Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-01-26
THE MARTIN FAMILY.
Remarkable Longevity Of a Re,
markabIe Family.

ANtAA 49, 1NA1NAN N@fA
Perhaps there is no parallel to the
family to which Hon. Matt Martin, a
prominent candidate for senator, be-
longs, in respect to longevity. Origin
ally, there were thirteen children, but
now only five living. Colonel Martins
family is n of large connection and
c me from Virginia to this state. Long
before the revolution they came from
England. The traditionary history
o6the Martin family, Of whom there
afs several branches in Tennessee, is
this. A younger son Of Earl Martin
married in opposition to the COM
mands of his father, and not wishing
to meet the enraged earl, he emigrated
to America. Long after, he received
a letter from his father begging him
to return and see him before his
death. He went to Norfolk, engaged
passage on a vessel and put up at the
hotel to await its sailing, as in those
days they had often to lay in port
months for a cargo. While at the
hotel he contracted typhus fever, and
lay for months at deaths door; and
long before his recovery, the ship had
sailed without him. That vessel was
never again heard Of, and this circum-
stance gave him such fright he never
ventured to sea again, but the old
earl gave him a fine property, never
theless.
Mrs Ellis speaks, in her history of
Famous Women of the Revolution"
of the heroic conduct Of two of the
ancestors of Colonel Martin, Mrs.
Grace Martin, wife of a Major Martin,
and her sister-in-law. Captain Mar
tin, who was afterward a general Of
the EdgeGeld district, had been III
the army some time, aud had been
separated for years from his family.
At last, through difficulties some of us
have had an experience of, he visited
his home, but from the number of
spies and tories he wa kept from the
house hid in the swamps. The last
day of his visit he determined to spend
in the house, as no tories had been
seen for some days. He had scarcely
got in before a troop rode up and dis
mounted, The commander sent the
men down to a creek to camp, but he
went to the house for better quarters.
Captain Martin was up stairs, and
from there, through an upholstered
ceiling, could hear every word below.
The tory captain became impatient at
the delay Of the cook, and began to
swear. The mother, an old lady,
spoke r~eproVingly to him, but that
only incensed the man and he swore
at her at a great rate. The captain
could not stand this, but drawing his
sword plunged down the steps before
the astonished gaze Of the tory. The
old lady was terribly enraged, and
cried out: Kill him; kill the scoun-
drel!" Captain Martin needed no
word Of encouragement, but raising
the sword he struck such a furious
blow as would have split the tory
from crown to seat, but his fury made
him forget the low ceiling and instead
Of the tory's head a joist got the blow,
making a notch deep as il made with
an axe, and that indentation is still to
be seen in that old house in North
Carolina. This saved the mans life.
for he fell on his knees and begged for
mercy like a cur. However justified
Captain Martin felt himself to be, he
could not, brave man as he was. muir
der a man begging FOL life. So he
sheathed his sword and said:
You villainl I'll spare you. but
you harm my family in the slightest
degree, or insult them again, and I'll
hunt you to hell but what III kill
yOHl'
He then kissed them a hasty fare.
well, and jumping on the tory's fine
horse, he puts spurs and was quickly
in the intricacies Of the swamp, and
out Of danger.
The Major Martin alluded to above
was killed in a battle with the tories.
and this so enraged his wife and sister
that they, in a mad freak, determined
to go out as soldiers and revenge the
death OF the major. Dressing as men
and armlng themselves, they mounted
and started out. Soon they saw a
British officer and two orderlies com
ing toward them.
Now" says Grace, I'VE must cap
ture those men, as they may have
something Of importance on them"
"All right" says her sister, and to
impress them we must curse and
swear like soldiers"
But | cant swear, said Grace.
But | can" says the other.
The soldiers thinking the two
women boys" paid no attention to
them until meeting them, when. 10
their astOnishment the boys" clapped