There are days that are going so well that I feel the need to ruin it completely. You know, turn it into a dumpster fire. I just had one. I felt like today is the day! Today I will find out just who my John Martin is. I can do this. I already know what the free sites have, but today I have Ancestry! Success is moments away. Right?
My 3rd great-grandfather was John Martin. My Grandmother knew very little about him. All she could tell me was that his name was John and he fought in the Civil War. Her grandfather, Samuel Sanders Martin, never talked about his father. Grandma even thought maybe he died on a boat or something in the war. Now, I started this family thing in the very late 70's and yeah, I know, I'm old, but I have been beating my head against this wall for a long time.
So, John Martin married Mary Ann Allman (Polly) in Jackson County, Indiana on October 3, 1852. I have the marriage documentation for that. In the 1860 census, I found John and Mary Ann Martin in Sparksville, Washington County, Indiana. John 25, Polly Ann 20, Rebecca Elizabeth 3. My great-grandfather, Sam, was born on Valentines day of that year so they weren't counting infants. John would have been born about 1835 according to his age at that census. So I should look at naming patterns, right? I did try that. Then I remembered something very important. Mary Ann, Polly if you will, was the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Allman. Yes, the first time I realized that I cried. It still brings tears to my eyes.
By the 1870 census the family is found in Brownstown, Indiana, with Reuben Cockerham. Reuben 27, Mary Ann 33, R.E. Martin 12, and SS Martin 10. Mary Ann Martin married Reuben B. Cockerham January 19, 1869, in Jackson County, Indiana. Rueben had fought in the war as well, leaving as a Corporal. His family was easy to find.
Now the question is, did John die in the war? Divorce was a thing in Indiana during those years. So that would be a possibility as well.
After going over military records for the past 40 or so years. [sigh], I did come to a conclusion in studying them. I go over it each time I try to find him, and I still believe I found the right one. Private John Martin, Indiana, enlisted December 1, 1863. He was in the 10th Cavalry Regiment, Company C. This unit became the 125th as the 10th was handed to an African American unit (you should read about them!). He mustered out on August 31, 1865, at Vicksburg, Mississippi. There is the Sultana, which is fascinating but a very long story so I will leave it off. Many of the Company died when the Sultana blew up in April of that year. John was not on the list and his papers say he survived the war, mustering out in August.
Something new I found this time around was something I thought would help. I found the death cert for Rebecca Elizabeth Martin Beck. Here's the new part.
John R. Martin. I have a middle initial. This will help, right?
I have a census with a John R. in 1850 in Washington County, Indiana. He's 15 which puts his birth at 1835. Perfect. Birthplace is KY. 1860 says Indiana but that is often the case. His parents would be Lemuel (42) and Polly Martin (38). Best part is that in 10 years, 1860, he is 25 and a perfect match. Not set in stone yet, but STRONG.
Then this: John R. Martin married Caddie M. Hungate on February 25, 1869, in Washington County, Indiana, the same year Mary Ann remarried. Again, not in stone but STRONG.
I actually found something this time. It was very emotional. I did have to lie down. I'm still recovering today, but I think I will survive this time. I'll add sources when I'm sure and, of course, stronger.
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