Martin, Stephen Sr

Stephen MARTIN (1798 - 1866) and Sarah CROWLEY (1812 - 1878)

my 3g-grandparents

Stephen MARTIN is my 3g-grandfather. This is confirmed by the fact that several of my DNA close matches are his descendants, through many of his children.

Stephen MARTIN was born about 1798 in SC, probably the son of Reuben and Joanna MARTIN, of Laurens County. There has been a great deal of controversy about his wives and children, since records establishing familial relationships are scarce. It now appears that he had 2 wives, with at least 9 children from each. He moved his family to DeKalb County, GA about 1830, and his will was proved on 21 Mar 1866, so he died shortly before that.

On 5 Jun 1849, the Democratic Party of DeKalb County appointed Stephen MARTIN and his 1st cousin, James BALL, as delegates representing Shallowford. [The Daily Constitutionalist and Republic (Augusta, GA) Saturday, 9 Jun 1849, page 2] As a Democrat, he would have supported states' rights and limited federal government. The party was divided on the issue of slavery, however, Stephen owned 1 slave in 1830 and 9 in 1840. He does not appear on the slave schedule for 1850 or 1860, and his will doesn't mention slaves.

MARTIN Ancestry

Some of the links in this ancestry are based on slim evidence. Census records before 1850 only named the heads of households, and marriage records from SC and GA were brief and scarce. Often the best evidence for family connections comes from wills.

Stephen was born in SC, and there is evidence that he was the son of Reuben and Joanna. Reuben MARTIN was a soldier in the Revolution, and a fair amount is known about him and his family. His parents are a bit harder to find, but [H] and [M] both mention that Henry MARTIN had a son named Reuben, who fought in the Revolution, and that very little was known about him. He is very likely our Reuben. Henry's wife was named Mary Ann, but the claim that she was Mary Ann WHITE is just a guess, probably the weakest link in the diagram. Henry has extensive ancestry going back to Germany, as detailed in [H] and [M]. So once we have established the linkage from Benjamin to Stephen to Reuben to Henry, a large tree opens up.

The ancestry of Joanna (HIGGINS) MARTIN is unknown. She was probably born about 1755 in VA.

Other Stephen MARTINs

The Stephen MARTIN of interest to me is the father of Benjamin S. MARTIN (1843 - 1899), who married Sarah Washington SPRUILL and moved from GA to AR around 1888.

Many researchers have referred to him as Stephen G. or Stephen George MARTIN. (Hence the g in the url of this page. I can't change it without breaking a lot of links!) Others have said that the middle initial was A. The evidence is inconclusive. I don't think our Stephen ever used a middle name or initial.

There was a Stephen H. MARTIN, with a wife named Sarah, but he lived in Marion County, GA. His will, dated 14 Dec 1865, names his children Mathew F, Susanah, and David S, so he is not the right Stephen MARTIN, although this has caused some confusion.

Another Stephen MARTIN applied in 1871 for a pension, as a veteran of the War of 1812, in the South Carolina regiment of Captain Johnson. He was 75 years old, so he would have been born around 1796. However, he was a resident of Lowndes County, in southern Georgia, and besides, I don't believe that our Stephen MARTIN lived until 1871.

In Anderson County, South Carolina, lived another Stephen MARTIN (1815-1876). He is often conflated with the others, although he was born later, and his wife's name was Rosalinda, as seen on their shared monument.

Census Data

Stephen Sr is found in Laurens, SC in the 1820 US Census, apparently with a wife and son. [The comments in brackets are my guesses. They are not part of the census.]

Stephen should be about 22, and Jesse G (see below) was born about 1820, so this could be the right family.

Stephen's mother, Joanna (HIGGINS) MARTIN, died on 3 Mar 1827 in Laurens. His father, Reuben Henry MARTIN, had died on 5 Oct 1812, in Laurens. Stephen's siblings all stayed in Laurens, as far as I know.

About 1830 Stephen and his family moved 140 miles west, to De Kalb County, GA. James MARTIN and S. A. MARTIN, probably sons of Stephen and his 1st wife, were born in SC, about 1826 and 1830, according to later censuses.

The family in 1830 has only one child 10 or over, which is consistent with the family from the 1820 census in Laurens. Otherwise, this is a young couple with 5 boys, 1 girl and 1 female slave. Most of these 6 children would probably have grown up and left the family by 1850.

In 1840, the household has become quite large, with 9 slaves. Again, my guesses are in brackets.

The first wife of Stephen would be in the 40 thru 49 category, and she is absent in 1840. There is a female in 20 thru 29 in 1840, so this must be a second wife. There are 4 boys in the 10 thru 14 category, and some must not have survived to 1859. The daughter 15 thru 19 could be May.

The 1850 Census is the first one to list all names (except slaves). Stephen MARTIN was head of family #60, with 14 people.

Stephen MARTIN was born in South Carolina, about 1798. Sarah is his 2nd wife, born 1812 in Georgia. No slaves are listed here; They were recorded in a separate schedule in 1850, and there were none in any MARTIN households in Shallowford. There are 9 children listed, in decreasing order of age, and these are probably children of Stephen and Sarah. Then James and Mariah are listed, with another child. James MARTIN could be a son of Stephen MARTIN, with Mariah his wife and George his child, Stephen's grandson.

In 1850 Stephen MARTIN owned real estate valued at $1,500. In 1860 it was $1,900, with personal estate $1,300. This would have been a good-sized farm, so Stephen was not a poor farmer. On the other hand, with about 15 children, there wasn't much he could leave to each one.

The 1860 Census had 3 MARTIN households in Cross Keys/Shallowford. Note: Families with P.O. Cross Keys are numbered 1 to 117. Those in Cross Keys (11 pages) are families 1-88, and those in Shallowford (5 pages) are 89-117.

In family 27, I believe S. A. MARTIN in family 27 is Stephen A. MARTIN Jr, and his wife is Sarah CAHELA (see below). They had 2 small children in 1860. Family 113 is James and Mariah, still living with or alongside his parents. James was born in SC, so the 1850 Census must be in error. They now have 4 boys and 2 girls. Family 114 is Stephen and his second wife, Sarah, and Stephen's younger children. The children over 10 were present in the 1850 census. B.S. must be Benjamin, and Nooma is Naomi. Sepha C is Sophia. Margaret can only be Samantha. Maybe a middle name?

In 1870, Sarah MARTIN lived with her 3 youngest children. Sarah was owner of real estate valued at $1,200 and personal estate $800.

Migration to Northern DeKalb County, GA

Stephen MARTIN brought his family from Laurens County, SC 140 miles west, to DeKalb County, GA about 1830, and by 1840 they settled in Shallowford. His many descendants lived in Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Cross Keys and other towns in northern DeKalb County. Since my MARTIN, ADAMS and SPRUILL ancestors lived there, I've made a separate page for DeKalb County with maps and other information.

Land in DeKalb County, GA

Land has always been an important factor in the settlement of Europeans in America. Most land in Europe was owned by wealthy aristocrats, and poor farmers paid tributes to work on land they didn't own. In the American colonies and states, land was available to anyone who would promise to improve or cultivate it. This was usually restricted to white males, and involved the constant pressure on Indians to move farther and farther west.

The forced removal of Indians culminated in the Trail of Tears, roughly 1830-50. President Andrew Jackson was a leader of the Indian Removal Program, and also founder of the Democratic Party in 1828. Stephen MARTIN was a delegate of the Democratic Party, representing Shallowford, in 1849, so presumably he was a supporter of Jackson and Indian Removal.

The property tax records for 1848 and 1849 and 1850 indicate that Stephen MARTIN owned land in Shallowford, District 524. The way the "districts" are numbered is very confusing.

