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The Martin Family
Genealogy
Diana Lehman My
great-great-grandfather, the Rev. George Henry Martin,
though a native of Emmitsburg and in his time a
prominent clergyman of the German Reformed Church, has
apparently been unknown to local historians and is
omitted from most accounts of his father’s family.
Born in 1816, he was the son of John Martin and Mary
Groff of the Tom’s Creek district of Emmitsburg and
grandson of the early settler Matthias Martin and his
wife Anna Barbara Troxell. Rev. Martin’s obscurity in
Frederick County can be explained by the fact that he
was educated in Pennsylvania and spent most of his
professional career in Virginia, where many of his
descendants still reside.
Rev. George Henry
Martin was born on October 21, 1816 in Emmitsburg, MD
and confirmed at the Church of the Incarnation in
Emmitsburg by the Rev. Elias Heiner on July 23, 1835.
Although no birth or baptismal record has been found in
Frederick County, an article written in 1897 by Rev.
Martin’s colleague, the Rev. N.H. Skyles (who was also
father-in-law to Rev. Martin’s son John William Henry)
states: "Rev. George Henry MARTIN, D.D., son of
John and Mary (Groff) Martin, was born at Emmitsburg,
Md., October 21, 1816."
Further evidence of his
parentage appears in the will of John Martin of
Emmitsburg (1860), where the testator states, "My
Son, George H., I charge with the sum of Nine hundred
dollars having expended that sum for his
Education". George H. Martin did in fact receive
what was undoubtedly an expensive education. He studied
at the classical Institution of the Reformed Church in
York, PA and then at Marshall College, in Mercersburg,
PA (later to merge with Franklin College to become
present-day Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster,
PA), from which he graduated with an A.B. degree in
1838. After further study at the Seminary of the
Reformed Church, he was licensed to preach in 1841. He
was ordained in 1843 and received a D.D. (Doctor of
Divinity) degree from Mercersburg College in 1876.
A Minister of the
German Reformed Church, he led congregations in Maryland
and Virginia. From 1843-1848 he served as minister at
New Hope, VA; from 1849-1865 at Lovettsville, VA; from
1866-1884 at Woodstock, VA (St. Paul's Church); 1884 at
Burkittsville, MD; and from 1885-1887 at Timberville,
VA. Rev. Martin was responsible for construction of a
new Reformed church in Woodstock, VA in the aftermath of
the Civil War. He successfully raised money locally and
from congregations in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and
served as pastor at the new church, St. Paul’s, for 19
1/2 years.
The Church, still an
active congregation, has stained glass windows
commemorating both Rev. Martin and his grandson, George
Robert Martin, who died at age 13. Rev. Martin was
married to Esther Gailey on May 16, 1844 in Rockingham
Co., VA . They were the parents of two sons, John
William Henry Martin and Robert Nevin Martin. Rev.
Martin died on September 18, 1887 in Timberville, VA and
was buried in Massanutten Cemetery, Woodstock, VA.
The parents of Rev.
Martin were John Martin of Emmitsburg and his wife, Mary
Groff. John Martin was born on May 21, 1771, probably in
Upper Dublin Twp., Philadelphia County, PA. The 1850
census records John Martin, age 80, as a native of
Pennsylvania. A farmer and blacksmith, he was identified
as "son of Matthias" in the 1798 tax
assessment of "Tom’s Creek Hundred."
He appears on the 1800
Frederick County census for Emmitsburg Election District
#4 as the head of a family consisting of 1 male 26-45, 1
male 16-26, 1 female 26-45, and 1 female under 10. On
April 20, 1805 for the sum of 616 pounds he purchased 112
acres of land in Frederick County, part of "Diggs
Lott," from Matthias Martin. This same
tract of 112 acres (a.k.a.
Alta
Vista)was sold on February 5, 1862 by Abia
Martin, executor of the will of his father John Martin,
to Samuel Maxel for the sum of $2,240, and then
repurchased by Abia Martin from Maxel on February 7,
1862 for $2,300.
