John Martin (abt. 1749 - 1837)

Husband of Ann (Toy) Martin — married 26 Aug 1792 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Mary Ann (Randall) Martin — married 20 Jul 1812 in St Johns, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 19 Dec 1837 at about age 88 in Field of Mars, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

John Martin has African ancestry.

John Martin was a convict on the First Fleet.

To date, no verified records about the birth of John Martin have been found. His burial record suggests that he was 88 years, when he died in Parramatta on 22 Dec 1837 ^[1], however other records suggest he may have been born circa 1857 ^[2] rather than 1849.

John was a black man who is believed to have fought against patriots in search of his freedom during the American Revolution. ^[3] Around twenty years of age at the time, Martin was young and his skills as a seaman would have been particularly useful to the Loyalist cause.

John was tried and convicted at the Old Bailey on 3 July 1782, for the theft of clothing to the value of 39 shillings ^[4] and sentenced to 7 years transportation to the coast of West Africa.^[5].

On 1 November 1782 he embarked aboard the "Den Keyser" bound for Africa, but he was returned sick to Newgate prison where he remained until he was sent to the Prison Hulk, "Ceres", in 1785, and had his transportation destination changed to New South Wales ^[6].

John left England on 13 May 1787, one of 12 Negroes on the First Fleet, aboard the "Alexander" sailing with 195 male convicts on board of which 31 died during the voyage. He arrived on 26 January 1788 ^[7] and eventually settled at Parramatta, New South Wales.

He received 25 lashes on 30 August 1788 for lighting a fire in the hut he shared with William Davis and John Parker. The other two men were also punished.

He married Ann Toy on 26 August 1792 at Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. Ann was a convict who arrived aboard the "Neptune" in 1790. One of the fortunate woman who had survived the horrendous journey^[8][9], and, possibly due to his newly attained state of marriage, he received a grant of 50 acres at the Northern Boundary Farms on 29 November 1792. In March 1798 he was recorded as the only one of the old settlers remaining at The Ponds, and in 1802 John still held his 50 acres, 26 of them had been cleared, nearly nine were cropped with wheat and six were ready for to be planted with maize. He doesn't seem to have had any children with Ann.

In 1806 his wife Ann passed away at Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia ^[10].

By the time John married Mary Randall in 1812, they already had three children, John, Sophia and Frances^[11], the daughter of convicts John Randall, another negro, who had arrived also aboard the "Alexander" in 1788, and Mary Butler, who had arrived on the "Neptune" in 1790. At some stage John took on the preferred name of Frederick, and it is assumed this was his middle name. On his son, Frederick's Death record he is named as Frederick^[12]. Their other children, Henry, Hannah, Richard, Frederick, Mary, Amelia, Harriett and Nicholas were born between 1813 and 1832. John was not the father of the children born after Hannah.

John held the position of Constable, and also of Pound Keeper in 1820 and in the Census of 1828, he is listed as aged 72, and was pensioned as a Constable and still held 50 acres in the Northern Boundary district, with 40 cleared, 15 of which were cultivated. He owned 3 horses and 20 sheep, and employed a convict laborer.

John Martin died at Field of Mars on 21st December 1837, aged 88, and was buried at St John’s Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. ^[13]

John’s will, dated 17 December 1837 and signed with his mark, described him as a settler of Pennant Hills Road, Field of Mars, New South Wales, Australia. He left his wife Mary one shilling and directed that his farm be divided among his five children, possibly his five sons, as all of his children were living at the time of his death. Isaac Mobbs and Richard Partridge were executors and the estate was valued at under 25 pounds, excluding realty. Probate not granted until 19 October 1841. .

Sources

1. ↑ Parish Burial Registers. Textual records. St. John's Anglican Church Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. Reference Number: REG/COMP/3; Description: Vol 03, Baptisms, 1834-1838; cited in Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Burials, 1790-1986 [database on-line] Name: John Martin Age: 88 Birth Year: abt 1749 Burial Date: 22 Dec 1837 Burial Place: Parramatta, Cumberland, New South Wales, Australia
2. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial no. 75488569 for John Martin (1757–19 Dec 1837): accessed 22 February 2020; citing St. John's Cemetery, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.
3. ↑ Michaela Ann Cameron (2016) John Martin: The Self-Freed Slave St. John’s Cemetery Project; accessed Feb 22 2020
4. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (version 8.0, 22 February 2020); July 1782, trial of JOHN MARTIN (t17820703-5) 421.

   JOHN MARTIN (a negro ) was indicted for stealing two cloth coats, value 20 s. a stuff waistcoat, value 1 s. and a pair of stuff breeches, value 2 s. the property of Stephen Turnbull ; and two cloth coats, value 10 s. two cloth waistcoats, value 5 s. two pair of cloth breeches, value 5 s. one cotton waistcoat, value 1 s. a linen waistcoat, value 1 s. a cotton petticoat, value 1 s. and a cotton gown, value 2 s. the property of John Turnbull, in his dwelling-house , May the 18th .

