While the name Obadiah (Obidiah, Obediah) may not make the top 20 list of boys names today, it was surprisingly popular in colonial eighteenth century America. The surname of Martin was also popular, with Martin men arriving at east coast ports from all over Europe. As a result there were many men named Obadiah Martin residing in the eastern part of America during the time-frame my Obadiah Martin lived (roughly 1730-1820). Here-in lies the confusion.

Across the internet I have seen conflicting information about where Obadiah Martin, son of James and Elizabeth (Crawford) Martin, lived and died. Some researchers/sites have him listed as dying in 1766 in Caroline County, VA. The website Find a Grave is one such site. Many researchers record him as dying in 1812 in TN and some say NC, others say 1820. Other’s have made such bizarre jumps and conclusions that some days I want to stop using the internet (yes Ancestry too) for research and go back to the good ole library. Maybe in a small way I can contribute something of value by sharing what I have found through my research. It won’t stop all the misinformation, but it might make me feel a little better, and maybe together we can unravel the genealogical puzzle of the Martin family. So – when it comes to Obadiah Martin and when he died – who is who and which is what? I am a firm believer that Obadiah died in 1812 in Claiborne County, TN – and this is my two-cents worth of information.

Obadiah Martin was born in 1738 to James Martin and Elizabeth (Crawford) Martin. He was born in Hanover County, VA (Hanover County est from New Kent County in 1720, James is on record living in Hanover County in 1722) and was one of eight children mentioned in James’ will. I won’t go through Obadiah’s life here, but I will provide what I believe proves he did not die in Caroline County, VA in 1766, but died in Claiborne County, TN in 1812.

While you are researching Obadiah Martin in NC, please note that the Obadiah living in Surry County is the son of David Martin, and nephew of Obadiah (b. 1738). This Obadiah (b. 1761) married Winnefred Cook and is almost always found living close to his brother Salathiel. They were Revolutionary War soldiers and moved to Surry County, NC after the war with father David. In Oct. 1783 this Obediah was deeded 500 acres on the north side of Tennessee opposite the Cumberland Camps below the mouth of the Clinch River. Obediah deeded the land to his cousin Joel Lewis who deeded it to his father William Terrell Lewis in May 1789. Salathiel was also deeded land in Tennessee. The information below is not about that Obadiah.

There is another Obadiah Martin (b. 1770) who was the son of James Thomas Martin Jr., and nephew of Obadiah (b. 1738). This Obadiah ends up moving to Kentucky and dies in 1822. The information below is not about that Obadiah either.

Here’s my information on Obadiah Martin, 1738-1820, son of James Martin and Elizabeth Crawford Martin:

The travels of Obadiah Martin (1738-1812)

• May 3, 1759 by land deed James Martin of St. Ann’s Parish in Albemarle County gave each of his sons land from a tract of land lying along both sides of Meriwether’s Branch, Rockfish River. Obadiah is one of the sons receiving land. Each other son received 200 acres, but there was no mention of the acreage given to Obadiah.
• September 25, 1771 will written by James Martin, presented in court on March 6, 1775 after James’ death, gave his son Obadiah 165 pounds two shillings. The will lists the same sons from the land deed and is clearly the same family.

We can stop here. This is 5 years after Obadiah was supposed to have died in 1766 in Caroline County, VA. (He didn’t)

• In 1777 Obadiah is living in Gloverston District of Caswell County, NC on the border of Caswell and Orange Counties. We find him listed in both counties as the borders move throughout the years – Orange County was formed in 1752 and Caswell County was formed from part of Orange County in 1777. Also on the tax list is Thomas Anthony, the name of Obadiah’s brother-in-law, husband of Elizabeth Martin, who is mentioned in James’ will. How do we know this is our Obadiah? Well, keep reading.
• Sept. 9, 1778 land grant: Obadiah Martin of Orange County NC purchased 328 1/2 acres on both sides of Jordan’s Creek, originally entered for 500 acres, on Caswell County line.
• May 1780: Obadiah Martin of Orange County NC petitions for permission to erect & build a water grist mill on Jordan’s Creek, the same to be considered a Public Grist Mill.
• Feb. 1781 after the Battle of Haw River in North Carolina, Major Micajah Lewis is wounded and later dies at his uncle Obediah Martin’s house. Micajah Lewis was Obadiah’s sister Sara and William Terrell Lewis’ son.
• Nov. 28, 1783 land deed: Obadiah and his wife Elizabeth of Orange County, NC sell 304 acres of land in Albemarle County, VA to William Grayson. The land lies along the waters of Meachums River beginning on a hillside joining Matthew Mill’s land and that now belongs to Richard Woods (James Martin’s land adjoined the Mill’s land and Mechums River is a branch off Rockfish River by Meriwether’s Branch)
• Dec. 1, 1783 land deed: Obadiah and wife Elizabeth of Caswell County, N.C. Province sell 200 acres in Albemarle County, VA to brother John Martin’s widow Sarah who married John Dinwiddie after John’s death. The deed lists the land as being part of the 1650 acres belonging to Capt. James Martin.
• 1790 Census, Hillsborough District, Orange County N.C.: Obadiah Martin is found owning 408 acres.

