Slaves of the Martins of Horseshoe Plantation

Date: 1768 to about 1858
Location: Ronda, Wilkes, North Carolina, United States
Surnames/tags: Martin USBH Slavery

Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 John Martin of Caroline, VA (1783) 1.2 Isaac 1728 Will 1798 1.3 1806 Bible: Births to 1821 1.4 John Martin Esq.1756 (Will of 1810) 1.5 Isaac 1789 (1810 - 1858) 2 Martin Cemetery 3 Timeline 4 Slaves 5 Discussion 6 Sources

Introduction

Claymont Hill (Horseshoe Plantation) Expanding upon a pre-existing log cabin, the original structure as it exists today was built in 1870.^[1] The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of Interior National Park Service in September 1985. ^[2] The third known owner of “Claymont Hill” was Capt. Thomas Thurmond. He purchased the property in 1797 and sold it to John Martin in 1805 when he moved to Georgia.^[3] The Martins brought with them from Edgecombe County a number of enslaved people.

John Martin of Caroline, VA (1783)

The John/Isaac Martin Legacy in Wilkes County begins with Isaac Martin (abt.1728-abt.1798) and John Martin Esq. (1756-1810), migrating from Edgecombe before 1805. Prior to that, John Martin (father of Isaac 1728) brought enslaved to North Carolina from Caroline, Virginia. These are covered here: Slaves of John Martin, Virginia. Those enslaved named in John's Will (1783) bequeathed to Isaac are: Item: I give unto son Isaac four negroes

1. James,
2. Anthony,
3. Aggy and
4. Judy with their future increase.

Isaac 1728 Will 1798

These are slaves listed in Isaac Martin's Will in 1798, (because of the family naming conventions using Isaac and John, this Isaac will heretofore be referred to as "Issac 1728", and the other Johns and Isaac's as well, by first name and birth year): 9 men, women and children:

• Jearns(James?) negro man (to go to John Martin (1756-1810) his son)
• Anthony another man (to go to John Martin (1756-1810) his son)
• Lucy a negro girl and her increase (to go to son John Martin (1756-1810))
• Judy and her increase (to go to daughter Fanny (Martin) Green (1765-1840))
• David negro boy (to go to daughter Fanny (Martin) Green (1765-1840))
• Phebe a negro girl and her increase (to go to Fanny (Martin) Green (1765-1840) his dau.)
• Egge(Aggy?) a negro woman and her increase (to Elizabeth (Martin) Bagby (1760-1830))
• Gincy and her increase (to Elizabeth (Martin) Bagby (1760-1830))
• Jacob a negro boy (to Elizabeth (Martin) Bagby (1760-1830))

This Isaac is also covered here: Slaves of Isaac Martin

1806 Bible: Births to 1821

Isaac Martin (1786-1857), son of John Martin Esq. (1756-1810), left a bible, purchased in 1806 by John Martin, which contains the birth records of 23 enslaved, born between 1785? and 1821:

"Black Peoples ages"

1. Negro Sarah was born 26 Sept? 1785? (this is difficult to read)
2. Ben 6th January 1785 (to John, to Issac 1810)
3. Jinny born 13th Aug 1788
4. Amey born 20th Oct 1789 (to John, to Issac 1810)
5. George was born 2nd May 1798
6. Mary was born 26th Sep 1795
7. Sam 5th Apr? 1796
8. David 26 Aug 1796
9. Phillis 6th March 1799
10. Hubbard 10 Nov 1800
11. Peter] 1801
12. Phebe 19 Aug 1801
13. Moses 11th? Dec 1806
14. Mimell? 24th Sep 1820
15. Anthony was born 16th of January 1821 (listed at bottom of page)

(next half of page starting at the top):

1. Negro Lucy was born Jan 1788
2. Judy was born 11 June 1798 (to Issac 1810?)
3. Negro George 5th Aug 1806
4. Jinny 5th Decc 1811?
5. James July 1, 1815
6. Isbel? 8 Jul 1816
7. Negro Frank 19th Dec 1816
8. Lucy 14 Feb 1818
9. Phillis 7th Jan 1819