In 1848, Stephen and Reuben MARTIN are in the tax list for Shallowford. Reuben had no property, and paid the standard 39¢ tax. Stephen had two properties, 405 acres each, classified as Oak and Hickory Upland, Type 3, in District 18, in Sections 348 and 366. He paid $1.97 in tax. Henry H and Jesse G MARTIN were on the tax list in Cross Keys, and each paid the standard 39¢ tax in 1848.

The 1849 tax list again had Henry H and Jesse G MARTIN in Cross Keys, paying the 39¢ tax. Stephen was in Shallowford, Dist. 18, with 405 Acres in Sec 348 and 350, and 405 acres in Sec 366 and 367. He paid tax $1.90. Reuben MARTIN doesn't appear in Cross Keys of Shallowford in 1849, but there was a Reubin MARTIN in Atlanta District, paying the 39¢ tax.

In 1850 Jesse G MARTIN was still in Cross KEYS, paying the 39¢ tax. Henry was absent. Stephen MARTIN still had 405 acres in Shallowford, District 18, Section 378 and 366, and paid tax $1.97. However, Reuben MARTIN was now owner of the 405 acres in Sections 357 (350?) and 348, and paid tax $0.39. This seems to show that Reuben was Stephen's eldest son. Perhaps Reuben paid low tax because he had only recently acquired the property.

The maps on the DeKalb County page show sections 366 and 367 on the south bank of the Chattahoochee River, at the northern tip of then DeKalb County, after 1853 part of Fulton County. Sections 348 and 350 were farther south, about 4 miles north of Cross Keys. Section 367 appears to be in the same location as "Martins Ferry" in the early 1830s. Maybe Stephen tried running a ferry?

From 1805 to 1833, land taken from Indian tribes was distributed to white settlers by the Georgia Land Lotteries. Many of the lots awarded in 1805, 1807 and 1821 were 202.5 acres, so these may have been origins of the 405-acre lots owned by Stephen MARTIN. I have not found any record of the MARTINs as lottery contestants.

The 1850 Ag schedule has Stephen MARTIN in Shallowford, with 200 acres: 100 acres improved, 100 acres unimproved, valued at $1,500. This agrees with the real estate value stated in the census (above), except the acreage is less. Stephen had livestock valued at $415, including: 5 horses, 4 milk cows, 6 other cattle, 5 sheep, 40 swine. He also had 70 bushels of wheat, 850 bushels of Indian corn, and 200 bushels of oats. This was a good-sized farm for one man to handle, with 1850 technology, but fortunately, Stephen had several sons to help with the work.

Part of Stephen MARTIN's estate consisted of a 75-acre plot of land in DeKalb County, adjoining the properties of G. L. HUMPHRIES and Thomas ADAMS.

Stephen's will (below), written in 1866, mentions a "lot of land # 348 and half of lot #347 making three hundreed acres in the 18th Distirct of DeKalb County about 100 acres of which are cleared and in cultivation".

Will and Estate of Stephen MARTIN

Stephen MARTIN wrote his will on 21 Mar 1866. Some researchers have said that he died on 24 Sep 1866, but I haven't seen evidence of this. He must have died well before 8 Oct 1867, when the newspaper article above appeared.

In his will, Stephen mentioned his wife, Sarah, and her 8 children by name. He didn't mention his children by his first wife, some of whom were with him in the 1850 US Census (above).

Wives of Stephen MARTIN

The Stephen Martin Cemetery has "3 Rock Box Tombs with No Tops," for Stephen and his 2 wives. Any inscriptions have been lost to time. The wife named in his will and in later censuses was named Sarah.

The approximate birth dates of Stephen's wives, from the census records:

1820 Census: 1795 to 1804
1830 Census: 1801 to 1810
1840 Census: 1811 to 1820
1850 Census: 1812
1860 Census: 1812
1870 Census: 1812

Of course, census records are sometimes wrong. However, the consistency of the 1850, 1860 and 1870 censuses, which all say she was Sarah, born in GA, about 1812, gives some confidence. If she was born about 1812, she could not have been Stephen's wife in 1820. So he had at least 2 wives. It seems likely the the wife in 1830 was the same as the one in 1820. So the 1st wife was born roughly 1801 to 1804, and died or left the family between 1835 and 1840.

In his will, written 21 Mar 1866, Stephen MARTIN Sr referred to "My beloved wife Sarah with whom I have lived in the strictest of quiet for 24 years." This indicates that Stephen and Sarah were married in 1841-2. His will refers to Sarah's 8 children: Mary J, Martha, Benjamin S, Naomi, Sophie C, Margaret, Nancy T, & William S. Any data on their birth dates will provide more clues. Stephen's will does not mention children from his previous marriage, who must have already received their inheritance.

Fanny GARRETT, 1st wife

The research community has wide disagreement on this family. Many of them claim that Stephen was first married to Frances "Fanny" Elizabeth GARRETT, around 1820, and that she died, in 1840 or 1842 or 1847, leaving behind a large family. Some say that Fanny GARRETT was born about 1808, too young to have married and had a child in 1820.

Fanny GARRETT is said to be the daughter of Jesse GARRETT (1766-1853). The will of Jesse GARRETT mentions his daughter, Fanny MARTIN, deceased. The date when the will was recorded is not known, but it must have been before it was proved, on 3 Oct 1853. Also from Georgia Marriages, we have:

I thought at first that this must be the same Fanny GARRETT, but she is married to Henry H. MARTIN, not Stephen. This could be Stephen's brother Henry; there were several Henry MARTINs. Also, Stephen must have married his 1st wife about 1820, not 1843.

On the other hand, the eldest child of Stephen MARTIN and his 1st wife was Jesse G. MARTIN, and some have claimed that the G is for Garrett. If true, this lends some support to the possibility that the 1st wife was Fanny GARRETT.

The estate of Jesse GARRETT was large, and took more than 13 years to fully settle. The associated papers include the original will, and a record of the distribution of goods and payments made, including the 9 children of his deceased daughter Fanny MARTIN, on 5 Jul 1859. Four of the children's names match up pretty well with Stephen MARTIN's children in the 1850 US Census (above). The others must have been living on their own by 1850, or appeared with other names. The children are discussed in sections below. I think this establishes Fanny GARRETT as the 1st wife of Stephen, and mother of his 1st 9 children.

As listed in the estate papers of Jesse GARRETT, the 9 children of Fanny (GARRETT) MARTIN were (probably not in order): Rubin MARTIN, Henry MARTIN, Jas MARTIN, Jesse MARTIN, Elizabeth ABERNATHY, Tryphenia MARTIN, May REDLIN, Stephen A MARTIN, and Geo MARTIN.

Sarah CROWLEY, 2nd wife

Two key pieces of evidence are the death records of Nancy (MARTIN) ADAMS and Margaret (MARTIN) CREEL. Their parents are Stephen MARTIN, born in SC, and Sarah CROWLY, born in GA.

Based on this data, I conclude that Stephen MARTIN Sr's 2nd wife, who he married between 1835 and 1840, was Sarah CROWLEY, born about 1812, in GA.

A few MARTIN researchers have claimed that her parents were James CROWLEY and Dorcas SMITH. They had 16 children. But James CROWLEY wrote his will in 1828, naming his surviving 10 children, and none seem to match Sarah.

The claim that Stephen's wife Sarah was related to James CROWLEY is bolstered by DNA evidence. Several of my close DNA matches trace their ancestry to James CROWLEY and Dorcas SMITH, through their known children. See the James CROWLEY page.

The record above shows that Sarah E. MARTIN died on 9 Sep 1887 in DeKalb County, GA. If this is our Sarah MARTIN, why was it administered by Robert O. PHILLIPS, instead of one of her children?

Several researchers have Sarah's death on 16 Jul 1878. I have not seen any evidence of this. She is said to be buried in the Stephen Martin Cemetery, but it seems that all inscriptions that might have been there are lost. At least we know that she appeared in the 1870 US Census, and I have not found her in any later records.

