]}

  Note: The language of James' will makes this last unsourced claim seem unlikely. Hudson and Nathan stood to inherit the home plantation in Madison, so it is very likely that they were living there when he wrote that.

Land Records

• 3 May 1759, James Martin Sen'r of St Ann Parish, Albemarle to James Martin Jun'r (his son) of same for love, good will & affection, 200 acres in Albemarle lying Amongst the heads of some branches of the south side of Rockfish... Beginning at a spanish Oak on the N side Meriwethers branch...; witnesses: David Martin, William Martin, Obediah Martin, John Martin & John Staples.^[6]
  • 2 Sep 1784, James Martin Sn'r of Amherst to Charles Bridgewater of Hinorus [Henrico??] for 320£, 200 acres in Amherst Lying Amongst the Heads of some Branches of the South side of Rockfish... Beginning at a Spanish Oak on the North side of Meriwethers Branch...; witnesses: John Murrell Jun'r, James Trusler & Virgil Poe; witnesses to payment: Nath'l Clarke, William Britt & William Clarke.^[10]

• 10 Jul 1766, Land grant; Martin, James. grantee; Location: Albemarle County; Description: 200 acres on Meriwethers Branch and the Pounding Branch.^[11]
  • 3 Dec 1770, James Martin Jun'r of Amherst to Samuel Fox of same for 15£, 100 acres in Amherst on the Pounder Branch Being part of 200 acres as p'r patent to the said Martin... Beginning... on top of the pounder branch Mountain... Line being Made & agreed upon by the s'd Martin & Fox...; no witnesses.^[12]
  • 4 Oct 1779, James Martin and Sarah Martin his Wife of Amherst to William Wilson for 8£, 100 acres in Amherst on Meriwethers Branch and the South Side of the Dividing Ridge Between Meriwethers Branch and the Pounder Branch... Beginning on the Top of the said Dividing Ridge... a line made by James Martin, Wiliam Wilson and Samuel Fox...; no witnesses.^[13]

Other

Note: The following family sketch is almost certainly taken from a collection called the Martin Family Index, but it has been indexed incorrectly at FamilySearch as belonging to a 1974-1997 California obituary index, which was another item on the same microfilm reel. Either way, this is not a primary source and could contain errors:^[14]

• James and Sarah (Harris) Martin; They had a son Robert who md. in Madison Co., Kentucky, Polly Noland Jan 17- 1799 by Rev. Christopher Harris. Children: Jack, William, Nancy md David Black May 1 1833, Sarah md James Black, ____ md. R Hayes (over) Jacob Martin & Elizabeth Dunham son Enoch
• (Next card) Jeremiah Martin Son of William and Elizabeth Martin of Mendham -Morris Co, NJ. Wm left a will dated sept 15 1767 prob. (or prov), Oct 29 1767. Children of William and Elizabeth: Elijah Martin, Rhodie Martin (poorly legible), Peter Martin, William Martin, Azariah Martin, Jeremiah Martin, Elizabeth Martin

Sources

1. ↑ Albemarle, Virginia, Order Book 1, p. 264: John Chiswell to James Martin, 9 Apr 1747.
2. ↑ Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, The Newberry Library, Interactive Map of Virginia.
3. ↑ Such as Find A Grave: Memorial #139273835; accessed 9 Nov 2023.
   • Update: This issue was corrected on F-a-G on 11 Nov 2023 as well, but persists on Ancestry.com and elsewhere.
4. ↑ Bob's Genealogy Filing Cabinet, The Use of Middle Names.
5. ↑ Amherst, Virginia, Personal Property Tax List for 1782, p. 11.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Albemarle, Virginia, Deed Book 2, pp. 137-138.
7. ↑ See land records in the Research Notes section.
8. ↑ Madison, Kentucky, Tax books 1787-1797.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Madison, Kentucky, Mixed Probate Records, Vol. A, pp. 191-193.
10. ↑ Amherst, Virginia, Deed Book E, pp. 598-599.
11. ↑ Land Office Patents No. 36, 1764-1767 (v.1 & 2 p.557-1083), p. 955 (Reel 36).
12. ↑ Amherst, Virginia, Deed Book C, pp. 131-132.
13. ↑ Amherst, Virginia, Deed Book E, pp. 179-180.
14. ↑ "California, Fresno and Napa Counties, Obituaries, 1974-1997", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2SV-J2DB : 14 April 2016), James Martin, 1799.

• The Gentry family in America, 1676 to 1909 : including notes on the following families related to the Gentrys : Claiborne, Harris, Hawkins, Robinson, Smith, Wyatt, Sharp, Fulkerson, Butler, Bush, Blythe, Pabody, Noble, Haggard, and Tindall by Gentry, Richard, b. 1846, Publication date 1909, Publisher New York : Grafton Press; p. 37
• James Martin at FamilySearch.