Thomas Martin, a seaman or "coaster" was the son of a long-lived man who had several long-lived children, including Thomas, who lived until he was almost 97 years old. Thomas married Martha Nicholson, the daughter of another old Marblehead family, and together they had nine children. Of these nine, only four were named in Thomas' probate papers: Thomas, Arnold, Emma, and John; and of these four, Thomas had died the previous year, so his quarter share of his father's estate went to his heirs. Thomas and Martha had three daughters named Martha. The first two would have died before the third was born, and we assume the third Martha died before the death of her father.

We don't know whether their son Peter survived long enough to marry and have children. No records exist for either a marriage or for his death, but since he wasn't listed in his father's probate papers, we assume he died before 1828.

Of their four children who did marry and have children, two, Thomas and Arnold are BOTH our direct ancestors. A chart showing the Martin interconnection appears below:

Son Thomas had two wives with children with each spouse as did their daughter Emma, who married two men with the Sparhawk surname (I assume they were brothers). Their four children who married gave them about 26 grandchildren (not including those who died in infancy or very young).

There is a record of a Thomas Martin of Marblehead who served in the Revolutionary War. There were several Thomas Martins of Marblehead, but our Thomas appears to be the only one who was born at the proper time to have been the right age for such service.

Unfortunately, we know very little of the lives of Thomas and Martha. Sadly, Martha fell down a flight of stairs and died at the age of 77. (Another direct ancestor, Jane Besom Lemaster, wife of LeMaster, suffered the same fate when she was 72 years of age. Martha's husband Thomas survived her by 15 years.

The probate papers for Thomas Martin, who died intestate, provide us with the certainty of the relationships of the two Thomas Martins and Arnold Martin. The naming tradition of the times gave many Martha Martins, Mary Martins, Thomas Martins, and Arnold Martins, but through Thomas's probate, we're able to establish the relationships with certainty. His son Thomas died a year before he did, but 1/4 of his estate was left to his heirs, of which Martha Harris (who married Joseph Harris) was one. This establishes for certain the relationship of Martha Martin who married Joseph Harris to Thomas Martin, the son of Thomas Martin.

Transcriptions of the probate papers appear below:

To the Honorable David A. White, Esquire, Judge of Probate for the County of Exxes.

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

INVENTORY AND APPRAISEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF THOMAS MARTIN

late of Marblehead in said county, coaster, deceased intestate, as shewn to us by the administrator.

Real Estate

Mansion house, land under and adjoining and barn thereon	$ 610
Lot of marsh land near Ingalls Beach with a small house thereon	$ 160
One cow right in smallpox pasture, so called	$ 100
Two do on the great neck	$ 200
One undivided third part of store, land under and thereto belonging, near to new wharf	$ 100.
	$1230