Children of Stephen MARTIN Sr

We have several partial lists of Stephen MARTIN's children. Some used middle names or nicknames, so matching them up is nontrivial.

• As listed in the estate papers of Jesse GARRETT, the 9 children of Fanny (GARRETT) MARTIN as of 1859 were (probably not in order): Rubin MARTIN, Henry MARTIN, Jas MARTIN, Jesse MARTIN, Elizabeth ABERNATHY, Tryphenia MARTIN, May REDLIN, Stephen A MARTIN, and Geo MARTIN.

• In the 1850 US Census for Shallowford, the children seem to be: James (1825), Parthena (1832), George (1833), Mary (1835), Jane (1840), Martha (1841), Benjamin (1842), Naomi (1846), Sophia (1847), Samantha (Aug 1849).

• In the 1860 US Census for Shallowford, the children seem to be: James (1826), Martha (1842), B S (1843), Nooma (1845), Sepha C (1847), Margaret (1849), Nancy (1851), Wm S (1853).

• Stephen's 1866 will lists the 8 children of Sarah as: Mary J, Martha, Benjamin S, Naomi, Sophie C, Margaret, Nancy T, and William S.

The younger children are the easiest to match up, so I'll start there. William S (1853) and Nancy T (1851) are the youngest. Margaret (Aug 1849) was called Samantha as a baby. Then Sophia C (1847) and Naomi (1845-6) and Benjamin S (1842-3) and Martha (1841-2).

The eldest child of Sarah was Mary J in Stephen's will, and she must be Jane (1840) from the 1850 census. There is a 5-year gap before the next child in the 1850 census, Mary (1835), the youngest child of Fanny.

So the youngest child of Fanny is Mary (1835), who must be May REDLIN in Jesse GARRETT's estate papers. Next are George (1833), Parthena (1832) and James (1825) who match up with Geo, Tryphenia and Jas in the estate papers.

Still unaccounted for, from the estate papers, are Rubin, Henry, Jesse, Elizabeth and Stephen A. These can be found in other census records, not connected to Stephen Sr. I'll give details about each, below.

For brevity: Dunwoody and Cross Keys were in DeKalb County, GA. Shallowford was in DeKalb until it became part if Fulton County, formed in 1853. Cross Keys and Shallowford don't appear on modern maps. See the DeKalb County page.

1 Stephen MARTIN Sr b: 1798 in Laurens, SC, d: 1866 in DeKalb, GA (will written 21 Mar 1866)

+ Fanny GARRETT b: 1801 in Laurens, SC, m: 1820 in Laurens, SC, d: bet. 1835-40 in DeKalb, GA
......2 Reuben MARTIN b: 1819 in Laurens, SC
...... + 1st wife m: bef. 1840, d: bef. Jul 1845
...... + Elizabeth b: 1828 in GA, m: 17 Jul 1845 in DeKalb, GA
......2 Jesse G MARTIN b: 1820 in SC, d: aft. 1880 in AR
...... + Elizabeth Martha BAKER b: abt. 1821 in SC, m: abt. 1839 in GA, d: aft. 1880
......2 Henry H. MARTIN b: 1823 in SC, d: 03 Sep 1871 in Cleburne, AL
...... + Mary Jane EDWARDS b: abt. 1826 in GA, m: 21 Apr 1843 in DeKalb, GA, d: aft. 1910
......2 James MARTIN b: 1825 in SC, d: 07 May 1864 in Fort Delaware, DE
...... + Mariah CARTER b: 1827 in GA, m: 12 Aug 1846 in DeKalb, GA, d: aft. 1870
......2 Elizabeth J. MARTIN b: 19 Dec 1825 in SC, d: 20 Nov 1900 in Fulton, GA
...... + Thomas ABERNATHY b: 01 Oct 1819 in SC, m: 11 Oct 1849 in DeKalb, GA, d: 13 Oct 1886 in Fulton, GA
......2 Stephen A MARTIN b: 1830 in GA
...... + Sarah CAHELA b: 1834 in GA, m: 15 Oct 1854 in DeKalb, GA
......2 Tryphena Lisena MARTIN b: 26 Jun 1832 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, d: 19 Mar 1898 in Menlo, Chatooga, GA
...... + Davis Caleb WADE b: 15 Oct 1812 in Greenville, Greenville, SC, m: 05 Sep 1853 in DeKalb, GA, d: 14 Nov 1897 in Menlo, Chatooga, GA
......2 George A MARTIN b: 13 Mar 1833 in DeKalb, GA, d: 12 Oct 1909 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA
...... + Rhoda Caroline ABERNATHY b: 10 Feb 1832 in GA, m: 26 Oct 1854 in Fulton, GA, d: 10 May 1891 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA
......2 Mary or May MARTIN b: 1835 in DeKalb, GA, d: 1930
...... + REDLIN

+ Sarah CROWLEY b: 12 Jul 1812 in GA, m: bet. 1835-40 in Dekalb, GA, d: 16 Jul 1878 in Shallowford
......2 Mary Sarah Jane MARTIN b: 03 Jan 1841 in DeKalb, GA, d: 03 Aug 1888 in Fulton, GA
...... + Samuel Isaac BURDETT b: 27 Oct 1838 in DeKalb, GA, m: 10 Mar 1859 in DeKalb, GA, d: 22 May 1922 in Fulton, GA
......2 Benjamin Stephen MARTIN b: 25 Apr 1843 in DeKalb, GA, d: 12 Aug 1899 in Reveille Valley, Logan, AR
...... + Sarah Washington SPRUILL b: 14 Jan 1843 in DeKalb, m: 18 Oct 1863 in DeKalb, d: 22 Jan 1911 in Magazine, Logan, AR
......2 Naomi Ann MARTIN b: 19 Nov 1844 in Dunwoody, d: 06 Jan 1914 in Milton, GA
...... + Thomas Franklin SPRUILL b: 2 May 1846 in Dunwoody, m: 15 Jul 1866 in Dunwoody, d: 14 Nov 1920 in Alpharetta, Milton, GA
......2 Sophia Caroline MARTIN b: 06 Jan 1847 in Shallowford, d: 19 Aug 1905 in Dunwoody
...... + Joseph Tillman SPRUILL b: 22 May 1847 in Cross Keys, m: Abt. 1870 in DeKalb, GA, d: 18 Apr 1931 in Shallowford
......2 Margaret Samantha MARTIN b: 17 Aug 1849 in Cross Keys, d: 25 Oct 1928 in Doraville, DeKalb, GA
...... + Jordan John Hensley CREEL b: 15 Aug 1857 in Randolph, AL, m: 1878 in GA, d: 03 Mar 1934 in DeKalb, GA
......2 Nancy Jane Thomas MARTIN b: 12 Mar 1851 in Cross Keys, d: 04 Jul 1925 in DeKalb, GA
...... + Francis Marion ADAMS b: 12 Feb 1850 in DeKalb, GA, m: 29 Oct 1874 in DeKalb, GA, d: 27 Mar 1920 in Dunwoody
......2 William Samuel MARTIN b: 15 May 1853 in Cross Keys, d: 25 Feb 1907
...... + Mary Emmaline REED b: 23 Jul 1848 in GA, m: 13 Oct 1870 in Fulton, GA, d: 08 Apr 1922 in Dunwoody

Sections below cover each child of Stephen MARTIN

Reuben MARTIN was born about 1819 in SC, and probably moved with is parents and siblings, to DeKalb County, GA about 1830. He was mentioned in Jesse GARRETT's will as a son of Fanny (GARRETT) MARTIN. The name Reuben is a common one in this extended family, so he shared the name with several cousins and an uncle, and these can be hard to separate.

He married by 1840, and appeared with his wife in the 1840 US Census. They lived in District 524, DeKalb County, GA, the same district where Stephen MARTIN Sr and most of his other sons lived. Reuben and his wife had no children in 1840.

