Col. John# Martin

  Notes:

Ann G-P's 'research' has a) this John Martin being the son of another John Martin of Jamaica who was born in 1637) and b) the Martin's being 'directly related to the 1st Earl of Shannon & Baron Mendip & Lord Clifton'. We can rule out (b), although it is not completely spurious (see under Lucy Martin).

See http://www.lib.unb.ca/collections/loyalist/seeOne.php?id=693&string=
Sumary of which is;
John Martin emigrated from Dublin, Ireland, to Virginia in 1730.
He acquired a considerable amount of real estate in Virginia and married Martha, the daughter of Lewis Burwell of Carter's Creek.
He and son (Samuel, not Lewis) owned property in America and in England, at least ten vessels, and carried on an extensive trading enterprise. With the outreak of the American Revolution, the Martin property in Virginia was confiscated and sold in 1779 by the General Assembly of Virginia. Samuel Martin lost not only his estates in America, but he was forced to assign all his property in England to discharge his debts which had been contracted as a result of trade with the colonies between 1773 and 1776. This property included the well known Somerset House which passed into the hands of the Littledale family. In addition to his estates in America and the property in England, the Martins lost ten vessels, six of them by capture and the rest destroyed.
However it can't be THE Somerset House as this passed directly from the Royal Family to the State. Perhaps there is/was a 'well known' Somerset House in Virginia/Bristol ?

Also; http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~marshall/esmd42.htm;
"He resided at Bristol, England. He resided at King and Queen Co., VA. He resided at 'Clifton', Caroline Co., VA. He resided at Dublin, Ireland. He was a member of the House of Burgesses between 1738 and 1740 at Virginia. He left a will on 30 Apr 1760 at Dublin, Ireland; proved 15 Oct 1760. "

Details of his will (and thus his other children) give here;
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/WVWYOMIN/2001-03/0983978065
which says;
"John Martin of Dublin, Merchant. Will 30 April 1760; proved, Brother George Martin devised his lands in Milltown etc to trustees for my benefit. I have paid the sums to children of Brother James Martin. To daughter Agnes Martin £2000. To son Lewis Martin £500. To grandson George Bareley £200. To Andrew Stewart in full satisfaction out of my benefits under George Martins will £10 yearly, out of my estate in Virginia. To Caple Street Meeting £5. Lands of Milltown to eldest son George Martin and at his death to Edmon Sexton Perry and James Ager the younger of Dublin Esqrs in trust for his male heirs failing whom to second son Samuel Martin and his heirs male, then Eldest daughter Lucy Agar and heirs male. To second daughter Agnes Martin and heirs male and the right heirs. Lands in Virginia to 2 youngest sons Samuel and Lewis with succession in default to daughter Lucy Agar and Agnes Martin. Daughter Alicia Martin otherwise Campbell wife of son George Martin entitled under Marriage settlement to rent charges on lands in Virginia of £150 a year Irish currency. Daughters Lucy Agar wife of James Agae Esq £2000 her portion to be paid. Executors: sons George, Samuel, and Lewis. Wittness: Jas Shiel, Tho Leech, Thomas Fitzsimmons Codicle 15 October 1760. Same witnesses. Lands in Kilcoskanl charged with payment of rent to Ann Stewart widow and Jane Benson widow.
Prerogative Court of Ireland, will book __ 1761, fo, 215.
[This John Martin, the testator of 1760, was certainly Col. John Martin of Virginia, to whom his brother, Dr. George Martin of Dublin, bequeathed an estate in 1746, (see this magazine XXI, 249). It is equally certain that he was the Col. John Martin who lived in Caroline County in 17332 when Col. Byrd visited his home and who was a Burgess for that County. It will be seen from the will of Thomas Turner (this Magazine XX,349) that Turner states he bought a tract of land in Caroline County from "Col. John Martin and his son George." This the land sold in 1752 (see this Magazine XIII, 198) by "John and George Martin of the City of Bristol, merchants " through "John Martin gent., of Virginia, their attorney. Col. John Martin and his son George evidently removed from Virginia to Bristol where they became merchants. John Martin of Virginia , was no doubt another son of Col. Jno Martin and was the
Burgess for King William County, who died during the session of 1756. It seems probable, as there is no mention of any children of his in Col Martins will, that John Martin Jr. died without issue. Of the daughters, Elizabeth married in 1742, Patrick Barclay of Louisa Co. Va., Lucy, the eldest daughter, married first Henry Boyle, youngest son of Henry, first Earl of Shannon, and secondly, March 20, 1760, James Agar of Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, who in 1776 was created the Baron and in 1781, Viscount Clifden. Lady Clifden died July 26, 1802. The second surviving daughter, Agnes Martin, was unmarried at the date of her fathers will. Patty, youngest daughter, married in 1756, Edmond Sexton Perry, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons 1771-1785, and in 1785 created Viscount Perry. She had doubtlesss already been provided for. The will of Lucia, Viscountess Clifden (born Martin) was
provided for proved in 1811."

Not to be confused with Captain John Martin who was one of the earliest settlers in Virginia.

On http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~marshall/esmd42.htm has him down as father of Capt Abram Martin (b 7 Feb 1716), however I think this person is actually someone else see here; http://www.erikson.us/Ged2Html/d0000/f0000019.html#I9046
and
http://www.ishipress.com/pafg34.htm#868 says John Martin born in 1732 in Virginia, but this seems to be wrong.

John# married Martha# Burwell, daughter of Col. Lewis# Burwell and Martha# Lear. (Martha# Burwell was born in 1703 and died on 27 May 1738.)