Richard MARTIN (1609 – 1694) was Alex’s 11th great grandfather, one of 4,096 in this generation of the Miner line.

Richard Martin - Coat of Arms

Richard Martin was born in 1563 in Ottery St Mary, Devon, England. His parents were Francis Martyn and Sarah [__?__]. He married Katherine LYDE 23 Nov 1579 in Branscombe, Devon, England. Richard died 6 Aug 1633 in Ottery St Marys, Devon, England.

Richard and Katherine were married in Saint Winifred's Church, Branscombe, Devon

Saint Winifred’s Church  dedicated to Saint Winifred, a Welsh saint. It is among the oldest and most architecturally significant parish churches of Devon. It probably dates back as far as about 995, but extant records on the vicars only go back to the thirteenth century.

There is some archaeological evidence to suggest an earlier Saxon church may have occupied the site.  The building has a traditional west-east alignment. It is built on a levelled area that can not be seen from the coast. The choice of location may have been for protection of the original Saxon church from Viking raiders. Alternatively, the church may have been placed on an earlier pre-Christian holy site. Occupying such a pagan site would have allowed the Church to both challenge paganism and benefit from any positive religious feelings associated with the site.

The church building is partly Norman and partly later medieval. The tower is central and the transepts which are later stand unusually to the west of the tower. The nave is Norman, the transepts perhaps mid 13th century. The chancel is probably 14th century, though the east window was replaced in the time of Bishop Neville (1458–64). Interesting features include the font which is 15th century and the pulpit which is a three-decker pulpit and as such almost unique in Devon.

Katherine Lyde was born 1566 in Ottery St Mary, Devon, England. Her parents were xx. Katherine died 16 Jan 1603 in Ottery, Devon, England.

Children of Richard and Sarah:

Richard Martin Sr. was the father of  Robert, Abraham, Isaac and Richard Martin who all settled in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

Children

1. Robert Martin

Robert’s wife Joanna Upham was born 1591 in Bicton, Devon, England. Her parents were Richard UPHAM and Maria [__?__].  Joanna died 8 Nov 1668 in Mass.

Robert and Joanna were part of the Hull Company which set sail on March 20, 1635, from Weymouth, Dorset, England.

Robert leaving his property to a brother, Richard, in England.

Widow Joanna Martin’s Inventory

[fol. 52] “Rehoboth the 26th february 1668 The Inventory of Johanna Martin” was taken by Thomas Cooper, Sr., Peter Hunt, Henry Smith and William Sabin. It was “exhibited to the Court held att Plymouth the 2oond of March 1668 on the oath of John Ormsbey;” The only mention of real estate is: “Housing and land” £120.

* See Mayflower Descendant, XI : 156.

2. Abraham Martin

Abraham’s wife Christiane Lange was born in 1589.

Abraham’s property went to the children of Richard and John ORMSBY,who were relatives. Elizabeth Martin, sister of Robert, Abraham and Isaac was the wife of Deacon John Upham.

3. Isaac Martin

Isaac’s wife Margaret Ford was born in 1599 in Ottery St Mary, Devon, England.   Margaret died in Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass.

Child of Isaac and Margaret

i. Mary Margaret Martin b. 1619 in Pontypool, Trevethan, Monmouthshire, Wales; d. 1684 in Taunton, Bristol, Mass.; m. 1640 Taunton, Mass to James Henry Leonard (1621 – 1691)

James’ parents were  Thomas Leonard, 1577-1638, and Lydia White. He emigrated  from Pontipool, Monmouthshire, Wales, with his brothers  Henry, and Philip.   These immigrants were the founders of the first successful iron-works in America.

“It is said that the Leonards had been in the iron industry for twelve hundred years, since the days of the “forestsmiths” of Germany, where the name Leonard is found in old German records of the sixth century. The Saxon Leonards, workmen in metals, came to England very early and settled among the iron hills of Kent and Sussex. Later, as the mines in this vicinity were less productive, some of them removed to the iron mining districts of Wales from whence James and Henry Leonard came, leaving their forges in England “plastered with mortgages,” not only at Pontipool but also at Belaton, Stafford County. In the nineteenth century the Leonards might have redeemed their title to this property, but it would have involved an expensive and lengthy suit in the Court of Chancery, which was not undertaken.

