Martin Ancestor Puzzle
THE USE OF LAND, TAX RECORDS AND DNA TO SOLVE
A MARTIN ANCESTOR PUZZLE
JOHN “JACK” MARTIN, 1756-1822, STOKES COUNTY, N. C.
Genealogical DNA testing can provide the genealogy researcher with a great deal of excitement or a great deal of disappointment. It would be exciting if your test results come back with many matches to other people who have done meticulous research, are closely related, are willing to share their information, and can help you further your ancestor hunt. It can be frustrating if the results tell you that you are related to another person, but small DNA differences do not lead you to the name of a specific common ancestor. The other possibility is that the results might tell you that you are definitely not related to a particular person in any possible way, disproving years of research efforts.
The Y chromosome is passed down from father to son and is used in the Y-DNA test.
Test kits are available that will examine 12, 37, 67 or 111 STR markers on the Y chromosome. The more markers tested and the closer the marker values match to other test results, the more likely it is that the test participants share a common ancestor. For example: a perfect match of 37 out of 37 markers statistically gives a 95% probability of having a most common recent ancestor within the last 7 generations and a 50% probability that the most recent common ancestor was fewer than 2 or 3 generations ago. Please refer to the following website for further information. http://www.isogg.org/wiki/Y_chromosome_DNA_tests
Discussing the mechanics of DNA is beyond the scope of this article. What is known is that a well-documented descendant of John “Jack” Martin had his DNA tested more than five years ago. Please refer to the Martin Family Project at the following website: http://www.familytreedna.com/public/martin/default.aspx?section=ycolorized
This John Martin descendant’s test kit was placed in a Family Group that now contains the results of three other test kits indicating that somewhere in their genealogical history they share a common ancestor and are related in some degree. If the people within this family group choose to communicate and share their family research information, they might be able to determine the identity of their common ancestor.
The DNA results from one individual in this particular Martin family group was then compared with the results of a well-documented Martin descendant who was previously believed, by some people, to be the father of John “Jack” Martin. Two independent DNA experts were consulted. After comparing the DNA results, both DNA experts have placed the tested men in two different Martin family groups within the Martin family surname project. For these two groups, the sharing of the surname Martin is a coincidence and the two Martin families are definitely not related. I want to personally express my thanks and gratitude to the John Martin and William Martin descendants for their participation in the Y-DNA project and for their willingness to share their results with the rest of us.
Many of the older genealogies and histories were well written for their time periods; but with new technology and DNA testing, some of these long-held beliefs are now coming under more scrutiny.
In more recent years, some John Martin researchers were not comfortable with previous findings. There have been no legal documents or bible records found to date, which state unequivocally who this John Martin’s parents were. When these documents do not exist, we have to present a case of indirect evidence and/or rely on a preponderance of the evidence. My cousin and I began looking further at county records and past books in an attempt to see if we could identify John’s parents.
There were several people named either John or James Martin in the areas of Rowan, Surry and Stokes Counties in the 1760’s-1780’s. One was James the son of Moses Martin who lived in the area of Mill Creek, Town Fork settlement.1 There was a John the son of James Martan, sic, who appears in the 1768 tax list of William Spurgin in Rowan County.2 There was an Asse Martin with son John who appears on the 1768 Rowan County Tax List.3 We also have the Colonel James Martin that moved from New Jersey, to Guilford County, North Carolina to the Snow Creek area of Surry County that later became Stokes County.4
According to John Martin’s tombstone erected by his great-grandson William Preston Bynum, John was born in 1756 and he came from Essex County, Virginia. Some historical sources say he came with his brother William. Two other sources presented below show some contradictory information saying that John came with his parents.
The below information about the Thomas Shipp pension statement is from the Book: King's Mountain and Its Heroes, History of the Battle of King's Mountain by Lyman C. Draper, Pages 216-217. I have not personally viewed this information in the actual documents.
