John Martin

     John Martin was born in 1760 at Ireland. He married Rebekah McMursen. John Martin died in 1847 at Mifflin Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, at age 87 years.
     He left a will in December 1838. It stated:

     LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JOHN MARTIN:

The last will and Testament of John Martin of Mifflin Township, Lycoming County and State of Pennsylvania. I John Martin considering the uncertainty of This mortal life and being of sound mind and memory blessed be God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form following. That is to say first I will that all my Just debts as shall by me owing at my death together with my funeral expenses and all charges touching the proving or otherwise conserning this my will shall in the first place be paid by my executors hereinafter named out of my personal estate, then my will is that the residue of my personal estate, property, goods, stock, chattels, merchandise and household Furniture shall be Impartially appraised and after sutch apprisement made the same shall be sold and the proceeds thereof equally divided between my heirs as followeth one third part thereof to My beloved wife Rebecca to be disposed of by her as she may deem proper. The residue I give and bequeath unto my three children and two grand children William Grier Martin and Alexander Martin sons of my son William Martin, the two to have one share of the balance of the personal property above mentioned, Alexander Martin one equal share, Sarah intermarried with Andrew Welch, and Thomas Martin each to have one equal share of the ballance of the personal property as above mentioned.

I. I will and bequeath unto my son Thomas Martin one hundred Acres and allowance of land out of my farm to Begin twenty perches on the south side of the chesnut oak corner thence to said corner, thence North 13 degrees East along that line to include the hundred acres & allowance by runing a course across the farm North 25 degrees west till it strikes Adam Kings line thence along the same N. 23 west to include the one hundred acres and allowance by runing a line across to the place of Beginning S. 25 E. for which I will that my son Thomas shall pay to my beloved wife during her natural life fourty dollars yearly and every year as long as she lives and no longer and further I will that the fifty five acres and some perches lying between the hundred acres described by me in my will for my son Thomas and Adam King lying south west end of my plantation Shall be sold within one year after my decease and the proceeds to be put on Interest till the decease of my beloved wife Rebecca shall draw the Interest thereof during her natural life and at her decease to be devided among my children equally namely Alexander, Martin, Sarah intermarried with Andrew Welch, Thomas Martin, John Martin and my two grand children William Grier Martin and Alexander Martin these two grand children to have one full share between them. Further it is my will that the residue or remainder of my plantation be sold as soon is convenient by my Executors either in lots or together as may suit perches and the procedes to be equally devided between my beloved children, namely Alexander Martin, Sarah intermarried with Andrew Welch, Thomas Martin, John Martin and my two grand children namely William Grier Martin And Alexander Martin, these two last mentioned grand children to have one equal share between them and further it is my will that my Executors put the money that will be coming to my grand children namely William Grier Martin And Alexander Martin on Interest and take good security for the same, to be paid to them when they arrive at the age of twenty one years respectively and further it is my will that if either or both of my grand children before mentioned should dye before they arrive at the age of twenty one years then I will that my son William's widdow draw or receive the Interest as long as she remains a Widdow. Further it is my will that if my son William's widdow gets married or deceases then I will that this part Shall be devided equally between my grand Daughters, William Martin's children, as they arrive at the age of twenty one years and further I do hereby ordain and appoint my two beloved sons, Alexander Martin and Thomas Martin the sole executors of this my last will and testament and I do appoint, direct and ordain them or the survivor of them to do and perform all things necessary or required to be done to carry into full effect this my last will and Testament. In witness whereof John Martin the Testator to this my last will and Testament set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five. John Martin ** seal **

Signed sealed and acknowledged by the Testator in the presence of the subscribers as his last will and Testament. W. Turner Solomon Bastress

Codicil: December one thousand eight hundred and thirty Eight, This is my last will and testament and I do hereby appoint Solomon Bastress Esqr. to asist my two sons Alexander and Tho. Martin to settle my will that now lies in the hands of Mr. Bastress according to the true intent and meaning of said Will, and further I do request that my son John be sent for as soon as I am laid in the ground and be had here if posable when my business is a setling so that there will be no hard thoughts when I am gone among aney of my children, and further that if aney thing should be the mater with Mr. Bastress so that he could not atend I do apoint Abraham Laushy in his pleace to act as above requested as he is a man I can confide in to do Justice amongst my children. These are my last Requests and I do wish them to be observed and not to be neglected by any meins whatever, John Martin.

Witness present, John Austin Wm Riddell Lycoming County, Pa

This ninth day of February, A.D. 1847, before me J.B. Torbett, Register for the probate of Wills in and for the County aforesaid, personally came Wm Turner and Soln. Bastress the subscribing witnesses to the above will, also the same day came John Austin & Wm Riddell the subscribing witnesses to the codicil to said will, who being duly sworn and affirmed according to law do say that they were present and saw and heard John Martin the Testator sign seal publish pronounce and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as and for his last will and testament and codicil and that at the time of So doing he was of perfect and sound mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge observation and belief.

J B Torbett Register

Solomon Bastress & Abm. Lawshe both refused to act as Executors to the aforesaid Will, See renunciation filed.

The same day Letters testamentary granted to Alexander Martin and Thomas Martin, the Executors named in the foregoing Will. Executors Sworn and Will Registered same day.

The following biographical sketch for John Martin was found in the 1892 "History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania," by John F. Meginness, editor on page 676. It stated:

     John Martin was an early settler. By dint of hard work he reclaimed much hill land and founded several good farms. He also had a distillery. His sons were named Alexander, Thomas and William. The estate was divided among them and their descendants occupy it today.¹