How exciting! I had no idea where this journey would lead when we packed our family up four years ago and moved from the Rocky Mountains to the Smoky Mountains. The move came because of an incredible job offer but ended up being a wonderful exploration of family history. Six months ago my husband verified his status as a First Family of Tennessee and now I have all the paperwork necessary (I think) to prove I am also a First Family of Tennessee. What a strange journey this has been.
To be registered as a First Family of Tennessee, one has to prove that a direct ancestor lived in Tennessee before or by statehood in 1796. The East Tennessee Historical Society manages the program and is very diligent in their review process. When one is recognized as a First Family of Tennessee, a certificate is received and the name is entered into the official records of the East Tennessee Historical Society.
The Martin family came from England to Virginia and on to North Carolina, then Tennessee. On a recent trip exploring East Tennessee, I found a land deed for Obediah Martin of Orange County, North Carolina where he purchased 1610 acres in Powell Valley on Powell River, on May 10, 1796. I believe Obediah was in Powell Valley and left Betty behind in North Carolina while he established their new homestead. On September 3, 1796 Betty signed a deed selling the last of their land on Jordan’s Creek, in now Caswell County, North Carolina.
When Obediah moved to Powell Valley in what would shortly thereafter become Tennessee, he was living in Hawkins County. On October 17, 1799 Obediah signed a petition to the Tennessee General Assembly. The petition was from citizens of Hawkins County who live north of the Clinch River and wished to be added to a new county if one is formed from Grainger County, because they have “upwards of forty miles” to travel across mountains and rivers to attend County courts, musters, and elections. Claiborne County was formed in 1801 from parts of Hawkins and Granger Counties.
With this information and Obediah’s will, I believe I have the connections on down the line to my dear old Dad and I think I can now prove we are a First Family of Tennessee. It wasn’t easy putting the pieces together – I think the biggest difficulty was keeping separation between Obediah Sr. and his nephew Obediah. I guess the East Tennessee Historical Society will determine if I was successful!
Unraveling the history of the Martin family ………
Cheers,
Deborah
Hello, Deborah…. Here are some interesting links:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maison_de_Blois
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famille_de_Chartres
https://fitzmartin.tribalpages.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FitzMartin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobald_the_Elder
https://genealogie.quebec/stemma4web/info/110401
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_comtes_et_ducs_de_Chartres
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_noble_houses
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cemais_(Dyfed)
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1109574426913357688/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1109574426913157919/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_fitz_Martin
https://groups.google.com/g/soc.roots/c/lhdDEycYyxQ?pli=1
https://www.ourfamtree.org/view.php?pid=7599&aid=41541
https://sanhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/07Lyte-1.pdf
Thanks Ian!
Hello I believe my family to be a descendants from Obadiah Martin and slathiel Martin my geology shows many of the lines. We live in Missouri and down through Oklahoma and kansas. How would go about getting this document.
Hi Deborah, I think we are distant cousins! Obadiah and Salathiel were sons of David Martin – my 5th great uncle. That entire family moved from Virginia to Surry County NC around 1776/77. Salathiel eventually moved to Claiborne County TN, where my family moved to. I think I saw a land deed that put Salathiel in TN prior to statehood. Both he and brother Obadiah received land grants in TN because of their military service in the Revolutionary War. Obadiah gave his land to a cousin, but Salathiel kept his. I may have a copy of it somewhere, I will check.
Hi Debra, my name is Melissa Holloway. I believe this is my family as well. My grandmother recently passed away and her grandmother was Bertha Tennessee Martin, of Missouri. I found you on my attempts to discover all of my maternal line. My family didn’t know much about the side of the family because Bertha’s mother died when she was just a small child. However, I have tracked my maternal line to Elizabeth Flippin, Virginia, born 1667. Thank you for this information, and we may just be cousins.
I am trying to find a Solomon Martin b. 1793 in Tennessee. Wife is unknown. Daughter is Sarah Louise Martin b 1815 in Hardamon Co., who married William McGee.
Also, are there Black Martins in Hardamon ?
Hi I’m trying to find my ancestors
Abijah Martin wife Susan Gilbert Martin
son Jeff Martin 1857 possibly Claiborne County Tennessee wife Polly Collins
His son John Marion Martin b. August3,1887
m. Nancy (Nannie Spence)
If they are in your family tree can you help me or lead me in the right direction I am at a standstill
Thank you
Hey, I as well am looking for Marion Martin born 1887 and had a wife named Nan. I am looking for any information up that tree line om behalf of Brenda Martin, Clyde Martin’s daughter. Please reach out to me, my name is Ashley.
My grandpa’s name was Walter Richard Martin Jr. I wrote earlier and said his name was oley but my mother corrected me on that I never knew him .