Orphan John son of John Martin, Spotsylvania County, VA & some of the women in his life.

 

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber September 2022

 

John Martin (1747-1813) has been tagged as “Orphan John”, for many years, by genealogists, to distinguish him from the many Martin’s in the area with the same given name.

John Martin the father wrote his will 20 July 1747 (Spts Wbk A 498) giving his estate equally between his wife Ann, son John and daughter Ann.  By April an inventory had been submitted and John Martin was deceased. 

John’s grandfather, Henry Martin, father of John also wrote a will (Spts Wbk A 508) in April 1748 leaving grandson John Martin son of John Martin deceased, 100 acres.

By August 1749 the court had appointed Edmond Waller, guardian of “orphan” John Martin (Spts Minute Book 1 Aug 1749).  The term infant was a legal term for a child whose father died before the child was 21 years old.  Guardians were required to manage estates.  At the age of 14 an infant/child could then choose their own guardian.  Under English law a woman had no legal say over who would be guardian of her minor children.  Being “orphan” John did not mean his mother was also deceased.

John’s mother, Ann has been lightly skipped over by researchers through the years.  First and fore-most in at least one publication (Crozier) her given name was misread as Amy.  Those who have studied colonial handwriting clearly understand her name is Ann.  John’s sister, Ann, was not appointed a guardian, nor at this writing has this researcher found any more information concerning her.

A tedious line by line review of court orders sheds some light about John’s mother Ann, widow of John Martin.  In October 1750 the Spotsylvania court appointed Edward Herdon, William Proctor and Ben Johnson (or any two) to divide the personal estate of John Martin deceased “and to set apart the part belonging to Ann Sharp now the wife of Lincfield or Linefield Sharp who has petitioned for the division as she was the widow of said John Martin…” (Spts Order bk  fhl 008153251, image 362, page 90).

At this Point in this compiler’s research I see a strong tie of this Lincefield Sharp to Elias Sharp also of Spotsylvania County. There are several with the given name of Lincefield in the area. 

It is unclear if Ann’s son John, a toddler, lived with his mother after her remarriage. He was certainly not more than a toddler based on future records. John was about 16/17 before he requested that Michael Robinson become his guardian in Spotsylvania County (Spts P. 162). Robinson was married to John’s Aunt Mary Martin (d/o Henry Martin dcd).  John’s uncle Benjamin Martin appears to have looked after some of John’s interest’s as well.  In March 1750 Benjamin Martin leased the 100 acres to Edmund Waller (Spts Order bk page 3). In August 1757 when Benjamin sold property to Charles Colson he clearly stipulated to exclude the 100 acres set apart in Henry Martin’s will (Crozier p 61-2).

 John married Lucy, granddaughter of James Hawkins before 1780.  I have written about Lucy in several blog posts.

( http://easternkentuckygenealogy.blogspot.com/search?q=lucy  &

http://easternkentuckygenealogy.blogspot.com/search?q=hawkins )

It is still unclear who Lucy’s parents are, but this compiler has researched and ascertained that her grandmother went by the name of Mary Ovington.  Mary was executor of the will of Peter Lowd 3 September 1734 in King George County (King Geo wbk 1 A – 103). Lowd’s will calls her “friend.”  By 1736 she is Mary wife of James Hawkins (Spts Order bk p 453/4).  Thus far I have located one other record of Mary Ovington when she witnessed a deed in King George for Sarah Edge who bound a son John Edge to Lowd as an apprentice (King Geo. Dbk 1 A p 283).

As always, as a researcher and author, I am always open to discussion and further information. My readers can write to me at deliverancefarm.com and I will respond as quickly as possible. tk

James Hawkins of Spotsylvania & Orange County, Virginia 1718-1786

 

By Teresa Martin Klaiber 2020

 

There is a slew of Virginia Hawkins researchers.  There is tons of information and documentation of many of the Hawkins families of Spotsylvania, Orange and surrounding counties in Virginia.  100% of researcher postings and publications either ignore James Hawkins or state he died young.  In actuality he lived approximately 68 years.  Yet there is so much more information this compiler needs to compile a proper biography.

