John Martin Jr (abt. 1755 - abt. 1811)

Born about 1755 in Albany, Albany, New York Colony [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1811 at about age 56 in Blenheim, Oxford, Grenville, Upper Canada [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lydia Vierson [send private message]

Biography

Service With the Green Mountain Boys

While no records of John having served under one of the Allen men have been found, there are 12 entries between 1775 and 1783 for a John or Jonathan Martin serving in the Vermont Militia during the Revolutionary War ^[1]. At various times a John or Jonathan served with Benjamin, David, Ebenezer, two Ephraims, Nathanial and Philip Martin, suggesting they may have been related. Searching the 1790 federal census at Ancestry found entries for John Martin at Bradford, New Huntington, North Hero and Poultney ^[2]. Jonathan was only found in Bradford. Both John and Jonathan were living in Bradford at the same time there were two Ephraims and a Nathanial living there. This suggests at least several of the Johns and the Jonathan were separate individuals. Benjamin was living in Corinth, David in Benson, Ebenezer in Jerico, and Nathanial and Nathan in Shaftsbury. No Philip was found. Interestingly, a Lydia Martin was born to Jonathan and Lydia Martin in 1790 in Manchester, Bennington County, Vermont^[3] . While a number of families have assigned this record to the child of John and Lydia Allen Martin, Jonathan and his family were still living in Manchester in 1800^[4] and a marriage record in New Hampshire suggests his wife’s maiden name was Noyes ^[5]- ^[6]. Given North Hero is located on Grand Isle, Amy’s purported birthplace, the John Martin found in the 1790 federal census is likely Amy’s father. Hoping that he might have served with some of his neighbors the rolls were checked against the 1790 Grand Isle census. While some of his neighbors did serve together, none served with a John Martin. Without further information it is not possible to determine if John Martin served with the Green Mountain Boys or with a Vermont regiment in the War, making it uncertain as to whether he claimed a land grant for service or bought property there.

North Hero

Since there is only a single John Martin found in the 1790-1810 Federal Census in North Hero, Grand Isle County, he is very likely Amy Emma’s father. The 1790 census finds his household contained one female of unknown age, but likely his wife, and three males ^[7]. This suggests John and another male, either a parent, brother or son, was born before 1774, while a possible son was born between 1774 and 1790. In a history of North Hero, John Martin was named to two committees, one on 27 March 1792 to oversee with two other committee members the subscription of funds to cut a canal and on 4 March 1793 as one of four committee members to divide the town into school districts ^[8]. He was also named as a one of three selectman to represent the town in 1798. The 1800 census listed five males and six females living in John’s household ^[9]. According to this document, John and his wife were born between 1756 and 1774, living with two assumed sons and an unknown male in the 16- to 25-year-old age range. It also appears they added four young daughters and a previously unknown female in the 10 to 15-year age range by that time. These may be their children or it’s also possible they took on other children, servants or workers or a young married couple with children were living there. The 1810 census has three males and six females in the household ^[10]. Considering previous results this suggests John was born between 1756 and 1766, while his wife was born between 1766 and 1774. Living at home were one teenage son, likely an older son or male relative, and five young daughters, four under 10 years of age. This census suggests they may have lost all but one of the daughters from the 1800 census, while adding an additional four daughters between 1800 and 1810.

Taking all the age classes into account there are several possible scenarios. It is said John was born in 1755 which fits with the eldest male in all three decades born between 1756 and 1766. According to unsourced family trees Lydia I was born in 1763, while John’s assumed wife in the census data was born between 1766 and 1774. An error of three years is not unheard of; however, it begs consideration of whether John’s wife was actually the Lydia identified in family trees or if the family tree date is incorrect. The other eldest male besides John was most likely born around 1775, possibly a brother or a son born from a previous marriage. The next eldest male was born between 1775 and 1784; if born earlier in the timeline more likely another brother, or if closer to 1784, a possible son. The youngest male is found in all three census decades having been born between 1785 and 1790. Either of the two males born later in time could have been his known son, Peter. The census data suggests they may have had as many as nine daughters, one born between 1785 and 1790 that left home before 1800, four born between 1791 and 1800, of which three probably died, and four between 1801 and 1810. Of their known daughters it appears Lydia II may have been the daughter born between 1785 and 1790, Amy the surviving daughter born between 1791 and 1800 and Elizabeth, one of the daughters born between 1800 and 1809. This leaves an additional one son and three daughters unidentified. One of the missing daughters may be found in an 1851 Canadian census record for Peter.