These two land transactions occurred in 1783 – 17 years after 1766 when Obadiah was said to have died in Caroline County, VA . (He didn’t)

• Sept 1787: Obadiah Martin sells 119 acres of land on Jordan’s Creek, Orange County, NC
• May 10, 1796: by land deed Obadiah Martin of Orange County, NC buys 1610 acres in Powell’s Valley, TN from William DuVal of Henrico County, VA for 5 shillings. Also mentioned in the deed is Menan Mills.
• Sept. 3, 1796: Obadiah Martin of Orange County, NC sells 82 1/2 acres of land in Caswell County on Jordan’s Creek.
• 1796: through several land deals, Obadiah Martin of Orange County N.C. sells the rest of his land in Caswell and Orange Counties.
• Oct. 17, 1799 Obediah Martin is living in Hawkins County, TN in Powell’s Valley and signs a petition to create a new county to be formed because Hawkins County is too far to ride.
• Feb. 24, 1806: Land deed between Alexander Martin of Cumberland KY and Obediah Martin a tract of 640 acres in Claiborne County above the mouth of Hoop Creek on Wallens Ridge.
• July 13, 1812: Land deed between Obediah Martin and his son Thomas D. Martin in which Obadiah sells Thomas 300 acres in Claiborne County TN where Obadiah currently lives.
• July 24, 1812: Obadiah Martin will names Menan Martin, his son as executor.
• May 10, 1820: Elizabeth Martin, Menan Martin, and John Martin, the executors appointed by the last will and testament of Obediah Martin, decd. came into court and filed an inventory of the said estate.

I believe this shows the Obadiah Martin b. 1738, son of James and Elizabeth (Crawford) Martin did not die in 1766 in Caroline County, VA. His father’s will from 1771 proves that. Following land deeds and tracking sales and relationships, it’s clear that Obadiah moved to Caswell County/Orange County NC and lived there from at least 1777 to 1796. From there he sells his land in NC and moves to TN, first residing in Hawkins County, TN. After Hawkins County was split up, Obadiah lived in the newly formed Claiborne County, TN. He died in 1820 and left a will identifying two sons: Thomas D. and Menan Martin.

In May 1841 Lucy Martin of the County of Claiborne, State of Tennessee, sells 350 acres in Claiborne County near the mouth of the Hoop Creek on the South Side of Powell’s river, being “the same tract of land where Obediah deceased owned”. The deed identifies the land as one Lucy Martin inherited from Obediah and purchased her siblings share between 1837 and 1838. Listed are brothers John, Thomas, and Menan and sisters Martha (Huddleston), Elizabeth (Southers), and Ann (Riley).

That’s it! If you have information to add to this topic please let me know!

Happy research.

Cheers!

Deborah

Sources:

• Tax Lists, Caswell County, NC 1777
• North Carolina, U.S. Land Grant file 1693-1960, Book 49, page 46, No. 1347
• The Deeds of Amherst County, Virginia 1761-1807 and Albemarle County, Virginia 1748-1763 by the Rev. Bailey Fulton Davis, page 498.
• Orange County North Carolina Court Minutes, 1777-1786, Book III (1227) folio 45
• Virginia County Court Records Deed Book, Albemarle County, Virginia 1758-1761, pp. 138-139
• Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements, Pension application of Samuel Eakin, State of Tennessee, Perry County: County Court October Term 1832
• North Carolina, U.S. Complied Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890, Gloverston District, Caswell County N.S. 1777
• Caswell County, North Carolina Record of Deeds & Grants Book K, entry 263, 1797-1799. Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah at Yanceyville, North Carolina October 30, 1946
• Court of Pleas and Quarter Session for Claiborne County, TN, page 113, Wednesday, May 10, 1820