Quote: "MS. pension statement of Thomas Shipp. John Martin, one of the heroic soldiers of that part of Surry County, now constituting Stokes, North Carolina, was born in Essex County, Virginia in 1756; and, in 1768, his parents settled near the Saura Mountain, in Stokes. During the Revolution, Martin was very active, sometimes serving as a private volunteer, and sometimes as a lieutenant, in fighting the British and Tories. In February 1776, he served a tour under Colonel Joseph Williams against the Scotch-Tories, at Cross creek, who were defeated just before their arrival; and in the fall of that year, he went on General Rutherford's expedition against the Cherokees. In a skirmish with the Tories, he wounded and captured one of their leaders, Horton who died shortly afterwards. In July, 1780, he went in pursuit of the fleeing Tory leader, Colonel Samuel Bryan, and participated in the fight at Colson's, under Colonel William Lee Davidson. But for the grievous wound he received near Broad river, he would have shared in the dangers and glories of King's Mountain. He was stationed in September, 1781, at Guilford, and shortly after at Wilmington, where he heard the joyful news of Cornwallis surrender.
After the war, he became a colonel in the militia; in 1798 and 1799 he served as a member in the House of Commons; and was long a magistrate, presiding for thirty years in the County Court. He was a man of infinite humor and irony, possessing a keen perception of the ludicrous. Several characteristic anecdotes are preserved of him in Wheeler's History of North Carolina. He died at his home near, the Saura Mountain, April 5th 1823, leaving many children to inherit his virtues. The late General John Gray Bynum was his grandson, as is the Hon William P. Bynum, of Charlotte." End of Quote.
“In the family graveyard across the road is the grave of John Martin, who came to North Carolina with his parents when he was 12 years old and died at Rock House in 1822.”6
Early Land History
Early North Carolina history tells us that lands in the “Granville District” roughly covered the property in the northern half of the state. From the late 1740’s until 1763 when the second Earl of Granville died, deeds and or grants were made for vacant lands. The Granville District offices were closed in 1763 at the Earl’s death before John Martin and his family had arrived in North Carolina. How could John Martin have gotten title to land and start to build his Rock House in the 1770’s, prior to the Revolutionary War as has been claimed by many written sources, if the land offices were closed?
One historical book tells us the following:
“…hundreds of families were living on land they had no claim to, in anticipation of reopening of the land grant offices. This would never happen.
The Revolutionary forces confiscated the total of all ungranted lands in North Carolina, and the lands of Henry McCulloh, as well as the holdings of all Tories...”
“The new states began making land grants in 1778.”7
Land Entries
Entry #301: James Martin Senr, enters 200 acres of land in Surry Co., on Toms Creek including Joseph Highets improvement for complement - July 21, 1778 [Warrant granted]8
Entry #332: James Martin enters 50 acres of land in Surry Co. on both sides of Bigg Creek of Dan River above land that formerly belonged to George Russel adjoining said land - July 29, 1778 [Warrant granted]8
Entry #420: John Martin (son of James Martin,) sic, enters 640 acres of land in Surry Co. on the Bigg Creek of Dan River adjoining Joseph Jesseps including the widow Summers, Thomas Summers & Bowater Summers plantations for complement - August 10, 1778 [Warrant granted]8
John Martin sold the above tract of 640 acres of land back to Bowater Summers on June 12, 1787. See Surry County Deed Book D, page 219.