There are no other John Martins found in North Hero in 1820, suggesting he either died or moved away. Unfortunately, a database search on American Ancestors finds 12 John Martins, Martens or Mortons in various locations of Vermont at this time ^[11], making it nearly impossible to identify him securely. He would have been aged 54 to 64 and Lydia I would have been aged 46-54, corresponding to families in Huntington, Chittenden County and Vershire, Orange County. The John from Hunnington had a family consisting of two males under 10 years old, three 10-15, and one 45 and over, as well as one female under 10, one 16-25, one 26-44 and one 45 and over ^[12]. The one in Vershire had one male 45 and over, one female 16-25 and another 45 and over ^[13]. Either one could have been our John and Lydia I, but the family numbers do not easy align with the 1810 census data. In another search five John Martins were found who died between 1820 and 1830 in Vermont, but no record of one in 1827 ^[14]. If he died in 1827, a Lydia I Martin should be found in the 1830 census. A search of Ancestry.com finds a Lydia Martin, aged 70-79, living alone in Charlotte, Chittenden County ^[15]. She would have been born between 1851 and 1860, being at least six years too old for the census age range of John Martin’s wife and three more than the accepted age of Lydia I Allen Martin. If Lydia I didn’t die until 1853, she likely moved in with one of her children; family trees suggest she moved in with her assumed son, Peter, who was living in Upper Canada in 1851. As will be discussed in the next section there also seems to be evidence that John relocated to Upper Canada, solving the mystery of what happened to the family after 1810.

Upper Canada

Evidence for the John Martin family is found in land, marriage, military and census records in the Burford, Blenheim and Townsend areas (Figure 1-2). Unfortunately, there is no direct record trail tying the family together in its entirety, but bits and pieces that are assumed to represent the lives of John and his children, Peter, Lydia “II” (vs. Lydia “I” Allen Martin), Amy and Elizabeth.

Early evidence for John is found in land and marriage records for Oxford County. It appears he was looking for property in Oxford County before 1810, even though he is found in the North Hero census that year. He received a 600-acre grant of lots 4-16 of the Xth concession in Blenheim township in 1808 from then Lt. Governor of Upper Canada, Francis Gore ^[16]. The only other record of a John Martin is as a witness for the wedding of Christopher Hamilton and Frances Rolph of Charlotteville, Norfolk County, officiated by JP James Talbot at Charlotteville on 18 October 1813^[17] . The complete implications of this record are unknown; but may indicate a linkage between John and the Norfolk area.

Siblings Peter “of Burford” and Elizabeth Martin married siblings Anna (1797-1825) and Vincent “Shaw”^[18] (1801-1872). Both Anna and Vincent were born to Michael “Schoff” (1763-1844) and Freelove Culver (1762-1846) ^[19]. Michael and Freelove were married in 1777-78 and came to Upper Canada from New Jersey with her parents^[20] , the Rev. Jabez and Anna Collver. The Presbyterian minister was granted 600 acres of land for himself, 400 acres for each married child and another 200 acres for each unmarried child. As such, Rev. Collver received Lot 1, 12th concession of Windham Township in 1794 ^[21]. Michael’s father, “Friederich Schoff”, emigrated from Germany, settling in Fishkill, Dutchess County, New York. Michael served in the Torrey John Butler’s Rangers^[22] during the Revolution, coming to Townsend in 1796 as a Late Loyalist. He settled Lot 5, Concession 13 east of the Jabez Collver lands. While it not known how the couples met, it may have been at the Reverend’s church services.

The only other early evidence of Peter is in land records. A Peter Martin owned Lot 1 (100 acres) on 30 June 1801 in the south half of Concession No. 1 ^[23]. A Peter Martin of Oakland Township, Gore of Burford received a land grant for service in War of 1812 ^[24]. The first land record suggests Peter preceded his father to Upper Canada; however, we cannot be certain they are the same men. It isn’t until many years later during the first full census of Upper Canada that he is found again in the historical record.

Peter and Annie (Shaw) Martin had 12 children, including: Hiram (1815-1900), Solomon Cogsdell (1817-1852), Louis Emery (1819-___), Samantha Jane (1823-1920), James Knox (1825-1870), Hannah (1827-___), Sara Ann (1829-1885), John (1830-1920), Peter Jr. (1832-1906), Margaret (1833-___), Mary Elizabeth (1838-___) and Caroline Catherine (1842-1900) ^[25]. Their naming their fourth son after James Knox suggests more than a passing relationship.

