1804 was a Jefferson elector, a Madison elector in 1808. He was in the Tennessee legislature in 1812-13, and was vicepresident of the Whig convention of 1844. In the war of 1812 he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the Second Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers. He served in the Natchez campaign and in that against the Creeks. At Talladega, after the wounding of Col. Pillow, Martin took command and was conspicuous for his good conduct. Owing to a conflict of opinion as to the date of expiration of their time of service some of the Tennessee regiments, including that of Col. Martin, undertook to return home after the 10th of December, 1813. This caused his character to be attacked by anonymous scribblers in the public press and caused him to publish "The Self-Vindication of Col. William Martin against certain charges and aspersions made against him by Gen. Andrew Jackson and others, in relation to sundry transactions in the campaign against the Creek Indians, in the year 1813." It appeared at Nashville in 1829, at the time when Jackson was at the height of his popularity. Many of the officers conversant with the affair were still living, but no one was found to dispute the accuracy of the statements. It was republished about 1850.* Elizabeth married Carr Waller; died 1805; left four children. Brice born 1770; died December 30, 1856; married Malinda Purkins, in Smith County, Tenn., 1811; was at New Orleans and was promoted major; was also in the Creek war; had five children. Polly married Daniel Hammack. He died in 1829; she was still living about 1840. Martha married William Cleveland, died about 1818; left two sons and other children. Nancy married Archelus Hughes; died about 1835; left six or eight children. Gen. Martin married in 1784 Susannah Graves. She died March 9, 1837, in her 74th year. They had eleven children, perhaps in the following order: Joseph, born September 22, 1785; known as Col. Joseph; married Sally Hughes (born April 30, 1792) April 27, 1810; a member of the Virginia assembly in 1809 and of the constitutional convention of 1829-30; a farmer by profession; died in Henry County, Va., November 3, 1859; he had eight daughters and four sons. *Nashville, 8vo., pp. 48. Jesse was in the war of 1812; a farmer in Henry County; married, first, Annie Armistead and had one son; second, Cecelia Reid, and had eight sons and a daughter; died about 1835. She died August 26, 1875, aged 83. Thomas W. went to Tennessee; married Miss Carr, of North Carolina. Louis went to Tennessee; saw military service; died in Lincoln County, Mo., about 1850; married Miss Rucker, Alexander died in Lincoln County, Mo., about 1850; married Miss Carr, of North Carolina. John Calvin was living near Woodberry, Tenn., March 20, 1842; saw military service; married Miss Rucker. George married, first, Miss Starling; second, Miss Watkins; had several children; he served in the Virginia legislature; removed to North Carolina about 1840 and died about 1860. Sally married Rev. Samuel Armistead February 7, 1807; died about 1813, leaving three sons. Susannah (for Gen. Martin kept up the Puritan custom of giving the same name to more than one child) married George King; was a widow and living in Virginia about 1840. Polly married Reuben Hughes; died 1839; left one son, perhaps other children. Patrick Henry was taken to Tennessee by his half brother Brice and was educated by William and Brice; he studied law and went to the bar about the beginning of the war of 1812. But he left this to join Jackson's army; was with him nearly the whole time and died after his return from New Orleans. |