Tombstone Tuesday: Nancy Eliza (Martin) Brown

Nancy was the daughter of James Monroe and Susannah (Grabeel) Martin. She was the sister of my paternal great, great grandmother, Ursula Ann (Martin) Davis-Burnette. Nancy was born 10 Dec 1850 in Lee Co., Virginia. She married Pleasant H. Brown on 16 Oct 1868 in Pulaski Co., Kentucky and died a little over two years later.

Tombstone of Nancy E. Brown, Friendship Cemetery, Rockcastle Co., Kentucky

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Tombstone Tuesday: Jacob Grabeel 1784 - 1861

Tombstone of Jacob Grabeel, Milam-Hobbs Cemetery
Hagan, Lee Co., Virginia

Inscription:


In memory of
Jacob Grabeel
Died

July 23, 1861

in the 77th Yr.

of his age.

Milam-Hobbs Cemetery on State Route 621, Hagan, Virginia
via Google Earth

Jacob Grabeel was my paternal fourth great grandfather. He was born in Pennsylvania to German parents, John and Catherine Grabeel. He and his first wife Mary were the parents of my third great grandmother, Susannah, wife of James Monroe Martin. Jacob died in Lee Co., Virginia and is buried in the Milan-Hobbs Cemetery in Hagan.

Tombstone photos used with permission from FindAGrave.com volunteer, Phil Cheek.

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Tombstone Tuesday: Ursula Ann Martin Davis Burnett

URSULA ANN MARTIN

January 10, 1856 - July 20, 1900

Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Pulaski Co., Kentucky

Ursula Ann was my paternal 2nd great grandmother. She was born in Lee Co., Virginia to James Monroe and Susannah Grabeel Martin. Ursula married John Miller Davis on October 4, 1874 in Woodstock, Pulaski Co., Kentucky. They had three daughters, Mary Susan, Sarah Frances (my great grandmother) and Malvina Catherine "Mallie" Martin. John died in 1880 and on January 31, 1884 Ursula became the second wife of Cornelius Donaldson Burnett. They had four children: Daisy Cordelia "Cordie", Cora Jane, Hobart Cornelius, and Amanda Ursula "Sula" Burnett.

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Wordless Wednesday: Snapshot - Our Martin Lineage

Our Martin Lineage - Descendancy Chart

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Tombstone Tuesday: Susannah Grabeel Martin