A 67-year-old Peter Martin (b. ca. 1784) married to a 56-year-old Anna (b. ca. 1795), with six children ages eight to 26 (b. 1825-1844) were found living in Burford in 1851 ^[26]. Also living with him was 56-year-old Mary Martin (b. ca. 1795), and a widowed, 96-year-old Lydia Martin (b. ca. 1755). All were born in the United States (see Chapter 3, Grand Isle for further discussion). When we check the ages against the associated Federal census record we find Peter was the same age as John’s youngest son and the Peter Martin in the 1800 and 1810 North Hero census. However, Anna does not correlate with any of the women listed as Peter’s wife in North Hero. Based on the 1801 Upper Canadian land record and his marriage to Anna Shaw, it seems unlikely that either of the Peter Martins in North Hero were actually John’s son. If three of John’s four daughters born between 1790 and 1800 died and Amy was the only one to survive, Mary Martin does not fit the existing record as a sister either. However, the simplest explanation is either the North Hero census records were wrong, or Amy wasn’t born until 1801 and wasn’t counted until the 1810 census. Finally, while it is tempting to suggest Lydia Martin is Peter’s mother and John’s wife, the 11-year age difference must be reconciled. Perhaps it was a simple mistake due to her advanced age and lack of records. Given all of Peter’s known children born in Canada are related to Zeda Faye Knox by atDNA (see Chapter 1, DNA^[27]), it seems highly likely Peter is John Martin’s son and the Lydia in the census is his mother.

Amy’s assumed sister, Elizabeth ^[28], was born on December 20, 1804 and appears to have also relocated to Ontario, Canada, having married Vincent Shaw and raised a large family. In 1851 the Shaws were located in nearby Townsend, Norfolk County (Figure 1-2), with her name listed as Elizabett, age 48, born around 1804 in Vermont ^[29]. This certainly fits with one of John’s four daughters who was born after 1800. Vincent and Elizabeth Martin Shaw had 14 children. Several were given middle names that seem to recognize family ties, including Levi Allen Shaw (1826-1910), John Martin Shaw (1825-1886) and Alston Knox Shaw (1832-1910), all names of James Knox’s sons.