“Being well versed in the iron lore, the secrets of which had been long handed down from father to son, James and Henry Leonard, on their arrival in America, at first found employment with one John Winthrop at his bloomery near Lynn, established by Adam Hawkes in 1630. The following entry has been found in an old account book of Winthrop’s dated 1651. “James Leonard, fifteen days’ worke in ye forge oe 1.13.0.”

“After a short connection with John Winthrop’s iron effort at Braintres, the Leonard Brothers struck out for themselves, testing the streams and ponds for chalybeate evidence, little Thomas and James who had come holding onto “Uncle Henry’s finger,” probably having the time of their lives fishing with birch rods on these expeditions. Their elders found large deposits of bog iron, particularly in Quittacus Lake, Middleboro, which were extracted by means of great tongs from the lakes and swamps. They made a contract with the town of Taunton to set up a bloomery there. A stock company was formed, one of the stock holders being Elizabeth Pole, who had bought Taunton from the Indians for a peck of beans.

“The Leonards called their bloomery Raynham forge, doubtless from Raynbam in England, which is the station where one alights to visit Belhus mansion at Aveley Easex, the head quarters of the English Leonards where the beautiful portraits are of our English ancestors. The owner, Sir Thomas Barrett Leonard, is a landed proprietor of at least 10,000 acres of land inberited from the early Leonards. It may be that James and Henry Leonard lived here in their boyhoods and had childhood’s associations with Raynham, for which they named their forge. The site of this old forge which was carried on by seven generations of Leonards, was pointed out to me by my father, when as a child I rode with him through Raynham to Taunton.

“This was the parent forge for many others not only in this vicinity but all over the Atlantic sezboard of the United States, substantiating the famous saying “Wherever you find iron works you will find a Leonard.” The proudest accomplishment of these various forges was in 1775, when Eliphalet Leonard of the fifth generation made in Easton the first bar of American steel.

“James Leonard was a warm friend of the good Indian chief Massasoit who used frequently to visit him, sleeping under his roof and eating his bread. James gave him every assistance in the repair of his guns and making his weapons and tools. Massasoit, before his death, required a solemn oath of his son Philip that he would never harm a Leonard, and Philip in 1675 in an imposing meeting in Taunton Church at which James Leonard was present, affixed his mark to a document promising peace with the men of Taunton. Philip’s tribe molested the white settlers in Middleboro and New Bedford, but the inhabitants of Taunton and Bridgewater suffered little in King Philip’s war, and no harm was done to the Leonards with Philip’s consent. Thus the name of Leonard represents to Taunton not only splendid enterprise, but the hospitality and friendliness which secured safety for the town at a critical period. King Philip had a summer home near the Leonards, and Lake Nipenicket between Raynham and Bridgewater was a favorite fishing ground of his. There is a tradition that Philip’s head was secreted after his death under the old Leonard house in Raynham.

“James Leonard, the immigrant, died in 1691. His wife, Mary Martin, had died earlier and he had married a second wife named Margaret.

6. Richard MARTIN Jr. (See his page)

Richard’s will dated  6/2/1686 and probated 5/7/1695 names no wife.

At the Rhode Island Historical Society Library at Providence, in D.A.R. record books of Vital Statistics compiled by various Chapters, by years. In Vol. for year 1956. Abstracts of Wills and Probates of Pawtucket, R.I.

Probate of Will;

Name; Richard Martin of Rehoboth, Colony of New Plymouth
Date; June 2, 1686 Probated; May 7, 1695
Wife; None mentioned
Sons; Richard Martin, Jr.; John Martin; Francis Martin.
Grandsons; John Martin (Richard’s oldest son).
John ORMSBY (Grace’s eldest son).
Daughters; Grace ORMSBY, Annis Chaffee
Executor; John Martin assisted by Deacon Samuel Newman, and Wm. Carpenter.

Item: It is my will that my grandson, John Ormsby, my daughter Elanor’s son, shall posses and enjoy and improve my lands on the North of the Town of Rehoboth, divided and undivided, until my grandchildren in Old England come over to make use of them, and if, they never come over —- the said John Ormsby to have and enjoy them for ever.

*Note here that the genealogist uses the name Elanor for Richard Martin’s daughter, but at the probate proceedings the name Grace is used, as it is in other records.

Sources:

http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/b_m.htm

http://www.ormsby.net/genie/John/John_1641.html#anchor19851704

http://www.gawer.org/genweb/I1068.html

http://www.ormsby.net/genie/Miscellaneous/Upham.html#anchor35274590