John Martin Esq.1756 (Will of 1810)

The following enslaved people (20) were listed in John Martin's will in 1810:

To go to Wife Elizabeth (Green) Martin (1757-1844):

• Ann (to then go to Isaac Martin (1789-1858), son, upon Elizabeth's death)
• Phebe (to then go to John Martin (1786-abt.1868), son, upon Elizabeth's death)

To go to daughter Fanney Martin (1777-1853):

• Jinny
• Sarah
• Hubbard
• Moses
• Sina
• Dan'l

To go to son Thomas Martin (1779-):

• big Lucy
• Pheobe
• James
• George
• David
• Iba

To go to son Isaac Martin (1789-1858):

• Amey
• Samuel
• Mary
• Juda
• Peter
• Ben

Isaac 1789 (1810 - 1858)

Isaac Martin (1789-1858) came with his parents to Wilkes, North Carolina in 1805 to work a plantation which they called Horseshoe Plantation on account of the bend in the Yadkin River the land was situated upon. He inherited the plantation along with his mother.

In 1810, he inherited the following slaves from his father, John Martin:

1. Amy
2. Samuel
3. Mary
4. Juda
5. Peter
6. Ben

Dying in 1858, he passed the Horseshoe plantation to son Nathan Green Martin (1819-1863). When Nathan Green Martin enlisted in the confederacy during the civil war and died in 1863, the Horseshoe Plantation was passed along to brother John W. Martin (1817-1878), who had sold the property to a family who then renamed the land "Claymont Hill".

Martin Cemetery

Also known as: Albert L. Hendrix House Claymont Hill, W side of SR 2303 along Ronda-Clingman Rd. Claymont Hill is a stately plantation manor house built in 1870 and overlooking the Yadkin River. The home is a private residence and not open to the public but may be viewed from Clingman Road. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wilkes County, North Carolina, September 12, 1985.

The cemetery is also known as the Martin-Wellborn Cemetery and is on the previously named Horseshoe Plantation, owned by the Martin family from the early 1800's, called so for the bend in the river, and has been known since 1870 as the Claymont Plantation.

It may well be the resting place of both enslavers and enslaved, as there are many unmarked graves, along with several (Amy, George, and Ginny Martin), which have not yet been attributed to plantation owners' family.

Memorial Sources:

Present-day Owner (2012)

www.jmartinfamily.com International Genealogical Index 1993 J. E. Martin's Bible Some Pioneers from Wilkes Co., NC

C. Fairchild surveyed and photographed the cemetery on 12 Apr 2012 with the owner's permission and assistance. Headstone inscriptions and all photos are credited to C. Fairchild.

Timeline

1810 United States Federal Census

• Name Isaac Martin
• Residence Date 6 Aug 1810
• Residence Place Wilkesborough, Wilkes, North Carolina, USA
• Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25 1
• Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15 1
• Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over 1
• Number of Enslaved Persons 2
• Number of Household Members Under 16 1
• Number of Household Members Over 25 1
• Number of Household Members 5

Aug 7 1820 United States Federal Census

• Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 2
• Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 1
• Free White Persons - Females - Under 10 1
• Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25 1
• Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over 1
• Slaves - Males - Under 14 2
• Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25 1
• Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44 2
• Slaves - Males - 45 and over 1
• Slaves - Females - Under 14 4
• Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25 3
• Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44 1
• Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture 8
• Free White Persons - Under 16 3
• Free White Persons - Over 25 2
• Total Free White Persons 6
• Total Slaves 14
• Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other 20

1830 U.S. Federal Census

Name Isaac Martin

• Home in 1830 (City, County, State) Wilkes, North Carolina
• Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14 2
• Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49 1
• Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9 1
• Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14 1
• Free White Persons - Females - 70 thru 79 1
• Slaves - Males - Under 10 3
• Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23 2
• Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35 1
• Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54 2
• Slaves - Males - 55 thru 99 1
• Slaves - Females - Under 10 5
• Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23 3
• Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35 2
• Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54 1
• Free White Persons - Under 20 4
• Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 1
• Total Free White Persons 6
• Total Slaves 20
• Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) 26