His 1st wife probably died or left, and Reuben remarried on 7 or 17 Jul 1845, in DeKalb County, to Elizabeth C. CORLEY.

By 1850 Reuben and Elizabeth had a family of 7 in Carroll County, GA, a few miles SW of DeKalb. The first 1 or 2 children must have been from the 1st wife. If Elizabeth was 19 in 1850, she was about 14 when married, and about 16 when she had her daughter Malvina.

Before 1859, the family moved to Morgan County, AL, where they had one more child. Rubin had been a poor farmer in GA, and was a day laborer in AL.

Reuben's brothers Jesse and Henry also removed to AL in the 1850s.

Jesse G. MARTIN was born about 1819-22, in SC, based on census records. His birth was probably in Laurens County, SC, as the 1820 US Census for Laurens has Stephen MARTIN, with his first wife, and a male under 10, which is probably Jesse. Some have said the his middle name was Garrett. As mentioned above, this would support the theory that his mother was Fanny GARRETT.

His wife, Elizabeth, was born about 1821, in SC. She is said to have been Elizabeth Martha BAKER.

They lived in Cross Keys, DeKalb County, Georgia, in 1850, with 7 children. About 1852, the family moved to Cherokee, AL, where they had 5 more children. Between 1864 and 1870 they moved again, to AR. I don't know when or where they died, but Jesse and Elizabeth both appeared in the 1880 US Census, and I have not seen them in any later records.

The only direct evidence that Jesse was the son of Stephen MARTIN is that Jesse GARRETT's estate papers listed a Jesse MARTIN as a son of Fanny MARTIN. Jesse G. MARTIN and family appeared in Cross Keys in the 1850 US Census (below), and they were listed next to Henry H. MARTIN and family. So it is likely that Jesse and Henry were related, and being 3 years apart, probably brothers. The 1830 and 1840 censuses indicate that Stephen MARTIN had sons about the age that Jesse and Henry would have been. Also, most of the census records tell us that Jesse and Henry were both born in SC.

In 1850, Jesse G. MARTIN was a Farmer, with real estate valued at $1,000. Jesse and Elizabeth had 7 children in a 9-year period. Jesse G. MARTIN also appeared in the property tax lists for DeKalb County, 1848, 1849 and 1850, although he had no property to be taxed.

The family moved to Alabama, between 1851 and 1853, judging by the birth places in the 1860 Census.

In 1860, Jesse had real estate valued at $200, and personal estate $300. The twins in 1850 were Elizabeth and Sarah, with younger sister Nancy, but in 1860 the twins were Elizabeth and Nancy, and Sarah is missing. The 1850 Census image is very hard to read, and that may explain it.

Jesse MARTIN was an election manager in Precinct 1, Cherokee County, AL, 1860.

In 1870 the family had moved to Monroe County, in east central Arkansas. Jesse had a personal estate valued at $125, and no real estate. If the birthplaces are correct, it looks like they moved back to GA briefly, around 1864.

The 1880 Census has the family in Phillips County, AR. I suspect that Infnia E (25 in 1880), Louisiana (16 in 1870) and Lerozara (7 in 1860) may all be the same person. James W. E. MARTIN also had a family of 3 as boarders: Jack (40), Mary Ann (20) and Dick (8/12) LEWIS.

1 Jesse G. MARTIN b: 1820 in SC, d: aft. 1880
+ Elizabeth Martha BAKER b: abt. 1821 in SC, m: abt. 1839 in GA, d: aft. 1880
......2 Frances Elizabeth MARTIN b: 07 Oct 1840 in Cross Keys, De Kalb, GA, d: 30 Jan 1918 in Calhoun, AL
...... + Wiley Jesse GARRETT b: 22 Jul 1844 in Chattooga, GA, d: 05 May 1913 in Piedmont, Calhoun, AL
......2 Hasting Pinckney MARTIN b: 1842 in Cross Keys, De Kalb, GA, d: 06 Jul 1863 in Jackson, MS
......2 Elizabeth Ely MARTIN b: 30 Jan 1844 in Cross Keys, De Kalb, GA, d: 17 Oct 1930 in Dodd City, Fannin, TX
...... + William Henry HERRIAGE b: 17 May 1836 in GA, m: 29 Nov 1864 in Polk, GA, d: 28 Mar 1905 in Fannin, TX
......2 Sarah MARTIN b: 30 Jan 1844 in Cross Keys, De Kalb, GA, d: 1856 in AL
......2 Nancy MARTIN b: 1846 in Cross Keys, De Kalb, GA
......2 James W. Ebenezer MARTIN b: 1847 in Cross Keys, De Kalb, GA
......2 Triphenia E. MARTIN b: 1849 in Cross Keys, De Kalb, GA
...... + Marlin DRAKE b: 1850, m: 07 Jun 1881 in Phillips, AR
......2 Jesse G. L. MARTIN b: 1851 in Cross Keys, De Kalb, GA
...... + Nancy GAINES b: 1847, m: 16 Dec 1876 in Phillips, AR
......2 Louisiana MARTIN b: 1853 in Cherokee, AL
......2 Peter W. MARTIN b: 1857 in Cherokee, AL
......2 Isaac Z. MARTIN b: 1859 in Cherokee, AL
......2 Stephen A. MARTIN b: 1861 in Cherokee, AL
......2 Marion C. MARTIN b: 1864 in Cherokee, AL

Hasting/Haston/Hastain Pinckney MARTIN was a Private in the 23rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D. He enlisted on 4 Sep 1861 or 62, in Calhoun County, AL. He was admitted to the 1st Mississippi CSA Hospital at Jackson, MS on 29 Apr 1863, suffering from "Bronchitis Chron-Scabies" and died on 6 Jul 1863.

Henry H. MARTIN was born about 1823, in SC. He only appeared in 3 censuses, and the records are inconsistent. The 1850 US Census says he was 27, hence born about 1823, in SC. The 1860 US Census says he was 36, hence born about 1824, in GA. The 1870 US Census says he was 56, hence born about 1814, in GA. The latter must be a mistake. We know that Stephen MARTIN was in SC until 1831, so if Henry was Stephen's son, he was born in SC, not GA. Henry MARTIN died on 3 Sep 1871, probably in Cleburne County, AL.

As with Jesse, there is little or no direct evidence that Henry is the son of Stephen MARTIN.

Some have said that the middle name was Hitt, which supports the claim that his great-grandmother was Mary Ann WHITE, which was spelled HITT in Germany.

Georgia Marriage Records indicate that Henry H. MARTIN and Mary Jane EDWARDS were married in De Kalb County on 2 Apr 1843. Mary Jane was born about 1826 in GA, and was still living in 1910, in Cleburne County, AL. She was summoned, but failed to appear before the State Board of Pension Examiners on 4 Oct 1913.

In 1850, Henry H. MARTIN was a farmer, but he owned no real estate. This family is listed next to the Jesse G. MARTIN family (above), so they were probably neighbors, or both lived on Jesse's farm. Jesse and Henry were undoubtedly related, which strengthens the argument that they were sons of Stephen MARTIN. Again, this image is hard to read, so that data is suspect.

Henry H. MARTIN appeared in the 1848 and 1849 property tax lists for DeKalb County, along with Jesse, although he had no property to be taxed.

In 1855 there is a Henry H. MARTIN on the property tax list for Oak Grove, Fulton, GA. He doesn't seem to have any land, but has personal property valued at $160, and 2 "Poor School Children." In 1857 he appears again on the property tax list for Oak Grove, still with no real estate, but with personal property valued at $175, and with 3 children between 8 and 16. He didn't pay any property tax in 1855 or 1857, but it seems that everyone paid some kind of 25 cent tax each time. If this is our Henry, then the 1860 Census is incorrect in regard to Sarah's birthplace.