Personal Estate

Mahogany desk and eight day clock, large looking glass	$ 28.00
2 ditto dining tables - maple 3 foot table, pine table	3.50
Round chair and broken stand, ? flag bottomed chairs, tray and ?	1.48
7 leather bottom chairs, old andirons, shovel and tongue, old table	2.20
3 old woolen quilts, 3 old blankets, green ? curtains	3.00
2 trunks, clothes horse, iron dogs, powder canister and horn	1.79
4 old chairs, short post bed's lead, under bed, old draws	1.75
1 feather and bolster, 1 ditto, 2 pillows, 1 ditto, under bed	18.12
Long frost bedstated, 2 old chairs, old barrel and broken glass	1.37
Mahogany hightop case of draws, 3 pair cotton sheets, 1 pair Russia do	3.00
2 pair cotton pillow cases, 3 linen do, diaper table cloth	.67
2 diaper towels, table cloth and napkin, patchwork quilt	1.71
1 looking glass, 5 leather bottom dining, pine table, broken sashes	4.18
Lot old rudder braces, old with loops, old pump gear and bars	10.20
Old iron and hoops of chair links and dead eyes, boom and gaff ?	8.15
Blocks of different kinds, parcel of old rigging and sundries	8.00
Runner tackle and blocks, 3 pair can hooks, old stay and sundries	5.75
Old pewter dish and plates, 2 large pewter dishes and cookery ware	2.00
Old glass lantern, 2 scale beams, 4 leather fine buckets	2.50
2 brass, 1 iron candlestick, mast caps, brass kettle, copper tea kettle	5.25
Bold iron weights, wheelbarrow, wheel, garden tools	2.50
Large iron kettle, lot of ironware, 2 cabin windows	2.50
Old table and settle, sloop's mainsail and jib, square sail	24.25
Old canvas, 2 barrels rosin, straps and old blocks, mast caps	10.00
Old cannon and swivel, 1 anchor, 1 ditto, 2 old anchors and stocks	39.00
Parcelof old rigging, old canvas, vessel's cross trees	5.50
D?ng fork, old truck wheels, grindstone, broken wheelbarrow	2.45
Parcel vessel's old shrouds, cable and chain plates	20.00
1 silver tablespoon and 3 teaspoons, silver can, family Bible	7.72
10 shares in Marblehead Bank	1000.00
	$1225.23
Brought forward. Amount of real estate	1230.00
Amount of personal estate	1225.23
TOTAL	$2455.23

Dated at Marblehead this tenth day of January, A.D. 1829.

John Bartlett, Administrator

Nathan Bowen, John Pedrick, William Goodwin } Committee

Essex, ss. At a Court of Probate holden at Salem in and for said county on the third Tuesday in February A.D. 1829. The reverend John Bartlett, administrator, presents the foregoing and makes oath, that it contains a true and perfect inventory of the state of Thomas Martin, county, coaster, deceased, intestate, so far as has come to his hands or knowledge, and that, if anything further shall hereafter appear, he will cause it to be of record herewith in the probate office: -- it is thereupon decreed, that the the same be accepted, allowed and recorded.

(Signed) D. A. White, Judge of Probate

We the subscribers, appointed by the honorable Daniel A. White, esquire, judge, of probate for the county of Essex, to appraise all the real estate of Thomas Martin, late of Marblehead in said county, shoreman, deceased, intestate, and also to divide the same into four equal shares, if it will admit of such division without prejudice to or injuring the whole, having been first sworn and given notice to all parties concerned, have appointed the same as follows, vis.

The mansion house, with the land under and adjoining situate in Elm Street, with the barn and outhouse thereon standing. $705.00

The one third part of the store with the land under and to the same belonging, situate in State street, bought of Robert Hooper, junior, administrator of Glover's estate. $140.00

An old house, with the land underground to the same belonging, situate near Ingall's cove, so called, purchased of Robert Hooper junior, administrator as above. $155.00

A piece of land, situate at the eastern end of John Martin's house in Elm Street, measuring about thirty two feet in front and extending the whole length of said Martin's garden, as the ditch now divides them. $90.00

Two cows rights, numbered 16 and 1 in no. 2 on the great neck, so called, in said Marblehead. $180.00

One cow's right in the smallpox pasture, so called, being half of no. 14, bought of Joshue Byrne. $100.00

TOTAL $1310.00

 

And after having appraised the same as aforesaid, we took a careful view of the same, and have divided the premises into four equal prarts or shares, as follows, vis:

No. 1. To number one, we have divided and set off, by meter and bounds, as follows: The front or northerly half of the mansion house, consisting of the front lower room, with all the unfinished entry in the westerly end of said house, excepting seven feet and six inches at the southernly end thereof, set off to number two; the front chamber over said lower room; the two bedrooms over said unfinished entry; the front half of the garret, divided by a line running east and west so as to leave the whole of the chimney in the back half thereof, assigned to number two; the front part of the cellar under said lower room as the same is now divided giving to number 2 the whole use of the arch, as it now is. The piece of land, yard, or way leading to the door at the eastern end of said house, measuring from the northeast corner of said house southerly twenty one feet, being two feet southerly of the door, then easterly on a strait line from said house ten feet, then returning northerly to the wall on the street, until it intersects a line extending from the said northeast corner of the house thirteen feet and six inches, ? the end door, entry, stairway from cellar to garret, and scuttle to be and remain in common for the use of the owners and occupants of the whole house. ? piece of garden land below said common land and wherever the necessary stands, bounded by a line commencing at the corner of the gate leading to the well, and seven feet distant from said barn, and running on a straight line easterly, till it strikes a vein an a stone of the underjoining of said house, and eight feet and six inches from the southwest corner of said house, then running northerly on a line in the direction north the said end of said house thrity eight feet and four inches from said corner of said house to Brimblecomb's land to a rock in the wall twelve feet and two inches esterly from the necessary, then westerly by he back of the necesasary to the corner of the fence, then northerly as the fence now stands, to the gate or point first begun at, with the necesssary thereon, we also assign to number one. The front or northerly end of the barn divided by a line running easterly and westerly, and measuring sixteen feet from said dividing line to the street, with the land under said front end, we also assign to number one. Reserving to the owners and occupants of number two a privilege of six feet for ingress and egress to and from the pantry or back door round the said southwest corner of said house to the said common land and barn. Said number one to pay number three ten dollars in money to make it equal to the rest.

No. 2. To number two, we have divided and set off, by meter and bounds, the back part of said mansion house, consisting of the back lower room and pantry, the chamber and bedroom over the same, the southerly half of the garret, and the southerly half of the cellar, divided as by number one aforesaid, and seventy feet and six inches of the unfinished entry, measuring from the door leaving from said lower room in the same. All the back or garden land, lying easterly from the piece above, set off to number one, and bounded beginning at the southeasterly corner of said house and running southerly on the piece set off to number one thirty eight feet four inches to Brimblecomb's land to the found mentioned in number one twelve feet two inches from the necessary, then easterly on said Brimblecomb's land, as the fence now runs, to the corner of Brimblecomb's front yard on Mugford Street, then northeasterly on said street, as the wall now runs, sixty feet to the point or corner of Bribmblecomb's front garden on Mugford Street, then northwesterly on said street as the wall now runs, sixty feet to the point or corner of tthe common yard thirteen feet and eight inches from the northeasterly corner of said house. Also, the southerly end of said ? measuring sixteen feet from the dividing line or end set off to number one with the land under the same. Said number two entitled to all the privileges and uses in common to number one and also the right of the six feet privilege mentioned in number one round the southwesterly corner of said house to the common land and barn. Said number two is to pay to number three two dollars and fifty cents and to number four seven dollars and fifty cents to make them equal in value to the rest.

No. 3. To number three, we have set off and divided by notes and bounds, the one third part of the above with the land under and to the same belonging situate in State street, brought of Robert Hooper, junior, administrator. Also, the cows rights in the small pox pasture, being half of ? and also, the piece of land at the easterly end of John Martin's house, bounded , as above, by appraisal. Number three to receive of number two, two dollars and fifty cents and from number one, ten dollars in money to make it equal in value to the rest.

No. 4. To number four we have divided and set off by notes and bounds, the house and land situate near Ingalls cove, so called, bought of Robert Hooper junior, administrator of Glover's estae as noted and bounded by said deed of said Hooper to Thomas Martin. Also the two leases or cows rights number 16 and 1 in No 2 on the great neck, so called, in said Marblehead. Number two to pay number four seven dollars and fifty cents in money to make this number or share equal in value to the others.

Marblehead, March 4, 1829. Signed Ralph H. French, John Pedrick, William Goodwin } Committee.