 

James Hawkins birth is estimated, by this compiler, as 1718 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.  He is this compiler’s seventh great grandfather.  Some place his birth between 1720 – 1722.  I based the estimate on his appointment as constable 7 Nov 1739[i] placing him about 20 years of age.  I have mentioned him before in another article concerning his granddaughter, Lucy, wife of John Martin written May 2017.

 

James Hawkins is one of nine children of Nicholas Hawkins (1695-1754) and wife Elizabeth Long.  There is substantial evidence of Nicholas and Elizabeth’s life.    

 

James first appearance in court records appears to be the constable appointment replacing William Miller in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.  Miller received land from John Miller of Essex County,  his father, on the branches of the Massaponnax in 1737[ii].[iii]  The 1739 court order does not explain why he was replaced by Hawkins.

 

It is also about 1739 - 1740 that James Hawkins has a child (either male or female) who later becomes the parent of Lucy that marries John Martin. We can safely assume that if James Hawkins officially married, he did so in his 20’s.  While a few Parish records for St. George exist, the required marriages are lost.

 

James along with brother’s Nathan and Alexander Hawkins along with William Martin[iv] witness Nicholas Hawkins purchasing 200 acres in St. George Parish, Spotsylvania, 26 April 1743, from William Lindsey.[v][vi] The 200 acres was on the north side of the River Po.  The north side of the River Po fell within Essex prior to the formation of Spotsylvania.

 

On 4 Jun 1745 Nicholas Hawkins made a deed of gift to his son, James Hawkins, of 100 acres in St. George Parish along with the gift of one negro.[vii]  Crozier gives no further details but the Embry Spotsylvania Index describes the 100 acres as being on “Jarmanah” (Germanna) and Chiswells Mine Roads adjacent Francis Smith and Owen Thomas.  This may the 100 acres sold by John and Lucy Martin to James Marye[viii] simply described as on the Old Mine Road in April 1780.  To date this compiler has not seen a transfer of the 100 acres from James Hawkins.

 

James does not appear in Spotsylvania records for another seven years.  And we all know a lot can happen in seven years. When he does appear, he provided security for Nicholas Hawkins guardianship of Elizabeth Long, orphan of Samuel Long (July 1752).  By December Thomas Haydon[ix] stepped in as security, replacing James Hawkins.  There is no explanation in the change of security.

 

James Hawkins father died before May 1754 leaving sons Nicholas, Nathan and James “land each now lives on”[x] in his will in St. George Parish, Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

 

James  (estimated age 43)  has granddaughter Lucy  born 3 December 1761.  At this point in research this compiler cannot determine if James is her paternal or maternal grandfather. DNA supports her Hawkins heritage.

 

James Hawkins appears again in records in a court case, when he and William Ellis provided bail for Nicholas Hawkins in Chew Jr. vs Hawkins Jr. 5 July 1758.[xi] William Ellis is the father of Elizabeth Ellis that married John Hawkins son of Nicholas Hawkins Sr. and Elizabeth Long.  The Nicholas Hawkins in the court case is the brother of James and John Hawkins.

 

Lucy, granddaughter of James Hawkins marries John Martin of Spotsylvania County, Virginia circa 1779.  Their first child, great grandson of James Hawkins, is James H. Martin born the following year.   Most likely this first son was named for James Hawkins and the middle initial H. is possibly Henry for the paternal great grandfather viz. Henry Martin.  Or could his middle name be Hawkins?  So many researchers like to tag middle names without written documentation. James shall be eternally James H. Martin without further evidence.

 

When James Hawkins was 66 he witnessed the deed of Mary Pollet along with his granddaughter Lucy and her husband John Martin.[xii]  James appears for jury duty 6 March 1787 in Spotsylvania County.

 

Hawkins died between 26 February 1786 and 27 April 1786.  His will was written in St. Thomas Parish, Orange County, Virginia.  He gave all his real and personal property To Thomas Stevenson “for the trouble I have given at his house …” and two slaves to his granddaughter Lucy Martain wife of John Martain of Spotsylvania County, Virginia.  Witness to the will were James Stevenson, John Stevenson and Johnny Scott.[xiii]

 

This compiler wonders how long James resided with Thomas and Mary Hawkins Stevenson[xiv]/Stephenson.  Mary Hawkins Stevenson was the niece of James Hawkins. Her father was Nathan Hawkins who had married Catharine Ann Haydon[xv] and brother to James.