Entry #600: James Martin Senr. enters 150 acres of land in Surry Co. on the S. fork of the Bigg Creek of Dan River, joining Elisha Pearce’s claim including Samuel Jackson’s plantation for complement - August 18, 1778 [Warrant granted]8
Entry #1218: James Martin (H) enters 50 acres of land in Surry Co. on the waters of Toms Creek adjoining the land of Lewis Conner and his own including the Quaker Meeting House and spring for quantity - December 31, 1778 [Warrant granted]8
On January 6, 1785 John Martin as Administrator and Heir of James Martin recorded a deed of assignment of the original Joseph Winston land entry #1218 containing James Martin’s 50 acres including the Quaker Meeting House and Spring to Benjamin Carr. (Refer to a copy of this document below.) This land was surveyed again in April of 1795 and said it adjoined John Burris and Joseph Hiet. In July of 1797 nine acres of this tract was sold by Benjamin Carr to “the Society of the People called Quakers” for a Meeting House and burying ground including the Westfield meeting house… Surry County Deed Book G, page 82-83. For information on Tom’s Creek Meeting House and the Westfield Meeting House see http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~quakers/westfield.htm)
Entry #1220: James Martin, 100 acres of land in Surry Co. on the waters of the Bigg Creek including Welcom Garret’s improvement for quantity - December 31, 1778 [Warrant granted]8
Entry #1296: James Martin enters 50 acres of land in Surry Co., on the S fork of the Bigg Creek of the Dan River adjoining my former entry including Stephen Bond’s improvement for complement - January 13, 1779. [Warrant granted]8
Entry #1297: Lewis Conner and James Martin enter 100 acres of land in Surry Co., on the North fork of the Bigg Creek of Dan River including Richard Pinson’s Improvements for quantity - Jan 13th, 1779. [Warrant granted]8
The land entry and warrant #1297 above, originally granted to Lewis Conner and James Martin was assigned to Abijah Pinson as [assignee of Lewis Conner and John Martin, who was Heir of James Martin, deceased] sic Issued December 10, 1790 Entered March 8, 1783, File No. 1436, for Abijah Pinson.9
Entry #1298: Lewis Conner and James Martin enter 100 acres of land in Surry Co., on the waters of the Bigg Creek of the Dan River including James Horton’s improvement for quantity - January 13, 1779 [Warrant granted]8
There are many more Martin entries and grants listed in the deed books that are not presented within this document.
Tax Lists and Court Minutes
Between 1771 and 1772, in Surry County, James Martin went from paying taxes on one poll to two polls.10 It is likely that John Martin turned 16 in 1772 making his stated birth year of 1756 appear to be correct. No amount of acreage is specified.
In 1781 there is a Tax List for the Gaines District called the Gaines District Quakers Property. The list shows the following: Jno Martin 640 ac, James Martin 1182 ac.11
The 1782 List of Taxables for the Gaines District reports: James Martin decd 800 ac, John Martin 640 ac.11, 12
15 November 1782: Ordered Admr. Estate, James Martin, deceased, granted John Martin, Heir-at-law said deceased (Mary Martin, widow and relict having resigned her right); James Gains and Matt. Brooks, securities.13
Discussion
The item that needs to be proved is that the John Martin, son of James, and Heir of James in the above deeds and grants is the same John “Jack” Martin who built the Rock House.
In 1782, the year that James Martin died, James owned 800 acres of land and John Martin owned 640 acres. All of James’s land appears to have been on either Tom’s Creek or the Bigg Creek. The 640 acres that John owned was from Entry #420 above on Bigg Creek and included the Summers Family plantations.
John Martin continued to buy land throughout the years and the tax records for 1821 show that he owned 7,170 acres. There are 640 acres in a square mile. To put this into perspective, if John Martin’s lands had been contiguous, his property would have covered over 11 square miles. John Martin wrote down and signed his own list of taxable properties for 1821. The first on this list is “400 acres where I live” and then he listed various properties that adjoined the above tract. He mentioned a tract of 3,000 acres he called the Bounty land, 160 acres near the Quaker Meeting House, 50 acres joining Jacob Parce (Pierce/Pearce), 400 acres Worley’s old place, etc.
In John Martin’s will written May of 1821 he stated:
“I give to my son Thomas Martin the lands beginning at the southern extremity of my land I now live on up to the old still house branch … then northwardly as the road runs to the Quaker Meeting House all that adjoining East & North of said road creek & branch and also one other parcel or tract of land on the Big Creek joining Timothy Rowark, Jacob Pearce, Zebulan Vaughn and others …”
The graphic below showing land entry #1218 was written by Joseph Winston. The land was to be surveyed for James Martin…including the Quaker Meeting House and Spring. On the back of the document is the assignment of the land by John Martin as “Admst and Haire” sic. John in 1821 still owned property near the Quaker Meeting House as proven by his will. James Martin, John Martin and the Quaker Meeting House are all connected and John’s will proves he still owned property near there.