In 1860 the family has moved to Alabama. Judging by the birthplaces, the move took place between 1852 and 1854. Recall that Jesse and family (above) had also moved to Alabama between 1851 and 1853. So they might have made the move together, although they settled in different counties. This is clearly the same family as the one in Cross Keys, 1850. H H is Henry H, and Jane is Mary Jane. Elizabeth must be Mary A E. Henry is a Farmer, with real estate valued at $500, and personal estate $150.

The H H MARTIN family is listed immediately after the Strickland MARTIN family. Strickland is 35, and his wife Nancy A is 29, and they have 6 children. This might be another son of Stephen MARTIN. That would fill in some of the unknowns in the 1830 and 1840 censuses for Stephen MARTIN.

Also, on the same page, are two EDWARDS families, undoubtedly related to Mary Jane (EDWARDS) MARTIN. But all of them were born in Georgia, even the 4-month-old, so these EDWARDS families must have made the journey to Alabama very recently.

According to his pension application, Henry enlisted in 1862, and served as a Private in Capt Park's Co (Local Defense Troops) AND Capt Sowell's Detachment, Infantry AND Capt Spencer's Co, Infantry AND Sullivan County Reserves (Local Defense Troops) AND Capt Tackitt's Co, Infantry. His sons John and William also enlisted in 1862.

This family in Cleburne County, 1870 doesn't match up exactly. If it's the right family, there are some mistakes. It says John and Sarah had attended school in the past year, and the others cannot write.

Mary Jane applied for Henry's Civil War Pension in 1899. This tells us that Henry MARTIN died on 3 Sep 1871. The pension was initially denied on 4 Oct 1913 because Henry MARTIN was not found on the roll of the 14th Battalion.

In 1900 Mary Jane and Mary Ann Elizabeth are still in Lost River. Mary Jane had 9 children, with 6 still living in 1900. They live on a farm which Mary Jane owns, free of mortgage, and they are both "Capitalists".

In 1910 Mary and her daughter have a home at Bowdon & Tallapoosa which Mary owns, free of mortgage. Neither is employed, and both are still listed as illiterate.

1 Henry H. MARTIN b: 1823 in SC, d: 3 Sep 1871
+ Mary Jane EDWARDS b: 1826 in GA, m: 21 Apr 1843 in DeKalb, GA, d: aft. 1910
......2 John H. MARTIN b: 1844 in DeKalb, GA
......2 William J. MARTIN b: 1846 in DeKalb, GA
......2 Mary Ann Elizabeth MARTIN b: 1848 in DeKalb, GA, d: aft. 1910
......2 Susan MARTIN b: 1850 in GA
......2 Thomas MARTIN b: 1852 in GA
......2 Sarah MARTIN b: 1854 in AL

Elizabeth J. MARTIN was born 19 Dec 1825, in SC, and died 20 Nov 1900 in Sandy Springs, age 74. She married on 11 Oct 1849 in DeKalb County, GA, to Thomas ABERNATHY, born 1 Oct 1819 in SC, died 13 Oct 1886, in Sandy Springs, age 67.

Their gravestones in Cross Roads Primitive Baptist Cemetery, Sandy Springs, Fulton County, GA are engraved with the dates listed above.

Elizabeth was 23 and Thomas was 30 when they married. They lived in Sandy Springs/Oak Grove and had 10 children.

James MARTIN was born about 1825-6, in SC. He married Mariah CARTER on 12 Aug 1846 in De Kalb County, GA.

The family appeared with his parents in the 1850 Census (above), in Shallowford, DeKalb, GA. James (25), Mariah (24) and George (3) are listed. This makes James the 1st with evidence linking him to Stephen and Sarah as one of their possible children. The evidence for Jesse and Henry (above) is circumstantial.

In 1860 the family was still living with or near the Stephen MARTIN family in Shallowford, DeKalb, GA. They had 6 children. The census appears above, but I repeat it here, for clarity.

Family 113 is James and Mariah, still living with or alongside his parents. James was born in SC, so the 1850 Census must be in error. They now have 4 boys and 2 girls.

There was a James MARTIN who served in the 38th Georgia Infantry, Company A, alongside Benjamin S. MARTIN. Of course there were many James MARTINs, but this might explain why I have not found any record of him after the war.

The 1870 US Census has Mariah and children in Fulton County. No township or district is indicated. Her son George is listed first, as if he is the head-of-household. The census taker was Henry MARTIN, possibly James' brother. Stephen (20) and William (12) are not present.

1 James MARTIN b: 1825 in SC, d: 07 May 1864 in Fort Delaware, DE
+ Mariah CARTER b: 1827 in GA, m: 12 Aug 1846 in De Kalb, GA, d: aft. 1870
......2 George Washington MARTIN b: 24 Mar 1848 in DeKalb, GA, d: 18 May 1927 in Suwanee, Gwinnett, GA
...... + Rachel Jane CHARLES b: 08 Mar 1844 in Hall, GA, d: 12 May 1922 in Buford, Gwinnett, GA
......2 Stephen M. MARTIN b: 1850 in De Kalb, GA
......2 James K. MARTIN b: 1853 in GA
......2 Nancy Elizabeth "Bettie" MARTIN b: 11 Jun 1856 in GA, d: 01 Feb 1946 in OK
...... + John Alexander MCINTOSH b: 12 Feb 1852 in NC, m: 17 Sep 1874 in Itawamba, MS, d: 14 Dec 1888
......2 Mary F. MARTIN b: 1857 in De Kalb, GA
......2 William R. MARTIN b: 1858 in GA
......2 Dicey MARTIN b: 1862 in GA

Stephen A. MARTIN was born about 1830 in SC. He married on 15 Oct 1854 in DeKalb County, to Sarah CAHELA/CAHILA, born about 1834, in GA.

In 1859 there was a Stephen A. MARTIN on the property tax list in Fulton County, GA. He had no property to be taxed, and paid the 25 cent tax that all heads of household paid.

Tryphena MARTIN was born about 1831-2 in GA. She appeared in the household of Stephen and Sarah MARTIN, in the 1850 Census for Shallowford, DeKalb, GA. Her name has been transcribed as Parthena. (I've seen several records, and the name is not spelled the same way twice! I suspect that she was named after Tryphena of Rome, who was mentioned in the Bible, so I'll use that spelling.)

The Georgia Marriages archive has a record of the marriage of Tryphena MARTIN and Davis WADE on 14 Feb 1856, in DeKalb County, GA.

Tryphena joined a large family. The boys of age 6-22 are probably sons of Davis WADE by a previous marriage. The 3 youngest children must Tryphena's. Davis WADE was a farmer. In 1860 he had real estate valued at $800, and personal estate $300.

Davis and Tryphena had 12 more children. Davis Caleb WADE must be related to at least half of Georgia by now!

