Robert Martin (abt. 1591 - bef. 1660)

Born about 1591 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Joane (Upham) Martin — married 16 Nov 1618 in Ottery St. Mary, Devon, England

Died before 19 Jun 1660 before about age 69 in Rehoboth, Plymouth

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Robert Martin migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 5, p. 57) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Disputed Parents

Unsourced parents Richard Martin and Katherine (Lyde) have been removed.

Origins

Although Anderson in The Great Migration series articles in 2007, confirms that early immigrants Robert Martin and Abraham Martin were brothers of Richard Martin who later came to New England in the 1660's, he provides no origins or parentage for this family. He does indicate that Robert was of Batcombe, Dorset, England prior to immigration.

A 1983 article in the Mayflower Quarterly, revisits early research on the Martin families who came from neighboring areas in Devonshire, England and who settled at Swansea and Rehoboth, Massachusetts, including the above brothers. Based on the names and related baptisms, and this Richard's will, as provided in this research of the parish registers, this profile will include Richard Martin (c1565-1633) as the father of the three brothers. ^[1]

Biography

Robert Martin was born about 1589, son of Richard Martin of Ottery, Devon, England ^[1] based on his listed age of 44, when setting sail for New England. ^{[2] [3]}

Robert was the brother of Abraham Martin who came to Weymouth, Massachusetts in 1635, and of Richard Martin who arrived at Rehoboth, Massachusetts in the 1660's. ^[2]

Robert married Joanne Upham at St. Mary, Ottery, Devon England on November 16, 1618. ^{[1] [4] [5] [2]} Joanne was born about 1591, the daughter of Richard and Maria (Unk) Upham of Bicton, Devon, England. ^[5] By her age at emigration to New England she was born c 1591. ^[3]

Joanne's father Richard Uphams' will, written on December 12, 1635, names, among others, his daughter Joanne Martin. He names many of his grandchildren born in England, but no children of Joanne.^[5]

Robert Martyn, husbandman of Batcombe, aged 44 and Joane Martyn, aged 44 were passengers for New England on the ship Marygould out of Weymouth, Dorset, England on March 20, 1635. Joane's brother John Upham and his wife and children, and her sister Sarah, were also passengers on the ship. ^{[3] [2]} These families were part of a group of twenty one families, followers of by Reverend Joseph Hull, previously rector at Northleigh in Devon, who assembled the group to set sail for New England. ^[5]

• 1635: Arrived in New England and settled at Weymouth. ^[2]
• 1635: July 8: Governor Winthrop granted Mr. Hull, minister, and the 21 families with him, the plantation at Wessaguscus (renamed Weymouth). ^[5]
• 1636 (September): 1636/7 (March): `1637 (November): 1638/9 (March): 1639( May). Robert was a surveyor of lands of the south shore of Massachusetts Bay, as ordered by the Massachusetts General Court. ^[2]
• 1640: May 13: Freeman at Weymouth. ^[2]
• 1640: Admitted to the church at Weymouth. ^[2]
• 1643: He owned 6 parcels of land at Weymouth being 24 acres and another 30 acres in hte 'great lots', 10 acres of the East Field, 5 acres of salt marsh, 2 acres of upland, and 12 1/2 acres in the Western Neck. ^[2]
• 1644: Removed to Rehoboth. ^[2]
• 1644: June 4: Robert was among those who drew lots for the division of woodlands at Rehoboth. ^[6]
• 1644: July 12: Chosen selectman at Rehoboth. ^[2]
• 1645: March 16: Chosen Townsman and Surveyor at Rehoboth. ^[6]
• 1645: April 29: Among those men chosen to hear grievances regarding the meadows, and to further distribute the fresh and salt meadows. ^[6]
• 1645: April 29: Robert Martin was granted the second woodlot that had been laid out to Mr. Leonard. ^[6]
• 1645: December 20: Served on the Committee to distribute lands that were purchased from the Indians. ^{[6] [2]}
• 1645: December 26: Robert was among the men chosen to erect a fence between the Indian and the house lots. ^[6]
• 1645: Town Clerk at Rehoboth. ^[2]
• 1646: February 18: Robert was among those to draw lots in the new meadown. ^[6]
• 1650: June 24: Chosen Townsman at Rehoboth. ^[6]
• 1653: May 13: Robert was chosen constable. ^[6]
• 1653: December 12: Again chosen Townman. ^[6]
• 1654: September 15: Among those chosen to set the town rate. ^[6]
• 1655: June 26: Among those chosen for the committee to set the town rate for Mr. Newman, teacher. ^[6]
• 1655: February 9: Chosen Townsman. ^[6]
• 1658: June 22: Robert was among those drawing lots for the meadow on the north side. ^[6]