The 1821 Stokes County tax list has a separate page that John Martin wrote by his own hand listing his properties. One line of the list stated, “belong(s) to the Hairs of Jeremiah Cloud.” Notice that when John wrote the word Heir, on the assignment document and on the tax list, he spelled the word “Hair or Haire.” Refer to the graphic below. These same two documents can also be used to compare the handwriting of John’s own signature.
John Martin in his will gave “to my son William Gilham Martin all the balance of the lands I now live on that I have lent to his mother during natural life.” This indicates that William inherited the Rock House property. William was killed in 1842. In William’s estate papers (Stokes County, Book 15, pages 375-379) the assets included a 2200-acre home tract, a 300 acre Worley tract, and various other tracts and grants.
Land entry “#214. W issd. Dec. 5, 1786 Henry Worley enters 116 ac in Surry Co. on waters of Big Cr of Dan R; border: James Martin’s survey and Charles McAnally; includes his improvement.14 (Warrant Issued)
Henry Worley also bought 2 other parcels: part of a 200 acre tract from John Jackson on Chinquapin Creek in 1791 (Stokes Deed Bk. 2, p. 400) and a land grant of 100 acres on the Chinquapin Creek branch of Tom’s Creek in 1798 (Stokes deed Bk. 3, p. 140). These land transactions total 416 acres. John Martin’s 1821 tax list said he owned “400 acres, Worley’s old place.” William G. Martin’s estate papers show that he owned a 300-acre Worley tract at his death. This ties the Worley tract to James Martin, John Martin and William G. Martin.
One more thing to consider is the use of old English family naming patterns. The first son was to be named after the father’s father. John Martin did name his first son James, after his father. By tradition, the first daughter was named after the mother’s mother. In this case John’s first daughter was named Mary Coleman Martin. Mary was John’s mother’s name and also the name of John’s wife’s grandmother, Mary Coleman Cox.
Conclusions
Considering all the evidence presented above, and the fact that DNA testing has proven that John “Jack” Martin is not genetically related to the person previously thought to be his father, I am convinced that the parents of John “Jack” Martin builder of the Rock House were James Martin and Mary (Maiden Name Unknown) Martin.
The natural question becomes, “Who are John Martin’s grandparents?”
If you peruse the online forums, web pages and various other online sources, you will notice a great deal of research and meticulous study of the Virginia Martin families by Alecia Tipton. She has spent years trying to sort out the various families in Caroline, Essex, King and Queen, and other counties. It is from her research and the research of others that some in the Martin family have formed the “opinion” that the parents of James Martin, and the grandparents of John “Jack” Martin are John and Mary Samuel Martin of Essex County, Virginia. There are no legal documents or bible records found to this point that can conclusively prove this fact. In order to continue with this research, a Martin male with a strong ancestral tree leading to John and Mary Samuel Martin who either has had his DNA tested or is willing to do so and who is willing to share the results with other interested researchers needs to be found. If you are that person or know that person, please share this information with him and let us hear from you. If a male Martin with strong ties to John and Mary Samuel Martin comes forward, some researchers will help share in the costs of the DNA test.
I want to give special recognition and Thanks to my cousin who wishes to remain anonymous and to her daughter for providing me with digital copies of the original records from Raleigh and for her research and editorial help. Without her, this document would not have been written.
Copyright 2013 Roberta Keenan, Leesburg, Florida 34748 bobbiszoo@yahoo.com All Rights Reserved
5th great-granddaughter of John "Jack" Martin
Historical and genealogical societies are granted permission to reprint this article provided credit is given to the author. Commercial use is Prohibited.
This document was based on information gathered from the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Information System, Land Records and Land Owner Maps
No. 1218
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
Joseph Winston Entry Officer of Claims for Lands in the County of Surry To the Surveyor of the said County, Greeting. You are hereby required, as soon as may be, to lay off and survey for James Martin a Tract or Parcel of Land, containing fifty Acres, lying in the County aforesaid, On the Waters of Toms Creek, Adjoining the lands of Lewis Conner & his own Including the Quaker Meeting House & Spring…
Secretary of State, Land Grant Section, Warrants and Plats, North Carolina Archives,
Raleigh, N.C. Surry County, Call Number: S.108.1069, Location: 952-1258, No.1218
This can also be viewed on FamilySearch.org film #2447435.