   (Stephen Turnbull deposed, That he went up to the one pair of stairs room, and found the door wide open, and the prisoner in the room; that he went downstairs, and informed his mother of it; that the prisoner rushed by them in the passage, with a bundle under his arm: he was pursued, and immediately taken. The bundle, containing the clothes mentioned in the indictment, was produced in court, and they were deposed to by the prosecutor.)

   GUILTY of stealing to the value of 39 s.

5. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (version 8.0, 22 February 2020) Old Bailey Proceedings punishment summary, 3rd July 1782 (s17820703-1) John Martin: Transported for 7 Years to the Coast of Africa
6. ↑ Source Required
7. ↑ Convict Records: John Martin: Birth, Occupation & Death Date of Birth: 1755 Occupation: - Date of Death: 21st December, 1837 Age: 82 years Sentenced to 7 years Crime: Stealing clothes Convicted at: Old Bailey Sentence term: 7 years Ship: Alexander Departure date: 1787 Arrival date: 1788 Place of arrival was Port Phillip, New South Wales
8. ↑ New South Wales Australia Marriages: Record 1: Registration number 217/1792 V1792217 3A Groom's Family Name MARTIN Groom's Given Name(s) JOHN Bride's Family Name(s) TOY Bride's Given Name(s) ANN District CB
9. ↑ New South Wales Australia Marriages: Record 2: Registration number 79/1792 V179279 147A Groom's Family Name MARTIN Groom's Given Name(s) JOHN Bride's Family Name(s) TOY Bride's Given Name(s) ANN District CB
10. ↑ New South Wales Australia Deaths: Name: MARTIN ANN Registration number 2028/1806 V18062028 2A
11. ↑ New South Wales Australia Marriages: Registration number 1383/1812 V18121383 3A Groom's Family Name MARTIN Groom's Given Name(s) JOHN Bride's Family Name(s) RANDALL Bride's Given Name(s) MARY District CB
12. ↑ https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-research-nsw.aspx New South Wales Australia Deaths:] Name: MARTIN FREDERICK Registration number 15607/1903 Father's Given Name(s) FREDERICK Mother's Given Name(s) MARY District RYDE
13. ↑ https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search - Death - MARTIN, JOHN - NSW BDM DC 2523/1837 V1837 2523 21 - AGE 88 - CB = St John's Parramatta.

• Parramatta Anglican Cemetery Headstone image:

Children of John and Mary Ann

• New South Wales Australia Births: Name: MARTIN JOHN Registration number 2246/1807 V18072246 1A Father's Given name(s) JOHN Mother's Given name(s) MARY (RANDALL)
• Born Dec 30 1809 Parramatta reg 1812 New South Wales Australia Births: Name: MARTIN SOPHIA Registration number 773/1812 V1812773 148 Father's Given name(s) JOHN Mother's Given name(s) MARY
• New South Wales Australia Births: Name: MARTIN FRANCES Registration number 2767/1811 V18112767 1A Father's Given name(s) JOHN Mother's Given name(s) MARY
• New South Wales Australia Births: Name: MARTIN HENRY Registration number 831/1813 V1813831 148 Father's Given name(s) JOHN Mother's Given name(s) MARY
• New South Wales Australia Births: Name: MARTIN HANNAH Registration number 1067/1815 V18151067 148 Father's Given name(s) JOHN Mother's Given name(s) MARY

Children of Henry Pearce and Mary Ann

• Born July 10 1818 reg 1819 New South Wales Australia Births: Name: MARTIN RICHARD Registration number 1206/1819 V18191206 148 Father's Given name(s) JOHN Mother's Given name(s) MARY
• New South Wales Australia Births: Name: MARTIN FREDERICK Registration number 1370/1821 V18211370 148 Father's Given name(s) JOHN Mother's Given name(s) MARY
• New South Wales Australia Births: Name: MARTEN MARY A Registration number 1833/1822 V18221833 35 Father's Given name(s) JOHN Mother's Given name(s) MARY
• New South Wales Australia Births: Name: MARTIN AMELIA W Registration number 195/1827 V1827195 14 Father's Given name(s) Mother's Given name(s) MARY
• New South Wales Australia Births: Name: MARTEN HARRIETT Registration number 1830/1830 V18301830 35 Father's Given name(s) JOHN Mother's Given name(s) MARY
• New South Wales Australia Births: Name: MARTEN NICHOLAS Registration number 1829/1832 V18321829 35 Father's Given name(s) JOHN Mother's Given name(s) MARY

See also:

• The Afro Australians, The Randall/Martins families and the First Fleet, Sydney 1788 [1]
• Interview with Cassandra Pybus on ABC [2]
• Birth likely match: England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
• NSW BDM Deaths 16264/1891