 

James Hawkins will was submitted to court by John Martin and Thomas Stevenson, acting as executors 27 April 1786.[xvi]  Johnny Scott and James Stevenson gave testimony.  A final inventory was made 28 December 1786, consisting of Negroes Boson and Hannah, one feather bed and furniture.  The inventory was presented by John Martin as one of his executors.  There is no mention of remaining lands.

There is virtually no court record hinting at the personal life of James Hawkins. Was he married? Did he have other children? If so were all deceased and only one grand child remaining by the time of his death?  Was Lucy raised by her grandfather?  Any one with documentation, or incite concerning this missing generation please feel free to contact the compiler: deliverancefarm@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[i] Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Order Books 1738-1749, page 63, 1739; Clerk's Office, Courthouse, Spotsylvania, Virginia.

[ii] The Hord Family of Virginia: A Supplement to the Genealogy of the Hord family, p. 49

[iii] Wm. Millers mother has said by some to be Mary Hawkins but there is no documentation to prove.

[iv] Martin, William s/o Henry and Jane Martin

[v] Crozier, Wm Armstrong. Virginia County Records Volume I Spotsylvania County 1721-1800. Genealogical Publishing, Baltimore, MD. 1978

[vi] Lindsey purchased the 200 acres from Larkin Chew in 1722 from Chew’s grant. Larkin Chew sold 300 a in St. George Parish to Henry Martin in 1724.

[vii] Virginia, Spotsylvania. Dbk D

[viii] William Armstrong Crozier, Virginia County Records Volume I Spotsylvania County 1721-1800 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1978), page 352.  Embry gives further details.

[ix] Thomas Haydon daughter Margaret m Benj. Leavell.  Edward Leavell b 1755 s/o Benj and Margt. married Elizabeth Hawkins d/o Nathan and Catherine Ann Haydon Hawkins.

[x] Virginia, Spotsylvania, Wbk B p 198

[xi] Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Order Books , 1758; Clerk's Office, Courthouse, Spotsylvania, Virginia.

[xii] Mary married 1 a Penny, 2 John Skeaths, 3 John Pollett. Va dbk K p 254.  The property ended up in hands of her son John Penny.

[xiii] Virginia, Orange Wbk 3 page 105

[xiv] Stevenson’s later migrate to Madison County, KY

[xv] Catharine Ann Haydon d/o James Jarvis Haydon and wife Mary Jones

[xvi] Orange County, Virginia, Minute Books film 007897259, vol 2 p 355, 27 Ap 1786; , .

Lucy ________ Martin...Confusion. Speculation. Misconception. Facts. Still a Brick Wall

Lucy  ____ Martin

3 December 1761 (Virginia) – 2 January 1834 (Jessamine Co., KY)

With so many people diving into family history, without any instruction, many on-line trees are copied and repeated.  That said, every one of us started as a newbie/fledgling genie at some point.  Unfortunately, new researchers, who grab anything on-line as truth end up tangled in briers.

There are several married Lucy’s to John Martin’s in Virginia before 1800. So what is fact about this Lucy ___ Martin?

Lucy was born 3 December 1761, as carved on her gravestone on what in the 1960’s was called the Clyde Hayden Cemetery on Logana Road in Jessamine County, Kentucky.  On-line databases call it Bronaugh Cemetery. I visited the cemetery and photographed all the stones in the mid 1970’s.  I can provide relationship to Lucy to all ten stones within the small burial plot.  George Bronaugh married her daughter Sarah.  Lucy died 2 January 1834 in Jessamine County.

Lucy resided in Spotsylvania County, Virginia with her husband, John Martin. They had at least 10 children between 1780 and 1813. Martin died there in 1813. Four of their children were still underage when he died and Lucy became their guardian. 

Lucy is named as James Hawkin’s granddaughter in his will in Orange County, Virginia, written 26 February 1786.  There are a few other deeds for James Hawkin’s.  Many Hawkins researchers have suggested he was the son of Nicholas Hawkins but give no further information. James Hawkins, along with John and Lucy Martin witnessed a deed by Mary Poteet, wife of John Poteet and mother of John Penny in Spotsylvania County, Virginia in 1784. (Vol 1, Wm Crozier, 1978 p 378 Mary m---Penny 2 John Skeaths/Skeats…3….)