Although no record has
been located to document the marriage of John Martin and
Mary Groff, Mary’s father, Henry Graff/Groff,
corroborates the family tradition in his will where he
mentions "my daughter Mary wife of John
Martin". Mary Groff was born on July 21, 1775 and
died on May 1, 1856 in Emmitsburg. Her father, Henry
Groff, described as a native of New Jersey in the notice
of his death in the Frederick-Town Herald was born March
31, 1751 and died January 31, 1824. Henry Groff of
Emmitsburg was the son of Henry Groff, an early settler
in Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, NJ, and Mary Harly.
John Martin’s 1860
will, in addition to mentioning his son George H. as
discussed above, also names his other children, who were
as follows: Elizabeth Martin, wife of Samuel Valentine,
born in 1799 and died in 1872 in Emmitsburg, MD;
deceased son Joseph Martin, born on October 14, 1800 and
died on July 16, 1860 in Emmitsburg, MD; and Barbara
Martin, wife of William Black, born on June 8, 1808 and
died on February 23, 1887 in Emmitsburg, MD. John Martin’s
will was witnessed by Joshua Motter, Mathias
P. Zacharias, and Samuel Motter and was proved
September 3, 1860. John Martin died on August 22, 1860
in Emmitsburg, MD and was buried in the Emmitsburg
Lutheran Cemetery. The dates of birth and death
inscribed on his tombstone are May 21, 1771 - August 22,
1860.
The only son of John
Martin to remain in Emmitsburg was Abiah Martin, who,
according to his gravestone, was born on February 19,
1803 and died on December 31, 1882. A biographical
sketch of Abiah’s son, George Thomas Marshall Martin,
notes that Abiah Martin was born on his father's
homestead, where he learned blacksmithing, his father's
profession. After his marriage to Ann Sophia Currens,
born February 14, 1820 and died February 22, 1889,
Emmitsburg, Abiah Martin resided for a time in Adams
Co., PA, then purchased a farm along Beaver Branch in
Emmitsburg, where he worked as a farmer and blacksmith
until his death. He was buried in Emmitsburg Mountain
View Cemetery. Abiah Martin’s will, dated December 28,
1882, proved January 15, 1883, mentions his children
George T.M. Martin, James P. Martin, John W. Martin, A.
Harny Martin, and Mary M. Martin.
John Martin of
Emmitsburg was the son of Matthias
Martin, a native of Pennsylvania. The gravestone
of Matthias Martin in the Emmitsburg Lutheran Cemetery
indicates age at death (which occurred February 25,
1815) as 69 years, 7 months, 16 days. Based on this
information, his date of birth calculates back to July
9, 1745. Matthias Martin was confirmed on April 4, 1760
in the Germantown Reformed Church ("Matthew Marten,
14 years"). Germantown Reformed Church records
further indicate that Matthias Martin married Barbara
Traxel/Troxell on April 24, 1770 in Germantown, PA:
"Matthias Martin m. Barbara Traxel, Whitpain, on
April 24, 1770". Philadelphia County Tax Lists
published in the Pennsylvania Archives show Matthias
Martin listed directly beneath the name of his father,
John Martin, in the 1769 Proprietary Tax Assessment of
Upper Dublin Twp.
On September 18, 1773,
Matthias Martin of Upper Dublin Twp. was recorded as
having indentured one Christopher New as servant for the
term of 4 years, 6 months and in the amount of 20.3.0
pounds. The 1774 Provincial Tax Assessment for Upper
Dublin Twp. shows John Martin taxed on 120 acres, 1
horse, and 2 cattle and Matthias Martin taxed on 1
horse, 2 cattle and 1 servant. Matthias Martin lived in
Upper Dublin as late as 1776, when the Tax Assessment of
Upper Dublin Twp. records him as paying taxes on 75
acres, 1 horse, and 1 servant and his father, John
Martin, taxed on 75 acres, 1 horse and 1 cow.