1 Tryphena Lisena MARTIN b: 26 Jun 1832 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, d: 19 Mar 1898 in Menlo, Chatooga, GA
+ Davis Caleb WADE b: 15 Oct 1812 in Greenville, Greenville, SC, m: 05 Sep 1853 in De Kalb, GA, d: 14 Nov 1897 in Menlo, Chatooga, GA
......2 Diciann Sarah Frances "Dicey" WADE b: 06 Dec 1856 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, d: 09 Feb 1931 in Dunwoody, Fulton, GA
...... + George Washington LORD b: 01 Jul 1852 in Madison, GA, m: May 1875 in Fulton, GA, d: 03 Feb 1925 in De Kalb, GA
......2 Jane Martha WADE b: 06 Dec 1858 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, d: 04 Jan 1927 in Cherokee, AL
...... + John Jackson SENTELL b: 1855 in SC, m: 19 Oct 1876 in Fulton, GA
......2 Stephen Hyrum WADE b: 28 Jun 1860 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, d: 17 Apr 1929 in Pierson, Volusia, FL
...... + Florence L. "Flora" DONALDSON b: Sep 1858 in GA, m: 28 Nov 1880 in De Kalb, GA, d: 1914 in GA
...... + Louise TERRY b: 18 Aug 1893 in GA, m: 1914, d: 15 Feb 1956 in Pierson, Volusia, FL
......2 Benjamin Caleb WADE b: 10 Jan 1862 in Stone Mountain, De Kalb, GA, d: 10 Jun 1928 in Hawkinsville, Pulaski, GA
...... + Margaret E. JETT b: May 1862 in GA, m: 08 Jan 1884 in Milton, GA
......2 Naomi Tryphenia WADE b: 03 Jan 1864 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, d: 03 Nov 1948 in Summerville, Chattooga, GA
...... + Marion Daniel CAGLE b: 1862 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, m: 23 Nov 1884 in Chatooga, GA, d: 1948 in Walker, GA
......2 James B. WADE b: Abt. 1864 in GA, d: 10 Jun 1928 in Hawkinsville, Pulaski, GA
......2 Jasper Carolina WADE b: 17 Feb 1866 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, d: 02 Jan 1944 in Kelsey, Upshur, TX
...... + Berta Adelaide "Bertie" LEAKE b: 01 Jan 1869 in Cartersville, Bartow, GA, m: 20 Jul 1890 in Menlo, Chatooga, GA, d: 27 Feb 1955 in Gilmer, Upshur, TX
......2 Leona WADE b: Abt. 1866 in GA
......2 Nancy Luvada Armanda WADE b: 20 May 1868 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, d: 28 Jan 1959 in Floyd, GA
...... + Joseph Greyor MAJORS b: 14 Apr 1866 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, d: 22 Mar 1897 in Texarkana, Bowie, TX
......2 Margaret Elizabeth WADE b: 04 Feb 1870 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, d: 03 Dec 1947
......2 Charlie WADE b: Apr 1872 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, d: 13 Jun 1872 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA
......2 Walton Randolph WADE b: 26 Jan 1873 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, d: 27 Apr 1945

George A. MARTIN was born 13 Mar 1833, in De Kalb County, GA, and died 12 Oct 1909 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA. He married on 26 Oct 1854 in Fulton County, to Rhoda Caroline ABERNATHY, born 10 Feb 1832 in GA, died 10 May 1891 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA. They lived in Oak Grove, northern Fulton County, GA, and had 8 children.

George appeared at age 17 in the household of Stephen and Sarah MARTIN, in the 1850 US Census for Shallowford, De Kalb, GA (above).

George served 19 months in the 9th Georgia Artillery Battalion, Company B. He enlisted on 4 Mar 1862 in Atlanta, and discharged 16 Oct 1864 on account of ill health. He filed for an Indigent Pension in 1897, and his paperwork is very informative. He says he was born 14 Apr 1832 in De Kalb County. Since 1865 his occupation was farming and carpentering. He was living with his son, "paralyzed and totally helpless."

The 1880 US Census has Stephen and his young family listed next to his parents. Stephen was afflicted with scofula, which was a term for tuberculosis of the neck and lymph nodes.

1 George A MARTIN b: 13 Mar 1833 in De Kalb, GA, d: 12 Oct 1909 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, age 76
+ Rhoda Caroline ABERNATHY b: 10 Feb 1832 in GA, m: 26 Oct 1854 in Fulton, GA, d: 10 May 1891 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, age 59
......2 John Stephen A "Bud" MARTIN b: 14 Jun 1856 in Fulton, GA, d: 31 Jan 1915 in GA, age 58
...... + Ramoth "Ramie" HAMES b: 02 May 1855 in Cherokee, GA, m: 25 Apr 1876 in Cherokee, GA, d: 23 Apr 1913 in GA, age 57
......2 Marietta "Mary" A E MARTIN b: abt. 1858 in Fulton, GA
......2 Georgia Ann MARTIN b: Apr 1860 in Oak Grove, Fulton, GA, d: 24 May 1943 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, age 83
...... + Samuel M. ASHLEY b: 12 Mar 1861 in Fulton, GA, m: 06 Sep 1883 in Fulton, GA, d: 12 Mar 1897 in Dulton, GA, age 36
...... + Henry Oscar LEE b: 22 Dec 1873, m: 13 Aug 1899 in Fulton, GA, d: 03 Apr 1946 in Cobb, GA, age 72
......2 Benjamin L. MARTIN b: abt. 1861 in Fulton, GA, d: 05 Mar 1927 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, age 65
......2 Rhoda Frances MARTIN b: 18 Apr 1864 in GA, d: 02 Mar 1908, age 43
...... + James Stephen HARRIS b: May 1868 in GA, m: 24 Mar 1887 in Fulton, GA, d: 28 Feb 1947 in Fulton, GA, age 78
......2 Elliott F. MARTIN b: Abt. 1868 in GA, d: 25 Sep 1951 in Fulton, Georgia, age 83
......2 James F. MARTIN b: Feb 1870 in Fulton, GA, d: 25 Sep 1951 in Fulton, GA, age 81
...... + Margaret "Maggie" T. SMITH b: Sep 1866 in GA, m: 06 Oct 1895 in Fulton, GA, d: 08 Jun 1952 in Fulton, GA, age 85
......2 William Samuel MARTIN b: 13 May 1872 in GA, d: 23 Jul 1889, age 27

The family is hard to follow because of all the middle names. Rhoda C (ABERNATHY) MARTIN was Roda C in 1850 and Caroline in 1860.

Mary or May MARTIN was born about 1835, in Georgia. She was Mary, age 15, in the 1850 Census, and she was called May REDLIN in Jesse GARRETT's estate papers. She must have been the youngest child of Fanny (GARRETT) MARTIN, Stephen's 1st wife.

There was a William J. RIDLING or REDLING who married a Nancy C. MARTIN on 18 Nov 1858 in Fulton County, GA. They lived in Cross Keys. This may not be the right REDLING-MARTIN connection, but it must be related!

Mary Sarah Jane MARTIN was born 3 Jan 1840, in DeKalb County, GA, and died 3 Aug 1888 in Fulton County, GA, according to her gravestone. She married Samuel Isaac "Ike" BURDETT on 10 Mar 1859, in DeKalb County, GA.

She must be the one called Jane, age 10, in the 1850 Census, and called Mary J in her father's will. Nothing else fits. So she was the 1st child of Sarah (CROWLEY) MARTIN, Stephen's 2nd wife.

In 1860, Samuel and Sarah (Mary I) were staying with his parents. Thomas BURDETT was a Farmer, but he owned no land. Anna, Roda and Lucy had attended school with the year. The census taker had very nice handwriting, but the I and J are almost indistinguishable.

Samuel fought in the Civil War, on the side of the Confederacy.

By 1870 Samuel Isaac and Sarah Jane have their own place, with 5 children. The youngest, Telfair, is 6 months old, although the census also list the month of his birth, and it looks more like Nov. At any rate, it doesn't look like any of the children in the 1860 Census are theirs. Isaac is a Farmer, still with no real estate, but now his personal estate is valued at $265.

Sarah Jane died in 1888 at age 47, and Samuel remarried in 1894.

