David Martin

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58979659
• Eby ID Number: 00075-4292

Notes:

David Martin, "the old progenitor of this numerous family, emigrated from Switzerland to America in 1727. It is not known whether he was married when he came nor where he settled. Some think he had first settled in Virginia, but not finding many of his co-religionists there he moved north to Pennsylvania where he settled in Lancaster County among his own class of people. It cannot be ascertained at so late a date to whom he was married nor what number of children he had. He died in 1763, (According to Deacon David Martin's statement) aged about 62 years, thus making him about 26 years of age when he came to America. We know that he had two sons for a certainty but there may have been more whose descendants never came to Canada. These two were named Henry and Abraham."

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

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David was the son of Christian and Elsbeth "Ells" Martin. They emigrated to Pennsylvania on the Plaisance on September 21, 1732. Their actual birth dates are not known and birth years are only estimates. Christian died sometime AFTER July 12, 1748, and Ells died sometime AFTER 1732. Their actual death dates and burial places are unknown.

NOTE**FAG pages for Christian and Ells are not primary sources and may contain errors posted by well-meaning but misinformed individuals.

David's birthdate is uncertain. It has traditionally been estimated as 1691 but more recent research estimates it as 1704.

David's first wife has been said to have been Anna Weber who died at sea in 1727. No records exist to prove this oral tradition. He may have had a wife who died at sea but it is highly improbable she was Anna Weber.

By 1730 David was married to Barbara Herr Miller, daughter of Abraham and Anna (Bare) Herr, and widow of Henry Miller (d. 1728). Henry and Barbara lived on the land for which David received a patent from the Penns in 1738. (See Taylor Papers no. 2550, Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, Pa. for a survey map and description of Henry Miller's tract.)

In addition to the land, Barbara brought into the marriage two daughters, Mary and Susannah, and two sons, Henry and Abraham. (Lancaster County Deed O-518 clearly identifies Barbara, widow of Henry Miller, as the wife of David Martin.)
David and Barbara had nine children before she died on August 8, 1742. She may have been buried in this cemetery but there is no record of her being there.

David then married Anna Groff and had three children with her. After her death he married Elizabeth Herr Martin. They had no children together.

David Martin (1691-1784) - Find a Grave Memorial (no date) Find a Grave. Available at: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58979659/david-martin (Accessed: 17 November 2023).

David — Barbara Herr. Barbara was born Abt 1702; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

1. Rev. Henrich "Henry" Martin was born 8 Jun 1741, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 27 Apr 1825, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; was buried , Weaverland Mennonite Cemetery, East Earl, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.

David — Anna Groff. Anna was born Abt 1725; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

1. Abraham Martin was born 1748, Of, East Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 15 Jul 1815; was buried , Martin's Cemetery, Denver, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States.