John Pigg Martin (1777 - 1867)

Born 23 Apr 1777 in Henry, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 2 Jul 1867 at age 90 in Smith, Mississippi, United States

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Biography

John P. Martin was born in Henry county, Virginia, April 23, 1777. At the age of fourteen his father moved to North Carolina. He lived there one year and moved to Warren County, Georgia. He was then a wild, thoughtless youth.

At the age of nineteen he was married to Miss Esther McKinly. In 1803 he united with the Bethlehem Baptist church, Washington County, though still living in Warren. In 1804 Fellowship church, Warren county, was organized and he became a member. He was licensed to preach by Fellowship church in 1810, having probably been authorized to exhort in 1806. There is some doubt as to the date, but it is tolerably certain that he was ordained to the full work of the ministry in 1814, during the war with Great Britain. Previous to his ordination the militia of Georgia had been classified and Mr. Martin fell in the first class. This class was ordered to Savannah in 1814. He had been ordained a few months before this order and was exempted according to law, but made no effort to avoid the service. These facts indicate 1814 as the time of his ordination.

In November, 1817, he left Georgia and came to Mississippi, and lived one year in Marion county.* He then moved to Covington county, where he settled permanently on Holliday's Creek. About the close of 1837 he moved to Smith county.

In September, 1839, his wife died. Near the close of the following year he was married to Mrs. Hannah Ford, of Lawrence county, whose maiden name was Cannon. She died, leaving him a son about six years of age, who is M. F. Martin, of Gloster, former professor of mathematics in Mississippi College. Necessary attention to and care for his motherless boy so confined him at home that he finally was induced to marry again. He selected Mrs. Allen, an estimable widow whom he had known a number of years. The date of this marriage is not given. The third wife died in 1863. He survived her nearly four years, and died July 2, 1867, aged ninety years two months and seven days.

Mr. Martin preached extensively and to the acceptance of his brethren during his residence in Georgia; and after his removal to Mississippi he labored abundantly in almost every direction. His ministry was greatly blessed. He never shunned duty; but whatever labor, self-denial, or sacrifice it might cost he went resolutely forward. He possessed great command over his passions and consequently was seldom betrayed into imprudence. Being a man of a lively turn of mind and sociable dispositions his company was always agreeable.

He was a good pastor and kept peace and order in the churches under his care. His usefulness in associations could not be exceeded by any one. Bethany church, Covington county, was gathered by his labors, and he served the church as pastor about fourteen years, that is, till the close of the year 1833, when he requested the church to provide a successor. While under his care the church prospered and was blessed with peace and harmony.

In stature he was below the medium height, strongly built, remarkably compact and firm in his bodily structure. His mental endowments were of a high order; and if he had been favored with the training advantages and opportunities possessed by many in our day he would have shone as a bright light in the Christian church.

Sources

• MISSISSIPPI BAPTIST PREACHERS page 446-477

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4LN-QBG : 22 December 2020), John Martin, Smith, Mississippi, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WKPH-VR6Z : 16 October 2019), John P Martin, 1860.

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6GJ-BGW : 18 February 2021), John P Martin, 1860.

Note

Rev. John P. Martin accepted the "pastoral supply" of Silver Creek Baptist Church, Pike County, MS from 1827 until 1830. His service was marked by many additions to the membership.