Lucy, along with the Bronaugh’s and other family members are in Fayette County, Kentucky, by 1820, while probate matters are still being settled back in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.  A daughter Phebe, died before August of 1824 in Fayette County. 

In March,1821 she agreed to exchange land in Spotsylvania County, Virginia for land in Shelby County, Kentucky with a George Baggott. (Spotsylvania dbk W-384 & Shelby, KY dbk S-155) Son, John B. Martin acted as POA and it appears the land was for the benefit of the younger sons William and Thomas.  I have yet to finalize a title search in Shelby County on how the property was disposed or when.

By 1823 Lucy Martin appears on the tax lists of Jessamine where she lives out the reminder of her life.  She received several slaves from her Grandfather Hawkins and several from her marriage with John Martin.

Misconception!  On-line trees, as I mentioned in paragraph one state that John Martin married Lucy TODD.  It is fact that a John Martin did marry a Lucy Todd but this marriage nor Lucy Todd are the Lucy in Jessamine County, Kentucky.  The Martin-Todd marriage took place 5 November 1742 in St. Paul’s Parish which at that time was in King George County, Virginia.  That John Martin resided in Caroline County, Virginia.  The Lucy ___ Martin of this study was not even born at the time of this marriage.  Remember she is born in 1761.  A horrible blunder to attach to the Spotsylvania John and Lucy Martin. Two separate families. Lucy would be 19 years old when her first son, James H. Martin was born circa 1780.   

There is also a deed in 1780, the year the first son, James H. Martin is born, citing John Martin and wife. However, the deed leaves the wife’s name blank which can only leave us to use  speculation that this is Lucy.  1780, April 20 John Martin Spotsylvania County and [BLANK] his wife to James Marye of said county 800 pounds for 100 acres in St. George Parish. No witness. 

Yes, Lucy was thirteen years younger than John Martin and thus he may have had an earlier marriage. However, his probate records, census count and deed documentation do not mention any other children before 1780.

Speculation. Even if the tombstone of Lucy has been repeatedly misread, it is very worn, and she was closer in age to John Martin, she still could not be the Lucy that married in 1742.

Confusion. There is another John Martin - Lucy marriage.  This marriage takes place between John Martin and Lucy Layne August 1779 in Goochland County, Virginia by Rev. Douglas. Thomas Martin witnessed the marriage.  This marriage is closer in time frame to our subject, but again, is NOT the Lucy of this blog post.  Lucy Layne’s father, Jacob, consented to her marriage to John Martin of Goochland County.  Thanks to the Douglas Registry we also know that John and Lucy Layne Martin had three daughters baptized in the 1780’s – Judith, Sarah and Molly.  Judith married a Benjamin Duvall in Goochland in 1816.  I have found no Duvall in any of the documents reviewed for our subject, to date. Our subject’s daughter also named Sarah was not born until 1789 (married George Bronaugh). The Bronaugh’s were in Spotsylvania along with our subject.

The Martin’s of Goochland County are extensive and there have been several early studies of the various John Martin’s in that county. Much was reported in the now defunct Martin Family Quarterly.  During the time frame of 1780-1813 I find overlaps and variants that lead to the conclusion that this family cannot be in both counties at the same time.  Nor did I find any interaction with a Hawkins family.

When I began genealogy, I itched to fill in every blank on the largest pedigree chart I could obtain.  The years of have marched by and I learn more each day.  The goal is much more exciting. It is the story of each individual.  Lucy, granddaughter of James Hawkins, traveled from Virginia to Central Kentucky with her family, leaving her husband's grave and most likely other family behind.  Seven generations later my roots are deeply planted in Kentucky.  Each Martin story is colorful. 

The day I stood over Lucy __ Martin’s grave I felt peace.  We later visited her grandson, Wilson Martin’s farm, in Lincoln County.  Again, I had that feeling of being at home. It does sadden me that careless grasping to fill a blank have led many down the wrong path about who she is. I am sure there are more clue’s and stories to be told. I will not give up on Lucy nor that stone wall (in central Kentucky we have beautiful stone fences not brick walls).  Please feel free to email me at deliverancefarm@gmail.com.