Sources

1. ↑ Jonathan Martin served under Capt. Frye Bayley at Bennington with Ephraim and Benjamin (pg. 53-54) and 1778-9 under Capt. Simeon Stevens for the defense of frontier on the Connecticut River with Benjamin and Ephraim (pg. 69-70). John Martin served In 1777(?) at Fairlee under Lt. Josiah Brown (pg. 23); 1780 as scout for Lt. Hezekiah Silaway at Moretown (pg. 146); 1780 as scout for Maj. John Barron at Moretown (Bradford) with Ephraim, Ebenezer and Ephraim (pg. 328-9); 1771 under Cpt. Nehemiah Lovewell at Sunderland with Philip and Nathanial (pg. 390-1); 1781 Sunderland under Cpt. James Brookins (pg. 395); 1781 under Cpt. Nehemiah Lovewell at Bennington with Philip and Nathaniel (taken prisoner) (pg. 526-8); 1781 as scout for Maj. John Barron from Moretown (pg. 555-6); and 1781 at Bennington under Cpt. James Brookins with David (pg. 565-6). John Martin from Moretown, Vt. served under George G. Gilmore’s New Hampshire militia at the battle of Bennington (pg. 663-4). Data found in John E. Goodrich, Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783, (Rutland, VT: Tuttle, 1904); Internet Archive (https://archive.org/ : accessed 10 July 2020).
2. ↑ “1790 US census”, database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed 13 July 2020), search on last name “Martin”.
3. ↑ “Vermont Vital Records”, online database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2020), entry for Lydia Martin, born 15 November 1790, Manchester, Vermont to Jonathan and Lydia Martin; citing State of Vermont, Vermont Vital Records through 1870, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.
4. ↑ 1800 US census, Bennington County, Vermont, population schedule, Manchester, enumerated 23 September, p. 205 (stamped), entry for Jonathan Martin; imaged at Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2020); citing NARA microfilm publication M32, roll: 51.
5. ↑ “New Hampshire, Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947”, online database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2020); citing New England Historical Genealogical Society, New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records, Concord, New Hampshire.
6. ↑ Lewis Cass Aldrich, History of Bennington County, VT.: with Illustrations and biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, (Syracuse: D. Mason, 1889), pgs. 361-2; Internet Archive (https://archive.org /details/historyofbenning1889aldr : accessed 1 October 2020).
7. ↑ 1790 US census, Chittenden County, Vermont, population schedule, North Hero, page 163 (penned), John Martin, imaged at Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 August 2019); citing NARA microfilm publication M637, roll 12, image 135.
8. ↑ Marie S. Ladd, “North Hero”, The Vermont Historical Gazetteer: A Magazine Embracing the History of Each Town, Civil, Ecclesiastical, Biographical and Military Vol. 2, by Abby Hemenway and Carrie Page, (Burlington, VT: Miss A.M. Hemenway, 1867), pgs. 563-70; digital book, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/ vermonthistorica02heme/ : accessed 21 July 2020).
9. ↑ 1800 US census, Franklin County, Vermont, population schedule, North Hero, pg. 446, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 January 2020), entry for John Martin; citing NARA microfilm publication M32, Roll: 51, Image: 250.
10. ↑ 1810 US census, Orange County, Vermont, population schedule, North Hero, pg. 342, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 January 2020), entry for John Martin; citing NARA microfilm publication M252, Roll: 64, Image: 636.
11. ↑ “Advanced Search”, online database, American Ancestors (https://www.americanancestors.org/search/database-search? : accessed 28 July 2020), search on “John Martin”, “1819-1820” and “Vermont”
12. ↑ 1820 US census, Chittenden County, Vermont, population schedule, Huntington, pg. 532, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 January 2020), entry for John Martin; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, Roll: 127, image 134
13. ↑ 1820 US census, Orange County, Vermont, population schedule, Vershire, pg. 291, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 January 2020), entry for John Martin; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, Roll: 127, image 264.
14. ↑ “Advanced Search”, online database, American Ancestors (https://www.americanancestors.org/search/database-search? : accessed 28 July 2020), search on “John Martin”, “1820-1830”, “Vermont” and “deaths”.
15. ↑ 1800 US census, Chittenden County, Vermont, population schedule, Charlotte, pg. 332, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 January 2020), entry for Lydia Martin; citing NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 186.
16. ↑ “Land Petitions of Upper Canada, 1763-1865”, online database, Canadiana Heritage (http://heritage. canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c4504/915?r=0&s=5 : accessed 6 August 2020); entry for John Martin, pgs. 3036-3037; citing Public Archives of Canada, “Civil Secretary’s Correspondence, Upper Canada, Upper Canada Sundries: January-June 1808, RG 5, A1, Volume 7, pp.2789-3185”.
17. ↑ Bill Martin, “Early London District Marriages”, online pdf, Bill Martin’s Genealogy Website (http://my.tbaytel.net/bmartin/london_m.htm : accessed 12 August 2020).
18. ↑ Most of Friederich’s children changed their name from “Shoaf” or “Schoff” to Shaw in Upper Canada.
19. ↑ Frances McIntosh (compiler), “Collver/Culver Genealogy”, 1970, unpublished manuscript held at the Newberry Library, online pdf, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/ imageviewer /collections/27361/images/ dvm_GenMono007499-00001 : accessed 5 August 2020), pg. 20-20c.William D. Reid, The Loyalists in Ontario: The Sons and Daughters of the American Loyalists of Upper Canada, (Lambertville, NJ: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1973), online pdf, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/ imageviewer /collections/49231/images/ FLHG_LoyalistsinOntario : accessed 5 August 2020).
20. ↑ E. A. Owen, “Sketch VIII The Father of Norfolk Presbyterianism Jabez Culver”, Pioneer Sketches of Long Point Settlement or Norfolk’s Foundation Builders and Their Family Genealogies, (Toronto: William Briggs, 1898), digital book, The Long Point Settlers (https://sites.google.com/site/longpointsettlers/pioneer-sketches/owen-chapter-8 : accessed 26 September 2020).
21. ↑ “Shaw, Michael”, webpage, The Niagara Settlers (https://sites.google.com/site/niagarasettlers /ontario-pioneers/settlers-s/ontario-pioneers-shackleton-to-skinner : accessed 26 September 2020), Shackleton to Skinner.
22. ↑ “Butler’s Rangers – Overview”, webpage, United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada (http://www.uelac.org/Military/Butlers-Rangers.php : accessed 26 September 2020), Military Units – Loyalist Regiments.
23. ↑ Robert C. Muir, The Early Political and Military History of Burford, pg. 32.
24. ↑ Douglas Reville, History of the County of Brant (Brantford, Ontario: Brant Historical Society, 1920); online pdf, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/historyofcountyo01 reviiala : accessed 10 August 2020), pg. 334 Peter Martin land grant.
25. ↑ SteveMtz7, “Stephan Matz Family Tree Confirmed 02202020”, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/169256851/person/332194812157/facts : accessed 12 august 2020), “Peter Martin”.
26. ↑ 1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Brant County, Canada West (Ontario), personal census, enumeration district 1, north part of Burford Township, entry for Peter Martin; citing Public Archives of Canada, Schedule A, Roll: C_11741; Page: 21, line 21.
27. ↑ Stephan E. Matz, James & Amy (Martin) Knox, Publitas (https://view.publitas.com/p222-11649/a-history-of-james-amy-martin-knox/), 2020.
28. ↑ SteveMtz7, “Stephan Matz Family Tree Confirmed 02202020”, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/169256851/person/332194811687/facts : accessed 12 august 2020), “Elizabeth Martin”.
29. ↑ 1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Brant County, Canada West (Ontario), personal census, enumeration district 25, Norfolk County, entry for Elizabett Shaw; citing Public Archives of Canada, Schedule A, roll C_11741, page: 93, line 9.

• Stephan E. Matz, James & Amy (Martin) Knox, Publitas (https://view.publitas.com/p222-11649/a-history-of-james-amy-martin-knox/), 2020.
• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/9488356/person/-672956687/facts