SUSANNAH GRABEEL MARTIN

June 27, 1819 - July 14, 1906

Woodstock Cemetery, Pulaski Co., Kentucky

Inscription:
Wife of J.M. Martin
~~~~~
"Sleep on dear mother, peaceful be thy rest. 
Thou art gone to bask in the joys of the blest."

Susannah was my paternal 3rd great grandmother. She was born in Lee Co., Virginia to Jacob and Mary Grabeel. Susannah married James Monroe Martin on March 30, 1842 in Claiborne Co., Tennessee. The Martins settled in Pulaski Co., Kentucky between 1857 and 1859. They had 10 children: John, Lucinda Jane, Mary, Catherine, Nancy Eliza, William Franklin, Ursula Ann, Sarah Nelson, Rebecca Frances and James Daniel Sherman.

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Tombstone Tuesday: James Monroe Martin

JAMES MONROE MARTIN  

July 6, 1809 - February 22, 1897

 Woodstock Cemetery, Pulaski Co., Kentucky

James Monroe Martin was my paternal third great grandfather, son of John and Mary Cooper Martin, husband of Susannah Grabeel. He was born in Rose Hill, Lee Co., Virginia and is listed in the Will of his father John Martin, who fought in the Revolutionary War in South Carolina. James and Susannah had 10 children: John, Lucinda Jane, Mary, Catherine, Nancy Eliza, William Franklin, Ursula Ann, Sarah Nelson, Rebecca Frances and James Daniel Sherman.

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Amanuensis Monday: The Will of James D. S. Martin

JAMES DANIEL SHERMAN MARTIN

June 27, 1864 - February 12, 1946

About Amanuensis Monday: John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog started a Monday Blog Theme called "Amanuensis Monday". John defines "amanuensis" as "a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

James Daniel Sherman Martin was the son of James Monroe and Susannah Grabeel Martin and the brother of my paternal great, great grandmother Ursula Ann Martin Davis. He was married to Sarah Elizabeth Testerman, daughter of John T. and Celia Bloomer Testerman. James and Sarah had five children: Susan E., Addie Lewis, Isaac Bradley, James Thomas, and Charles Ross.

Will of J. S. Martin

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

That I, J. S. Martin of Eubanks, Route #3 Pulaski County Kentucky being sound in mind and memory and of lawful age do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament hereby revoking all wills by me heretofore made.

ITEM I.

I decree that all of my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon as possible after my death.

ITEM II.

I have already turned over to my grandson Kennith Martin all of my farm tools including wagon, wheat, corn drill, disc, tooth harrows, mowing machine, rake, plows and same are his absolutely and in fee simple and not an advancement of any kind but already given to him as a gift and if for any reason same should be questioned I now bequeath them to him.

ITEM III.

If at my death my wife Lizzie Martin shall still be living I bequeath unto her for her life time or so long as she may remain my widow all the balance of my personal property and my undivided one half interest in the farm on which we now reside containing about 120 acres more or less, she owning the other half. She shall have full and complete control of the same during the remainder of her life or so long as she remains my widow and at the time of her death any personal property yet remaining and my one half interest in the farm I will give, will and bequeath to my grand son Kennith Martin absolutely and in fee simple.

ITEM IV.

I hereby make, nominate and appoint my grand son Kennith Martin to be the Executor of this my last will and testament and request that he be permitted to serve without bond and that no inventory be made of my estate in so far as same may be legally ommited. Given under my hand at Somerset Ky this November 1, 1945.

J. S. Martin

We the undersigned do hereby certify that the foregoing will was signed by J. S. Martin and acknowledged by him before us and we have signed same as witnesses in his presence and in the presence ofeach other and at his insistance and request.

Given under our hands this November 1st 1945.

Gladstone Wesley residing at Somerset Ky

John A. Dyer residing at Eubanks R #3 Ky

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Amanuensis Monday: James Sherman Martin Writes Own Obituary

James Daniel Sherman Martin

June 27, 1864 - February 12, 1946

About Amanuensis Monday: John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog started a Monday Blog Theme called "Amanuensis Monday". John defines "amanuensis" as "a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

James S. Martin was the brother of my great great grandmother Ursula Ann Martin Davis Burnett. Their parents were James Monroe and Susannah Grabeel Martin. James was married to Sarah Elizabeth Testerman, daughter of John T. and Celia Bloomer Testerman. He and Sarah lived their entire lives in Pulaski Co., Kentucky. The obituary and poem below, written by James himself, was transcribed and copied for me by Kathy Martin, wife of my cousin Larry Martin, great great grandson of James. I have copied Kathy's transcription verbatim.

Obituary of James Sherman Martin

"Aug. 9, 1945 - Obituary of James Sherman Martin son of James M. and Susana Grabeel Martin. Born June 27 1864. Married to Elizzie Testerman March 20th, 1884. Born to the union were five children, two girls and three boys. Susan Ellen now Susan Ellen Lampe. Addie Lewis Oneal. Isaac Bradley, James Thomas, and Charles Ross. Four children living to date, with Isaac Martin departing this life Oct. 27, 1945. 21 grandchildren, 18 living and 3 dead. 27 great grandchildren all living. Met my Lord in full pardon of my sins on the second Monday in Aug. 1882, united with the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church near that date, and was baptised on Brush Creek the following Sunday after uniting with the church by the Rev. John Carmicle. My membership remaining at Mt. Pleasant Church until Dec. 1888, when I moved my membership to Pleasant Hill Church at Woodstock. Have tried to live a christian life for 63 years. Have met with temptations, trials and persecutions on the way. But all praise to my blessed Savior & Lord, by His grace & according to His mercy I have been able to overcome through Him that died for my sins, & arose for my justifications. He has blessed my soul many times with the presence & power of the Holy Spirit & then He has chastised me for my neglect of His work & service. But praise His name, when I like the prodical son, came back to Him, He like a loving Father met and blessed my soul again and now I can only say in my closing days like the Psalmist of old, let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord. Praise the Lord of my soul. My closing testimony to all. J. S. Martin"

A farewell poem for friends 

composed by James a short time after he wrote his obituary

"To my Christian friends anywhere - Aug. 25, 1945

My Christian friends in bond & love

Thru Him who lives & reigns above

Who came to earth His life to give

And shed His blood that we might live

My years to date is eighty one

My race on earth is almost run

My Christian life is sixty three

My wearied soul will soon be free

And then I'll sore to worlds on high

To meet my loved ones in the sky

For e'r I dwell in Heaven above

Where all is joy & peace & love

As promised by His saving grace

We'll see our Savior face to face

And in His love our souls shall rest

And we shall be forever blessed

His nail scarred hand & riven side

As on the cross He bled & died

He gave His life for you & me

And gave His blood to set us free

O, blessed thought O, glorious hope

As thru this world we sadly grope

That in His blood there's power to save

And give us life beyond the grave

And now I pray:

Dear Father hasten that glad day

and free our souls from this lump of clay

and our bodies rest till you bid us rise

to meet our Savior in the skies

When we can meet on Heaven's shore

to feel the sting of death no more

When in His presence there to dwell

to never say no more, farewel

Yours in Christ, J. S. Martin"

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