Martin Elam (bef. 1635 - 1695)

Born before 5 Apr 1635 in Thurnscoe, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 Mar 1695 after age 59 in Henrico, Virginia

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Biography

Martin Elam was born in Thurnscoe, York, England to Thomas and Mary Elam. He was christened at Thurnscoe on 15 April 1635. ^[1]

Martin’s wife may have been Frances. Her name appears in some land transfers and it’s noted she relinquish dower rights in 1695. A profile for a Frances Perrin (Perrin-55) states she returned to France and married a second time. There are also some questions about the birthplace of Martin. That said, records exist for a marriage to Frances Perrin, daughter of Thomas Perrin and Elizabeth Chalfont, on 1675 in Henrico County, Virginia. Frances was born 2 1650 in Virginia. This sort of eliminates the return to France aspect.

Children of Martin

1. Elizabeth (Elam) Bowman (1644-1739)
2. Frances (Elam) Wilkinson (abt.1681-abt.1746)
3. Martha Elam
4. Mary Elam
5. John Edward Elam Sr. (1677-1761)
6. Martin Elam Jr.

Note he says three daughters in his Will, and does not specify Elizabeth at all.

WILL OF MARTIN ELAM ^[2]

• To my son Martin Elam all land in Bermudy Hundred and privilege to get timber and fueling at flintons, a silver tankard, a great chest that was my uncle's, etc.
• To son John Elam land at Flintons on both sides of the slash and 500 acres at Proctors joining Fowler's line and various items.
• All the rest of land at Proctors to be equally divided between my three daughters.
• To daughter Mary, various silver and items.
• To daughter Frances, silver cup on old Martin's mark and 4 silver spoons, four of them on old Martin's mark, a great brass kettle that was my uncle's, etc.
• To daughter Martha a bed, etc.
• Servants to be equally divided among wife and children when children marry or come of age.
• My two sons to have benefit of own labor at age 17.
• All the rest to loving wife and she to be sole executrix.
  

Witnesses: Marin Elam, John Worsham, Joseph Royal, Richard Ligon,
Will probated 20 November 1695.

Land

1 Apr 1682 - William Byrd, for a valuable consideration, to John Bowman, 133 acres as in deed from Martin Elam to said Bowman, 1 May 1678, which land escheated to his majesty and was granted to Abel Gower and by him assigned to me; wit: Wm Randolph; signed William Byrd ^[3]

Oct 1689 At request of Gilbert Elam, Sr., and Edward and John Bowman in debate over land boundaries, we have set the dividing line between them; signed Wm Glover, John Worsham, Richard Ligon, John Woodson ^[4]

Deed Date: 1 April 1695 Recorded: 1 April 1695 - Henrico Co., VA Abstract: Martin ELAM, Sr. to James EAKINS, Jr., for 3000 lbs tobacco, land on south side James River on north part Flintons Slash, next to James AKIN, SR. and James FORREST, 80 acres. Witnesses: Stephen COCKE, Richard COCKE, Jr. Signed: Martin ELAM Frances, wife of Martin, relinquished her dower right. ^[5]

16 Aug 1722 Court - Will of Edward Bowman presented by Henry Charles Featherstone and Edward Bowman, his executors, and proved by John Bolling, Jr. and Robert Hudson, Sr. and Edward Tanner, three of the witnesses; Maj. William Kennon and Capt. Henry Randolph, security; Edward Stratton, William Ligon, Robert Elam, Edward Haskins to appraise estate ^[6]

Nov 1736 (recorded date) - John Bowman and Robert Bowman presented in court the inventory of Sarah Knibb, taken by John Worsham, Robert Elam, Alexander Marshal, and valued at £209/1/0/¾ ^{[7] [8]}

2 Nov 1724 - Rice Jones granted administration of estate of Edward Bowman, decd. Seth Ward and Michael Turpin, security; Robert Bowman, Robert Hudson, Robert Elam, Edward Stratton to appraise estate (Minute Book 1719-1724, p. 371)

See notes below, there is conflicting data about parents of this person, please do not add parents without proper sources.

CHRISTENING: Christened 4-8-1635, Thurnescoe Parish Church, Yorkshire, England

BIOGRAPHY: -Left England about 1638 for Virginia -Settled in Bermuda Hundred, Henrico Co., VA (no Chesterfield Co., VA). Was a neighbor of Joseph Royall, Sr. & Jr., and Francis Eppes, III. -Received 900 acres on the south side of the James River in Varina Parish, Henrico Co. (now Chesterfield Co.) in 1690 for importing 18 people. -His will was witnessed by Joseph Royall, Jr.

Notes

• At the Elam National Tercentennial, Harvey W. Elam stated that he believed that Martin might have been the son of Robert Elam but he presented no supporting arguments. Norma C Neill, in her book The Elam Family, Quaker Merchants of England and America, reports finding a baptism record for Martin Elam on 3 Apr 1635 at the Thurnscoe Parish Church that shows his parents as Thomas and Mary Shirecliffe Elam of Yorkshire, England. Several other Elam researchers have reported news that a similar baptism record has been found (apparently also by Norma) that suggests that Gilbert Elam, son-in-law of the immigrant Robert Elam, was Martin's brother.
• Earl H. Elam reports that some Elam researchers have found documentation that the parents of Mary Shirecliffe Elam were James and Alice Shirecliffe, also of Thurnscoe.
• Will of Martin Elam (Henrico Will Book 1688-1697, p. 606, dated 7 Mar 1691/2) mentions son Martin, son John, daughter Mary, daughter Frances (who received two silver spoons with "old Robert Elam's mark"), daughter Martha. Wife to be executrix. Wording of the will indicates that none of his children were married at the time, and both sons were under the age of 17. This will was probated 20 Nov 1695. Source: The Elam Family, by Harvey Elam
• Martin's wife Frances remarried after his death to Francis Patram, who is mentioned in the will of Martin Jr. Source: The Elam Family, by Harvey Elam. Earl H. Elam says that Frances' remarriage to Francis Patram is documented in the LDS Microfiche Records "Virginia" (May 1988) page 4,517 -- it shows that Frances Perrin Elam married Francis Patram on 29 Dec 1696 in Henrico VA, and therefore Earl believes that her maiden name was Perrin.

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQHM-Q6J : 5 February 2023), Martin Elam, 1635.
2. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TC-6H2R
3. ↑ (Wills and Deeds, etc. 1677-1692, p. 214)
4. ↑ (Will and Deed Book 1688-1697 p. 87)
5. ↑ Source: Henrico County, VA Deeds 1677-1705 Weisiger
6. ↑ (Minute Book, 1719-1724, p. 196)
7. ↑ (Wills and Deeds 1725-1737 p. 577)
8. ↑ https://liveasfreepeople.com/2017/01/17/bowmans-of-early-virginia/

• Marsh-Westbrook Family KY/OH/GA/AR, Kevin R. Marsh, Ancestry.com