1 Samuel Isaac BURDETT b: 27 Oct 1838 in De Kalb, GA, d: 22 May 1922 in Fulton, GA, age 83

+ Mary Sarah Jane MARTIN b: 03 Jan 1841 in De Kalb, GA, m: 10 Mar 1859 in De Kalb, GA, d: 03 Aug 1888 in Fulton, GA, age 47
......2 Benjamin Franklin BURDETT b: 23 Jan 1861 in Oak Grove, Fulton, GA, d: 20 Feb 1935 in Atlanta, GA, age 74
...... + Millie Arminda SPRUILL b: 04 Mar 1864 in Shallow Ford, De Kalb, GA, d: 08 Aug 1884, age 20
...... + Jennie Angeline REED b: 12 Feb 1867 in GA, d: 06 Oct 1927 in GA, age 60
......2 William Marietta BURDETT b: Dec 1862 in Oak Grove, Fulton, GA, d: 14 Jun 1956 in Fulton, GA, age 93
......2 Mary Vangie BURDETT b: Jan 1866 in Oak Grove, Fulton, GA, d: 04 Dec 1939 in Fulton, GA, age 73
......2 Thomas Sexton BURDETT b: 16 Feb 1868 in Oak Grove, Fulton, GA, d: 28 Sep 1936 in Colquitt, GA, age 68
......2 Amos Adele BURDETT b: 18 Nov 1869 in Oak Grove, Fulton, GA, d: 12 Sep 1944 in Colquit, GA, age 74
......2 Telfair BURDETT b: Abt. 1869 in Fulton, GA, d: Bef. 1880 in Fulton, GA, age < 12
......2 Lula A. BURDETT b: Abt. 1872 in GA
......2 Lydia Jane BURDETT b: Oct 1873 in Fulton, GA, d: 14 Jul 1945 in Fulton, GA, age 71
......2 Martha Sonora BURDETT b: 28 Nov 1875 in Oak Grove, Fulton, GA, d: 21 Jul 1917 in De Kalb, GA, age 41
......2 Homer Elmer BURDETT b: 07 Jul 1881 in GA, d: 22 Jun 1940 in Franklin, Heard, GA, age 58
......2 James Ollis BURDETT b: 17 Apr 1883 in Oak Grove, Fulton, GA, d: 11 Mar 1934 in Coweta, GA, age 50

+ Nancy Jane OWEN b: 27 Aug 1845 in Henry, GA, m: 1894 in Fulton, GA, d: 31 May 1924 in Fulton, GA, age 78

Benjamin Franklin BURDETT married (1) Millia Arminda SPRUILL, granddaughter of Stephen SPRUILL and Margaret LORD, my 4g-grandparents. See the James T. SPRUILL page. Benjamin married (2) Jennie Angelina REED, great-granddaughter of Stephen SPRUILL and Margaret LORD. Benjamin had a real estate company in Atlanta.

Martha S. MARTIN was born about 3 Jan 1842, in DeKalb County, GA. She married James Franklin BURDETT, brother of Samuel Isaac BURDETT, who married Martha's sister, Sarah Jane MARTIN. They are buried in Mount Paran Baptist Church Cemetery, Atlanta, Fulton, GA.

1 James Franklin BURDETT b: 29 May 1840 in GA, d: 23 Feb 1934 in Fulton, GA
+ Martha Susan MARTIN b: 03 Jan 1842 in De Kalb, GA, m: 04 Oct 1863 in De Kalb, GA, d: 28 Dec 1888 in De Kalb, GA
......2 Sarah Loutrisa BURDETT b: 27 Feb 1866 in Fulton, GA, d: 30 Oct 1889 in Fulton, GA
...... + James D. SENTELL b: 05 Jun 1862, d: 13 Sep 1891
......2 Rev. William Franklin BURDETT b: 04 Aug 1867 in GA, d: 06 Sep 1939 in Fulton, GA
...... + Dora Alenzia MITCHELL b: 20 Sep 1870, d: 30 Mar 1943
......2 Thomas Alonzo "Lon" BURDETT b: 16 Jul 1869 in Sandy Springs, Fulton, GA, d: 03 Jul 1954 in Sandy Springs, Fulton, GA
...... + Lou AUSTIN b: 09 Mar 1868, d: 07 May 1940 in Dunwoody, De Kalb, GA
......2 Martha Isabell "Belle" BURDETT b: 29 Sep 1871 in Fulton, GA, d: 13 Oct 1944 in GA
...... + Charles Alban WILLINGHAM b: 25 Apr 1866, d: 19 Dec 1942
......2 Isaac Luther BURDETT b: 21 Mar 1872 in GA, d: 16 Jan 1941 in Fulton, GA
...... + Edna CARPENTER b: 1875, d: 14 Nov 1963 in Fulton, GA
......2 Stephen Francis BURDETT b: 24 Nov 1873 in GA, d: 19 Sep 1942 in Fulton, GA
......2 Hannah Jane BURDETT b: 26 Feb 1875 in Fulton, GA, d: 09 May 1927 in Duluth, Gwinnett, GA
...... + William C. DOWIS b: 13 Jan 1861 in Fulton, GA, d: 08 Jun 1933 in Duluth, Gwinnett, GA
......2 Charles "Charlie" Columbus BURDETT b: 04 May 1876 in GA, d: 19 Sep 1945 in GA
......2 Margarett "Alice" BURDETT b: 08 May 1878 in GA, d: 07 Feb 1959 in Fulton, GA
......2 Elizabeth "Lizzie" BURDETT b: 03 Sep 1880 in GA, d: 10 Dec 1939 in Fulton, GA
...... + James Oliver "Buck" CASEY b: 30 Oct 1878 in Fulton, GA, d: 16 Mar 1944 in Fulton, GA

Benjamin S. MARTIN was born 23 Apr 1843, in Georgia. He was my gg-grandfather. See the Benjamin S. MARTIN page.

Naomi/Naoma MARTIN was born 19 Nov 1844 in Georgia, and died 6 Jan 1914 in Georgia. She married Thomas Franklin SPRUILL on 15 July 1866. The marriage is recorded in the Spruill Family Bible. That connects Naomi and Thomas. The shared of gravestone of T. F. and A. N. SPRUILL has the birth and death dates. The birth date of 19 Nov 1844 is close enough to the dates derived from the 1850 Census (4 when she should be 5) and the 1860 Census (15 is correct). The death of Naoma SPRUILL is also recorded in the Spruill Family Bible, and it agrees with the date of the gravestone.

Thomas Franklin SPRUILL was the son of James Thomas SPRUILL and Amelia "Millie" ADAMS, my 3g-grandparents. So Naomi and Thomas were sister and brother of my 2g-grandparents, Benjamin Stephen MARTIN and Sarah Washington SPRUILL. More information about this family can be found on the James T Spruill page.

The 1870 Census has the name spelled SPREWELL instead of SPRUILL. Thomas is a Farmer, with personal estate valued at $225. They have 2 small children, and Matilda MARTIN, probably another sister of Naomi, lives with them. This is the last of 4 consecutive SPREWELL families in the census, so they all worked on the farm belonging to Thomas's father, James SPREWELL. It is curious that Matilda is listed "At home" instead of housekeeper. Maybe she was ill.

This says that Masouri's father was born in Georgia. But Nancy's father was born in South Carolina. Still, I think Masouri is Nancy.

Sophia C. MARTIN was born 6 Jan 1847 in Georgia, and died 19 Aug 1905 in Georgia. She married Joseph T. SPRUILL, brother of Thomas Franklin SPRUILL, who married Sophia's sister, Naomi MARTIN (above). In other words, two sisters married two brothers. The marriage took place in Fulton County, GA on 6 Jun 1869, as recorded in Georgia Marriage Records.

On the certificate, the middle initial S could be a T. The marriage record ties Sophia C. MARTIN to J. ? SPREWELL. Sophia's gravestone is inscribed:

In 1870, the young couple is one of 4 SPRUILL families listed together in Shallowford. Joseph is a Farmer, with personal estate valued at $200, but no real estate, so he probably works on his father's farm.

Again, Sophia's father was born in SC, not GA.

Margaret Samantha MARTIN was born 17 Aug 1849 in Georgia, and died 25 Oct 1928. She married Jordan H. CREEL on 2 Jun 1878 in De Kalb County, Georgia. They lived in De Kalb County, and had about 6 children.

The marriage record connects Margaret MARTIN and Jordan CREEL. Margaret and Jordan's gravestone in Winters Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery, Doraville, DeKalb, GA is inscribed:

The family of Stephen and Sarah MARTIN had a child Margaret, age 11, in 1860, but no Margaret in 1850. They did have a child Samantha, age 0, in 1850. Most researchers seem to agree that Samantha must be Margaret. She is called Margaret in all other records that I have found.