I assign this Land warrant being Admst and (Hair or Haire) of Jas Martin Decd the full plat? of the within over to Benjaman Caare. __? assind by me
January the 6 day of 1785. John Martin
Secretary of State, Land Grant Section, Warrants and Plats, North Carolina Archives,
Raleigh, N.C. Surry County, Call Number: S.108.1069, Location: 952-1258, No.1218
This can also be viewed on FamilySearch.org film #2447435.
Administration of the Estate of James Martin Decd is granted to John Martin Heir at Law to said Decd (Mary Martin Widow & Relict having resigned her right) who Entered into Bond with James Gains & Matt Brooks ___? in the sum of #200. Specie – Ordered that Letters of Adm issue accordingly Adm. Qualified according to Law
Surry County North Carolina Court Minutes, 15 November 1782, Volume 1.
Copied from the 1821 Stokes County Tax List, FamilySearch.org film #2437720
Compare the word “Hairs” and the signature of John Martin in the above document and in the document of land assignment from James Martin to Benjamin Carr.
NOTES
1. Linn, Jo White, “List of Taxables in Rowan County, 1768,” North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, (November, 1983): 194-195.
2. Linn, Jo White, Rowan County, North Carolina Tax Lists 1757-1800, (Salisbury, North Carolina, privately printed, 1975), 100.
3. Family History Library, Historical records kept by Register of Deeds, (Rowan County North Carolina Register of Deeds), Film #1760536, Item: Tax List 1768.
4. Martin, James, File, No. W4728, Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements, (Washington: National Archives), transcribed by Will Graves, online <http://revwarapps.org/w4728.pdf>, data downloaded 6 June 2013.
5. Draper, Lyman C., LL.D., Allaire, Anthony and Shelby, Isaac , King’s Mountain And Its Heroes: History Of The Battle Of King’s Mountain, 1780, And The Events Which Led To It, (Cincinnati: Peter G. Thomson, 1881), 215.
6. The Federal Writers’ project of the Federal Works Agency Work Project Administration for the State of North Carolina, compiler, North Carolina A guide to the Old North State, American Guide Series, (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1939), 395-396.
7. Hughes, Fred, Guilford County, N.C. a map supplement, (Jamestown, North Carolina: The Custom House, 1988), 4.
8. Wells, Agnes M., Phillips, Virginia G., and Leonard, Carol J., compilers, Joseph Winston His Entry Book Surry County, NC Land Entries 1778-1781, (North Carolina, privately printed, 1987), pp. 28, 30, 38, 54, 107, 114.
9. Secretary of State, Land Grant Section, Warrants and Plats, North Carolina Archives, Stokes County, Call Number: S.108.1070, Bk. No. 77, Page No: 38, Pinson, Abijah, File No. 1436.
10. Johnson, William Perry, Surry and Wilkes Cos., N.C. Taxables, 1771-1800, Volume 1, 1771-1777, (Raleigh, North Carolina, privately printed, 1974), 1: 13
11. Bynum, William Preston, Papers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wilson Library, Southern Historical Collection, Manuscripts Department, Collection Number 117, Martin…Surry NC, 3-4.
12. Family History Library, Wills, inventories & settlements of estates, 1777-1796; land entries, 1778-1795; lists of taxables, 1771-1772, 1782, North Carolina, (North Carolina County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions Surry County), Film #19957.
13. Absher, Mrs. W. O., Surry County, North Carolina Court Minutes, Volumes 1 & 2, 1768-1789, (Southern Historical Press: 1985) Minutes for 15 November, 1782, 48.
14. Pruitt, Dr. A. B., Abstracts of Land Entries: Surry Co., NC 1784-1795, (no place, privately printed, 1988), 12.
The above sketch is from the book: Historical Sketches of North Carolina from 1584-1851 by Col. John H. Wheeler page 405.