Matthias Martin
migrated to Frederick Co., MD, sometime between the date
of the 1776 Upper Dublin Tax Assessment and May 31,1777,
when he is recorded as purchasing from William Fout two
tracts of land, 171 acres of "Resurvey on Digges
Lott" and 33 acres known as "Martin’s
Intent" in Frederick County. Matthias’ relocation
to Frederick Co. was probably part of a family migration
of members of the Martin and Troxell families of Upper
Dublin. His sister Elizabeth, who had married John
Troxell, his wife’s brother, and his father-in-law,
Johan Peter Troxell, became residents of Emmitsburg at
roughly the same time.
J.T. Scharf’s History
of Western Maryland notes that Matthias Martin, from
Germantown, Pa. settled near the tract of land that John
Peter Troxell had bought from Indian Tom. The farm was
later owned by Peter Sebold. As mentioned previously, in
1805 Matthias Martin sold to John Martin for 616 pounds
part of the tract "Diggs Lot" consisting of
112 acres; the deed was acknowledged by Barbara Martin,
wife of Matthias.
Matthias Martin's will
mentions his wife Barbara Martin; sons George Martin,
Peter Martin, and John Martin; and daughters Elizabeth
Sheets (wife of George Sheets), Magdalena Motter (wife
of Lewis Motter), Barbara Smith (wife of George Smith),
Mary Wampler (wife of Leonard Wampler), Catharina Ott
(wife of Frederick Ott), and Margarete Firor (wife of
Daniel Firor). The will also mentions his property of
about 160 acres "known by the name of part of the
Monocacy on Diggs Lot & Martin Intent," which
he willed to his son George. He appointed his son in law
Daniel Firor and son George Martin as executors. The
will was witnessed by George Flack, Isaac Wilson and
Frederick Crabs and was dated July 9, 1813. Matthias Martin died on
February 25, 1815 in Emmitsburg, MD.
Anna Barbara
Troxell, wife of Matthias Martin, was born on
September 8, 1750, probably in Bucks Co., PA. The
Germantown Reformed Church records indicate the
confirmation at Easter and Pentecost, 1765, of
"Maria Barbara Drachsel, 14 years, 8 months".
Anna Barbara Troxell Martin would have been 14 years, 8
months at Easter 1765. In the same listing, John
Draschel, 16 years, is mentioned. This is probably a
reference to Anna Barbara's brother John Troxell , who
would have been 17 years old at Easter 1765.
Anna Barbara Martin’s
gravestone in the Emmitsburg Lutheran Cemetery indicates
she was the wife of Matthias Martin and died Sep 13,
1823, age 73 yrs, 0 months, 5 days.She signed a will on
September 15, 1819 in Frederick Co., MD that was
witnessed by Jacob Danner, John Troxel, and Isaac
Baugher. The will was proved September 30, 1823 and
mentions her daughters Elizabeth Sheets (wife of Geo.
Sheets), Mary Magdalena (wife of Lewis Motter ), Barbara
(widow of George Smith ), Mary (wife of Leonard Wampler),
Margaret (wife of Daniel Firor), and her late daughter
Catherine (wife of Frederick Ott ); sons John Martin,
Peter Martin, and deceased son George.
Pennsylvania records
indicate that Matthias Martin of Emmitsburg was the son
of John Martins (John Marten/Johannes Mertens) of Upper
Dublin Twp., Philadelphia (later Montgomery) County, PA.
John Merten of Whitpain Twp. (situated directly
southeast of Upper Dublin Twp.) died March 6, 1799 at 77
yrs, 10 months, 9 days of age, with a calculated date of
birth of April 27, 1721. As previously noted, tax
records of Upper Dublin Twp., Philadelphia County,
establish the residence of both John and Matthias Martin
in that township in 1769, 1774 and 1776.