This couple had no children recorded in New England, nor any children with them on their passage. ^{[2] [3]}

Robert died prior to June 19, 1660, the date the inventory of his estate was taken. ^[2]

Robert's will was written on May 6, 16xx. In it he left his estate in Rehoboth, houses, lands, commons, orchards, household goods etc. to his wife Joanne, during her natural life. He further states that at her death, she should dispose of half of the estate to her friends. The other half should go to his brother Richard in "old England" and his children. Also mentioned is his elder brother Abraham 'if he needeth it'. ^[2][7]

Joanna died at Rehoboth on November 8, 1668. ^{[2] [8]}

She wrote her will on April 6, 1668 and mentions, among others, her brother (John) Upham of Malden, and many Ormsby cousins: her sister Sarah married Richard Ormsbey and borther-in-law brother Richard Martin's daughter Grace married John Ormsby . ^{[2] [1]}

Her estate was valued at L193 12s, with L120 being real estate. ^[2]

Research Notes

The list of passengers for the Reverend Hull group has the last name spelled Martyn. Anderson has the last name spelled Martin.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Hodge, Harriet Woodbury, The Martins of Swansea and the Martins of Rehoboth in: The Mayflower Quarterly, Volume 49, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 1983, p. 170-8 (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2019). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2760/i/58407/170/73958039
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18} Anderson, Robert C. Robert Martin in: Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 2007 p. 57-60 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Hotten: James C. The Original Lists of Persons of Quality; Emigrants; Religious Exiles; Political Rebels; Serving Men sold for a term of years; apprentices; children stolen; maidens pressed; and others who went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700 : with their ages and the names of the ships in which they embarked, and other interesting particulars; from mss. preserved in the State Paper Department of Her Majesty's Public Record Office, England, London, England, 1874, p. 283-6
4. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2QV-PZQ : 10 February 2018), Robert Martin and Johane Upham, 16 Nov 1618; citing Ottery Saint Mary,Devon,England, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 0962975 IT 1, 962974.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4} Upham, Frank Kidder, Upham genealogy; the descendants of John Upham, of Massachusetts, who came from England in 1635, and lived in Weymouth and Malden, Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, New York, 1892, p. 30: 33-4: 474-9
6. ↑ ^{6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13} Tilton, George H. A History of Rehoboth, Massachusetts: Its History for 275 Years, 1643-1918, in which is Incorporated the Vital Parts of the Original History of the Town, Published by the author, Boston, Massachusetts, 1918 p. 24: 28-30: 33: 36-41: 43
7. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-V3BS : 8 March 2023), Wills 1633-1686 vol 1-4 > image 276 of 616; State Archives, Boston.
8. ↑ Arnold, James N. Vital Record of Rehoboth, 1642-1896 : Marriages, Intentions, Births, Deaths : with supplement containing the record of 1896, colonial returns, lists of the early settlers, purchasers, freemen, inhabitants, the soldiers serving in Philip's war and the revolution, Narragansett Historical Publishing Co., Providence, Rhode Island, 1897, p.848

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Martin-4426 created through the import of Tom.ged on Jun 1, 2011 by Tom Elliott.
• WikiTree profile Martin-5261 created through the import of 2010-09-14.ged on Jul 28, 2011 by Bob Carson. .
• WikiTree profile Martin-6536 created through the import of JKD1.ged on Sep 15, 2011 by Richard Draper.