We know from his will that like his father, Arnold Martin was a "coaster" in Marblehead. Family gravestones also call him "Captain", so he probably owned his own vessel. He was also at one point the Shipmaster for the port at Marblehead.

Not too much is known of this family group. Arnold Martin married Mary Oliver in 1792, and together they had five children for whom we can find records. Their oldest son Arnold married Mary Sparhawk of Marblehead, and they had four pregnancies, including a stillbirth in the first year of their marriage and the death at a young age of their seven-year-old son. Arnold himself was still alive when his father died in 1829.

Their second son Oliver died of typhus fever at the age of 21 in 1816, and their next son Thomas died one or two years later at Port au Prince with Captain Francis Selman when he was 20.

Their fourth child Mary Oliver was our direct ancestor and married first Benjamin Valentine, who died not long after. She then married George LeMaster, and together they had six children including two who died before they were given names. Sadly, of their six children, only their son George and their daughter Mary lived to adulthood. Mary herself died of tuberculosis at a fairly young age.

Their youngest child Martha born in 1803 was apparently still single and living at home when her father died in 1829. Nothing more can be found about her.

Arnold Martin left a will naming his surviving wife Mary as executrix. He wrote his will while in poor health. He died of tuberculosis at the age of 63. (His widow survived him for another decade or so). The will and accompanying papers have been transcribed below:

In the name of God, amen. I, Arnold Martin of Marblehead in the county of Essex and commonwealth of Massachusetts, coaster, being weak of body, but of sound mind and memory, do, this twenty second day of July in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and twenty nine, make, publish and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following viz.

It is my will and direction, that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid as soon as it can conveniently be done after my decease; and for this purpose I hereby authorize and direct my executrix hereinafter named to make sale of such part or parts of my personal or real estate, as may be necessary to effect this object.

I do hereby give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Martin all my real and personal estate, of every name and description, which may remain after my debts are paid; the whole of which not being more than sufficient to yield to her a comfortable subsistence a to afford my daughter Martha Martin, who resides with her, a home and sufficient house room, while she remains unmarried.  It is to be distinctly understood, that in bequeathing both my real and personal property to my wife, Mary Martin, it is my will and intention, that the fee simple thereof should be wholly vested in her, so that she shall have the right to dispose it in such manner as she shall find it most expedient.

I do hereby give and bequeath unto my son Arnold Martin ten dollars, and to my daughter, Mary LeMaster ten dollars and to my daughter Martha Martin ten dollars to be paid to them by my executrix out of the personal property of which I may devised; these sums being the utmost, which can be spared from the property, which I have herein bequeathed to their mother for her support.

Lastly, revoking all other wills by me heretofore made, I do hereby appoint my wife Mary Martin to be executrix of this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year before written in this instrument.

Arnold Martin

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the aforementioned, Arnold Martin, … his last will and testament, in presence of us, who, at the request of said Martin and in his presence have hereunto submitted our names as witnesses to the same:

Chandler Flagg
John Bartlett
Abigail D. Swasey

To the Honorable Daniel A. White Esquire, Judge of Probate for the County of Essex,

 

 

Pursuant to a warrant from your honor, we, the subscribers, the committee therein named, having been first sworn, have made the following

INVENTORY AND APPRAISEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF
ARNOLD MARTIN

Real Estate

One undivided fourth part of one half of the Nichols house, so called	30.00
2 cow leases on the neck at $75 each	150.00
1/2 the dwelling house and outhouse and land under and adjoining the Swett house, so called	150.00
1/2 ? No. 40 in the new meeting house	9.00
	639.00

Personal Estate

2 green chairs	0.50
6 flag bottom chairs	1.00
1 round do	.50
1 desk and drawers	4.50
1 light stand	.20
1 card table	3.00
1 small ? table	.25
Five set ?	1.00
1 pair bellows	.10
Crockery ware	1.00
9 silver spoons	6.50
Pewter and tinware	2.00
3 flat irons	1.00
Earthen and wooden ware and sundries	1.02
2 saws and 2 hammers	.90
2 pine tables	1.00
1 sieve and 1 small ladle	.25
2 buckets and tubs	.50
1 feather bed	1.50
1 four-foot table	2.50
1 card table	2.00
1 snap table	1.75
1 looking glass	4.00
1 Bible	1.50
1 pair tongs and shovel set	.50
1 hair trunk	.2.00
1 pair cotton sheets	4.80
1 pair linen do	2.25
Wearing apparel	15.00
6 pair pillow cases	1.00
5 pair blankets	6.50
1 counterpane and curtains	.3.00
2 woollen quilts	1.25
Lot of old nails	.50
Lot of old cable and rigging	25.00
1 copper kettle and trivet	4.00
2 old wheelbarrows	1.00
Sameul E H. Grecus note dated May 8, 1828 for $18 18 cents and interest	19.68
Total	199.40
Brought Forward: Amount of real estate	639.00
Amount of personal estate	199.40
TOTAL	838.40

Dated at Marblehead this fourteenth day of October, A.D. 1829.

Signed:            Mary Martin, Executrix

                        John Bartlett
Isaac Collyer                          Committee
J. Sparhawk, Jr.

Essex, ss. At a Court of Probate holden at Marblehead in and for said county, on the first Wednesday in April, A.D. 1830.

Mary O. Martin, executrix, presents the foregoing, and makes oath that it contains a true and perfect inventory of the estate of Arnold Martin, late of Marblehead, in said county, coaster, deceased, testate, so far as has come to her hands or knowledge, and that if any thing further shall hereafter appear, she will cause it to be of record herewith in the probate office: -- It is thereupon decreed, that the same be accepted, allowed and record.

Signed: D.A. White, Judge of Probate