In 1870, Margaret was living with her mother and two siblings. Sarah MARTIN is owner of real estate valued at $1,200 and personal estate $800. Stephen MARTIN had died, as his will was proved on 21 Mar 1866.

The young family appears in 1880 with 2 small children. The census doesn't say explicitly that Sarah is the child of Jordan and Margaret, but I think she was. And for the 3rd time, we see Margaret's father, Stephen MARTIN, born in GA, instead of SC.

In the 1900 US Census, Jordan and family are listed next to his parents. Jordan was a Farmer, with a rented farm. Jordan and Margaret had been married 22 years, consistent with the marriage record, and Margaret had 8 children, with 5 still living. James and Martha, presumably Jordan's parents, had no occupation, so they were retired. They had been married 44 years, and Martha had 4 children, with 2 still living in 1900.

Margaret died on 25 Oct 1928 in Doraville, De Kalb, GA. Her death record names her father, Stephen Martin, born in SC, and mother, Sarah CROWLY, born in GA.

1 Margaret Samantha MARTIN b: 17 Aug 1849 in Cross Keys, De Kalb, GA, d: 25 Oct 1928 in Doraville, De Kalb, GA, age 79
+ Jordan John Hensley CREEL b: 15 Aug 1857 in Randolph, AL, m: 1878 in GA, d: 03 Mar 1934 in De Kalb, GA, age 76
......2 Ida E. CREEL b: 1879 in GA
......2 Cora S. CREEL b: Jun 1879 in GA
......2 Jordan E. CREEL b: Jun 1880 in GA, d: 23 Mar 1972 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, age 91
......2 Martha Sarah "Mattie" CREEL b: 4 Oct 1884 in De Kalb, GA, d: 22 Aug 1952 in Fulton, GA, age 67
...... + James Henry CREEL b: 3 Jan 1882 in Clayton, GA, m: 11 Apr 1911 in College Park, MD, d: 24 Jul 1959 in Clayton, GA, age 77
......2 John Stephen CREEL b: 01 Jun 1888 in Dunwoody, De Kalb, GA, d: 17 Apr 1971 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, age 82
......2 Lyton CREEL b: 1899 in GA

There is a discrepancy regarding Martha "Mattie" CREEL.

Some say she was Martha L. CREEL, born 6 Aug 1886 in GA, died 18 Aug 1959 in Memphis, Shelby, TN, age 73, married on 22 Oct 1904 in Morgan, AL to Joseph Johnson "Joe" HAZEL, born 29 Nov 1881 in AL, died 21 Jan 1985 in Memphis, Shelby, TN, age 103.

Others claim she was Mattie Sarah CREEL, born 4 Oct 1884 in De Kalb, GA, died 22 Aug 1952 in Fulton, GA, age 67, married 11 Apr 1911 in College Park, Prince George's, MD to James Henry CREEL (possible a 2nd cousin?) born 3 Jan 1882 in Clayton, GA, died 24 Jul 1959 in Clayton, GA, age 77.

The 1900 US Census says she was 17, born in Oct 1882. The middle initial is very sloppy - it could be L or S.

This obituary seems to settle the matter, in favor of Mattie Sarah, born in 1884.

Nancy MARTIN was born 12 Mar 1851 in Georgia, and died 4 Jul 1925 in Dunwoody, DeKalb County, GA. The death date and place are on her death certificate. This also has the name of her father, Stephen MARTIN, and the maiden name of her mother, Sarah CROWLEY. Her husband was Francis/Frances M. ADAMS. Their gravestone is in Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Sandy Springs, Fulton, GA.

Nancy lived with her mother and 2 siblings in 1870. (See the previous section.)

In the 1880 Census, Nancy's family is listed right before her sister Naomi's family. Nancy and Frances have 2 small children.

By 1900 the family has moved to Milton County. They have 5 sons and 2 daughters. Their son James M. ADAMS is married, and their daughter-in-law Georgia E. ADAMS is also, both 0 years, so it appears that James and Georgia are husband and wife. They are only 20 and 16, and have no children yet. Nancy (middle initial looks like 7) has had only the 7 children listed here. Francis and Nancy have been married 26 years, which puts their marriage between 6 Jul 1873 and 5 Jul 1874. Francis owns his farm, free of mortgage. He is unable to read or write. Nancy and her children William, Sarah and Posie can read but can't write.

Francis Marion ADAMS was a son of Jesse Harris ADAMS and Ann MITCHELL. So Francis was a 1st cousin to Sarah W. SPRUILL, who married Benjamin S. MARTIN (above), Nancy's older brother. More information on this family can be found on the Salathiel ADAMS page.

William Samuel Martin was born on 15 May 1853 in Georgia, and died 25 Feb 1907 in Georgia. His gravestone has these dates, but the poster has misread the year of birth. He married Mary Emmaline REED on 13 Oct 1870 in Fulton County, GA. Mary was born 1848 in GA, and died 8 Apr 1922 in Dunwoody.

William and Mary had 5 children, and lived in the Sandy Springs/Oak Grove area. Several of the children and their spouses died in the 18-month period from Sep 1952 to Mar 1954.

1 William Samuel MARTIN b: 15 May 1853 in Cross Keys, De Kalb, GA, d: 25 Feb 1907, age 53
+ Mary Emmaline REED b: 23 Jul 1848 in GA, m: 13 Oct 1870 in Fulton, GA, d: 08 Apr 1922 in Dunwoody, De Kalb, GA, age 73
......2 Isaac Nathaniel MARTIN b: 22 Apr 1876 in Sandy Springs, Fulton, GA, d: 14 Jun 1945 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, age 69
......2 Dora Lee MARTIN b: 23 Apr 1882 in Sandy Springs, Fulton, GA, d: 20 Sep 1952 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, age 70
...... + James Andrew Dykes "Fair Jim" HEAD b: 22 Jul 1879 in Tallapoosa, Haralson, GA, m: 1900 in Fulton, GA, d: 21 Nov 1926 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, age 47
......2 Oscar Durell MARTIN b: 05 Dec 1882 in Sandy Springs, Fulton, GA, d: 02 Jan 1953 in Durham, Durham, NC, age 70
......2 Sarah Mittie MARTIN b: 20 Oct 1885 in Sandy Springs, Fulton, GA, d: 16 Dec 1953 in Gastonia, Gaston, NC, age 68
...... + Thomas Barnet RUDASILL b: 1883 in GA, m: 30 Jun 1901 in Fulton, GA, d: 1953, age 70
......2 Leola Lei MARTIN b: Aug 1886 in Sandy Springs, Fulton, GA, d: 28 Feb 1922 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA, age 35
...... + George Lee PEPPERS b: 16 Mar 1881 in Campbell, GA, m: 25 Aug 1904 in Fulton, GA, d: 11 Mar 1954 in Fulton, GA, age 72

The extended families of REED, MARTIN, ADAMS and SPRUILL lived in the Dunwoody area for many years, and had several intermarriages. Mary E. REED was the daughter of Nathaniel REED and Selecia SPRUILL, so she was a 1st cousin to Sarah W. SPRUILL, who married Benjamin S. MARTIN (above), William's older brother.

Sources

[BCW] Benjamin Crowley 1817 will transcription

[CC] Crowley Clan

[CFB] Crowley Family Biography on Oglethorpe County GAGenWeb

[CM] The Crowley Mausoleum

[H] Ancestry and Descendants of the Nassau-Siegen Immigrants to Virginia 1714-1750, by B.C. Holtsclaw, 1964

[JGE] Jesse Garrett estate papers, Laurens, SC

[M] A Martin Genealogy/Tied to the History of Germanna, Virginia, by William A. Martin, 1995

[OCL] Oglethorpe County GA 1807 Land Lottery

Updated 6 Sep 2021 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.