Records of the
Germantown Reformed Church include several additional
references to John Merten/Martins: John Martin and wife
Anna Barbara were sponsors at the baptism of Anna
Barbara, daughter of John Kohler and Maria Agatha on May
9, 1758; John Marten and wife were sponsors at the
baptism of John, son of William Clauss and Anna
Cunigunda, on September 18, 1763; and at the First
Reformed Church of Philadelphia, John Mertens and his
wife Elizabeth were sponsors at the baptism of
Catharine, daughter of John Beck and Elizabeth, on
September 18, 1776. Johannes Mertins is also recorded as
witness, along with Ellis Lewis and Nathan Cleaver, to
the will of Phebe Walton of Upper Dublin, Philadelphia
Co., on 8 mo 7, 1773.
The marriage of John
Martin and Elizabeth Schubart on February 23, 1773
appears in the records of the German Reformed Church of
Philadelphia. This record and the 1758 baptismal record
listing John Martin’s wife as Anna Barbara suggest
that the 1773 marriage to Elizabeth Schubart was a
second marriage, with first wife Anna Barbara the likely
mother of Matthias and Elizabeth, both born long before
1773.
John Martin of Upper Dublin Twp. may have
been a passenger aboard the Palatine ship Loyal Judith,
which arrived at Philadelphia on September 3, 1742. The passenger list as
transcribed by Prof. I. Daniel Rupp includes a
"Johannes Mertens" among the passengers.
Strassburger lists "Hannes Martins," age 20
years among those imported on that arrival. John Martins
of Upper Dublin Twp., Montgomery Co., PA , would have
been 21 years of age on Sept 3, 1742, making him a
reasonable candidate for the Johannes Mertens/Hannes
Martins who arrived aboard the Loyal Judith in September
1742. The will of John Martins of Upper Dublin Twp.,
dated April 9, 1798 mentions his wife Elizabeth and
children 'Matthis Martins' and 'Elizabeth Trexler.' The
will was witnessed by Daniel Shoemaker and Peter
Steriger on April 9, 1798; the executors were John
Martins' "trusty friend" Robert Loller and
Baltzer Ernst and was proved April 27, 1799.
Johan
Peter Troxell, the father of Anna Barbara
Troxell Martin, was born on April 3, 1719 in Wolfersheim,
Germany and was baptized there on April 7, 1719. He
emigrated to America with his father Johannes aboard the
ship Samuel, which arrived at Philadelphia on August 30,
1737. The Trachsels settled in the town of Egypt, Bucks
Co., where Johan Peter Traxel resided when he was
naturalized on September 5, 1748.
He built a stone house
in Egypt, near Coplay Creek, that still stands and is an
historic landmark. Johan Peter Troxell’s first wife,
Barbara Saeger, was mother of his children Anna Barbara
Troxell Martin and John Troxell. She died and he
remarried to Magdalena Schreiber by 1761, and they were
the parents of six children. He moved to Gwynedd
Township (now Montgomery County, PA), where he is
recorded as paying taxes in 1769 on 170 acres and a
grist mill and saw mill.
Subsequently, he moved
to Frederick County, MD, where on May 18, 1785, Peter
Troxel of Frederick County, farmer, purchased a 4 ½
acre tract, part of the "Resurvey of Digges
Lott," from Wm. Digges Esq. In his will, dated
December 15, 1798, Peter Troxel of Frederick County left
5 shillings each to his "beloved Son John
Troxel" and his "beloved daughter Barbara
Martin," with the majority of his estate going to
his wife Modelena Troxel and to his sons Jacob, George,
Frederick, and Peter, and to daughters Modlena Coon and
Elisabeth Crise. He died on January 25, 1799 in
Emmitsburg, and is buried in Tom’s Creek Lutheran
Cemetery.
Data sources available from Diana
Lehman from Needham, MA, who can be
reached via e-mail at
dclehman@rcn.com
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