24 Aug 1850 United States Federal Census

Name: Isaac Martin

• Age: 61
• Birth Year: abt 1789
• Birthplace: Wilkes
• Home in 1850: Wilkes, North Carolina
• Gender: Male
• Family Number: 752
• Occupation: Farmer
• Value of real estate owned: $5150.
• Household Members: Name Age
• Isaac Martin 61
• John Martin 33 (Farmer/$1500.)
• Green Martin 31 (Nathan Green Martin)

Slaves

Isaac Martin lived at his parents home and plantation called Horseshoe Plantation from 1805 until his death. The following are persons enslaved by Isaac Martin:

In 1810, he inherited the following slaves from his father, John Martin 6 people:

• Amy
• Samuel
• Mary
• Juda
• Peter
• Ben

1810: 2 people

person 1 person 2

1820 14 people

• Slaves - Males - Under 14 2
• Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25 1
• Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44 2
• Slaves - Males - 45 and over 1
• Slaves - Females - Under 14 4
• Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25 3
• Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44 1

1830 20 people

• Slaves - Males - Under 10 3
• Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23 2
• Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35 1
• Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54 2
• Slaves - Males - 55 thru 99 1
• Slaves - Females - Under 10 5
• Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23 3
• Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35 2
• Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54 1
• Total Slaves 20

[6]

1840 ?

• 1850 19 people

• 65 M B
• 55 M B
• 55 F B
• 52 F B
• 49 M B
• 39 F B
• 37 M B
• 36 F B
• 28 F B
• 25 M B
• 21 M B
• 19 M B
• 16 M B
• 13 M B
• 13 M B
• 11 M B
• 11 M B
• 6 M B
• 3 F B

Discussion

Because of inheritance patterns, we can piece together information of the enslaved at Horseshoe plantation due to the additional information found in the family bible of his father's as well as their wills, in this case we have this man's father's and grandfather's will's for comparison. This person represents a 3rd generation slaveholder spanning across two states, Virginia to North Carolina from the early 1700s to the abolishment of slavery.

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claymont_Hill
2. ↑ Claymont Hill, Register of Historic Places https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/WK0186.pdf
3. ↑ https://www.journalpatriot.com/news/claymont-hill-has-been-home-of-several-prominent-families/article_cbe01930-0ca2-11e6-9640-e35732fc081a.html

• Year: 1810; Census Place: Wilkesborough, Wilkes, North Carolina; Roll: 43; Page: 854; *Image: Ncm252_43-0496; FHL Roll: 0337916
• 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Wilkes, North Carolina; Page: 516; NARA Roll: M33_83; Image: 367
• Year: 1830; Census Place: Wilkes, North Carolina; Series: M19; Roll: 125; Page: 399; Family History Library Film: 0018091
• Year: 1810; Census Place: Wilkesborough, Wilkes, North Carolina; Roll: 43; Page: 854; Image: Ncm252_43-0496; FHL Roll: 0337916
• 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Wilkes, North Carolina; Page: 516; NARA Roll: M33_83; Image: 367
• Year: 1830; Census Place: Wilkes, North Carolina; Series: M19; Roll: 125; Page: 399; Family History Library Film: 0018091
• The National Archive in Washington DC; Washington, DC; NARA Microform Publication: M432; Title: Seventh Census Of The United States, 1850; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87250959/isaac-martin
• http://www.jmartinfamily.com/jon/Webtrees/individual.php?pid=I5441&ged=tree1
• https://digital.ncdcr.gov/digital/collection/p15012coll1/id/41119
• 1850 North Carolina United States Federal Census
• 1850 U.S. Federal Census- Slave Schedules The National Archive in Washington DC; Washington, DC; NARA Microform Publication: M432; Title: Seventh Census Of The United States, 1850; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29