John Martin of St Thomas-in-the-Vale

Profile & Legacies Summary

???? - 1735

Biography

'Planter' of St Thomas-in-the-Vale, Jamaica. Died in 1735 or 1736.

John Martin of St Thomas-in-the-Vale, planter. Estate probated in Jamaica in 1736. Slave-ownership at probate: 71 of whom 38 were listed as male and 33 as female. 20 were listed as boys, girls or children. Total value of estate at probate: £2683.83 Jamaican currency of which £1656 currency was the value of enslaved people. Estate valuation included £10 currency cash, £568.63 currency debts and £0 currency plate.
The will of John Martin was proved in Jamaica in 1735.
John Martin, deceased was listed in the Jamaican Quit Rent books for 1754 as the owner of 364 acres of land in St Thomas-in-the-Vale.
In his will, written in 1735 and proved in London in 1736, John Martin manumitted a "negro man" named Dick and bequeathed him 25 acres of land and two enslaved boys. Dick's daughter Kate was also to be manumitted. The main beneficiaries were his natural son John Strife, now in Great Britain, and his sister Margaret Banks, wife of John Banks, planter of St Mary. John Strife is the "John Strife of Cirencester in the County of Gloucester, gentleman" whose will was proved in London 03/02/1747. The sole heir and executor named in John Strife's will was Edward Tempenny, whom his father had appointed as one of his guardians and with whom he had lived while in Britain. (In Strife's will the spelling of Tempenny's name changes to Tempany, and his occupation is corrected from "bricklayer" to "mercer".)

Sources

Trevor Burnard, Database of Jamaican inventories, 1674-1784.
Vere Langford Oliver, Caribbeana being miscellaneous papers relating to the history, genealogy, topography, and antiquities of the British West Indies (6 vols., London, Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1910-1919) vol. 2 p. 158.
"A List of landholders in the Island of Jamaica together with the number of acres each person possessed taken from the quit rent books in the year 1754", TNA CO 142/31 transcribed at http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples2/1754lead.htm.
Will of John Martin of St Thomas-in-the-Vale, planter, PROB 11/680/250; will of "John Strife als Martin", PROB 11/760/29.

We are grateful to Rita Lamb for her assistance with compiling this entry.

Further Information

Children

[illeg.] John Strife

Will

PROB 11/680/250 - precis.

John Martin of St Thomas-in-the-Vale, Jamaica, planter.

Payment of just debts etc.

Immediately after my death, I manumise and absolutedly make free my negro man named Dick and his daughter Kate. After my death to him 25 acres of land, part of a large parcel containing by estimation 165 acres which I patented in St Thomas-in-the-Vale where Dick now has his house and a little plantation and to adjoin northerly, westerly and easterly on land late of James Rigbe[?] Esquire and Elizabeth his wife, formerly patented by one William Bragg and southerly on the remaining part of my said 165 acres. Also to Dick two negro boys named Quomena and Quado which Dick with my consent purchased about nine years since. And it is my express will the said negro man Dick, his heirs and assigns shall have and enjoy the said 25 acres of land and two boys without claim or interruption of my heir or heirs at law or of any others whomsover claiming or to claimed by from or under me.

To Roberta Groves, the wife of John Groves of St Mary, Jamaica, £30 Jamaican currency.

Whereas my father Alexander Martin deceased in his lifetime patented a parcel of land in St Mary containing by estimation 650 acres more or less about 450 whereof my said father and both or one of us have been sold assigned and conveyed away, now I do give to my sister Margaret Banks, wife of John Banks of St Mary, planter, the remaining 200 acres and all appurtenances belonging to it.

To Jacob Fletcher of St Thomas-in-the-Vale, planter, a parcel of land containing by estimation 50 or 60 acres in St Thomas-in-the-Vale bounding north on land formerly patented by Richard Kynsham, east on the road to Bagnals Thicketts and south and west on the road to John Banks plantation, being part of a large parcel in patented by William Bragg containing 274 acres which I purchased of James Rigbe and Elizabeth his wife.

To my cousin Jane Gordon, £30 Jamaican currency.

To a free negro woman named Lucresiah Greenwich and her assigns for life an annuity of £15 Jamaican currency chargeable on all my estate hereinafter given and devised.

The moiety of my estate real and personal be given to Edmond Tempenny in Great Britain, bricklayer, and Margaret Banks of Jamaica in trust to a mulatto boy named John Strife, my natural son now in Great Britain and the heirs of John Strife lawfully issuing.

All rest and residue also to my natural son [?] Strife. If John Strife shall die before age 21 years and without issue then his share to be given to my sister Margaret Banks.

Edmond Tempenny, Jacob Fletcher and Margaret Banks to be executors. They to take on the guardianship, care and management of John Strife who is to have the absolute care and management of my estate as I have hereinbefore given to him at age 21 years.

Signed 13/05/1735.

Proved in London 02/12/1736 by Edmond Tempenny.

Occupation

Planter

Associated Estates (2)

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