 

Essex, ss.at a court of probate holden at Marblehead in and for said county on the second Wednesday in April, AD 1829. The foregoing return being dulty considered, It is therupon decreed, that the same be accepted , allowed and recorded, as an appraisement and division of all the real estate of Thomas Martin, late of Marblehead in said county, coaster, deceased, intestate, and that said real estate be assigned and settled as follows, vis. That all that part of said real estate described in number one in said return be assigned to and settled on the legal representatives of Thomas Martin, junior, deceased, a son of said intestate, and on their heirs and assigns; they having paid to John Martin the assignee of Number three in said said return, the sum of ten dollars, toward his distributive share of said real estate; as appears by receipt on file, that all that part of said real estate, described in number two in said return, be assigned to and settled on Emma Sparhawk, a daughter of said intestate, and on her heirs and assigns; she having paid to said John Martin the sum of two dollars and fifty cents, and to Arnold Martin, the assignee of number four in said return, the sum of seven dollars and fifty cents toward their distributive share of said real estate, as appears by receipts on file; that all that part of said real estate described in number three in said return, be assigned to and settled on said John Martin, a son of said intestate, and on his heirs and assigsn, which with the sum of ten dollars received of the legal representatives of said Thomas Martin, junior, decased, and the sum of two dollars and fifty cents received of said Emma Sparkhawks makes his distributive share of said real estate and that all that part of said real estate, described in number four in said return be assigned to and settled on said Arnold Martin, a son of said intestate, and on his heirs and assigns, which with the sum of seven dollars and fifty cents received of said Emma Sparhawk, makes his distributive share of said real estate. All to be still helt to pay their rateable parts of what further debts and charges shall hearafter rise against said estate.

Signed D.A. White, judge of Probate.

 

To the Honorable Daniel A. White, Esquire, Judge of Probate for the County of Essex. John Bartlett, administator, presents the following, first account of administration of the estate of Thomas Martin late of Marblehead, in said county, coaster, deaceased intestate. SAID ESTATE IS CREDITED, vis By amount of personal estate, as by inventory, $1225.23. By gain on the sale made of the personal estate (accepting the bank shares) at the reequest of the heirs January 9, 1829, $69.93 for a total of $1295.16.

Said estate is charged Vis.

Expense of last sickness and funeral charges, Dr. Flagg's bill $3.00, David Flen to do coffin $9.00	$12.00
Samuel Romans do silver plate	5.00
Nathaniel Romans do sexton $5.73, Jospeh Mansfeld do do $2.00	7.73	24.73
Paid passage to Salem probate court	.50
Advertising administration	1.50
John Martin Junior's bill	3.00
Thomas peach's do} work done at the house preparing for appraisers	1.50
nathan Bowen's do preparing papers	1.00
Appraisers do $5.75. John Gilley advertising and selling effects $15.25	21.00	28.50
Nathan Bowen's bill $1.25, taxes paid collector $33.21	34.66
Benjamin Sparhawk's bill	38.80
John Sparkhawk's do	312.00	385.26
Expense allowed for my time and trouble in the course of administration	80.00
		$518.49
Brought forward. Amount credit		$1295.16
Amount of debit		518.49
Balance Due Estate		776.67

Dated at marblehead this sixth day of February A.D. 1829. Signed John Bartlett, Administrator

 

To the Honorable daniel A. White, Esquire, Judge of Probate for the County of Essex. Respectfully, shew Arnold martin, Emma Sparhawk, John Martin, Thomas Martin, Peter A. Martin, Mary A. Brown, and Martha Harris, That they are the heirs at law of Thomas Martin, late of Marblehead in said county, coaster, deceased, intestate; that the real estate of said deceased remains to be divided among them pursuant to law; and that your petitioners are desirous that the parties may hold their shares thereof in severalty.

They therefore pray, that a committee be appointed to divide said real estate among the said heirs agreeably to law. Dated at Salem this seventeenth day of February A.D. in 1829.

Signed Arnold Martin, John Martin, Emma Sparhawk, Thomas Martin, Peter A. Martin, Mary A. Brown, Martha Harris.

(NOTE: Arnold, John, and Emma were Thomas's three children. Thomas, Peter A., Mary A. Brown, and Martha Harris were his grandchildren, the children of his deceased son Thomas).