Josiah Martin

Owner-in-fee of Wickhams estate, Antigua; son of Sir Henry Martin (1733-1794).

1. Compensation records give his address at Nottingham Place, Marelebone (sic). 4 Nottingham Place sold by executors of Josiah Martin by auction in 1850.

2. Subscriber to Inc. Society of Conversion and Religious Instruction and Education of Negro Slaves as well as to the Spitalfields weavers, Kings College, and the Wellington Memorial.

3. Burial of Josiah Martin of 4 Nottingham Place, St Marylebone, age 77 on 12/12/1849. "On the 5th inst. at No. 4 Nottingham-place, Marylebone, of apoplexy, Josiah Martin, Esq., son of the first Sir. Henry Martin, Bart."

4. The will of Josiah Martin of Marylebone Middlesex was proved 05/03/1850. The executors were his brother Sir Thomas Byam Martin and his nephew Sir Henry Martin bart. He left £1500 to Thomas Wise the son of Betsy Wise 'a Mustie woman' of the Island of Antigua with no further explanation. He provided the interest on £20,000 to be paid to his sister Sophia Maria Martin and the interest on a further £2000 to his cousin Eliza D'Esterre. He left the remainder of his estate to his nephews and nieces, children of his brothers Sir Henry and Sir Byam [sic], excluding his nephew the then current Sir Henry Martin bart. on the basis that the latter had come into possession of the Green Castle and Rigby estates on Antigua 'which I apprehend will never yield him even under the most unfavourable circumstances a net income smaller than £500 to £800 [£600?] sterling per annum.' In a codicil of 04/12/1845, Josiah Martin said that in consequence of Sir Henry Martin relinquishing the two estates, he put him on the same basis as all his [the testator's] others nieces and nephews under his will.

T71/877 Antigua claim nos. 57 (Wickhams) and 343 (Big Duers).

1. Times 01/06/1850 p. 11.

2. Times 08/04/1824 p. 2; Times 14/03/1826 p. 1; Times 14/07/1828 p. 2; Times 18/06/1838 p. 3.

3. Ancestry.com, London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980 [database online]. Morning Chronicle, 07/12/1849.

4. PROB 11/2110/171.

We are grateful to Marian Press for her assistance in compiling this entry.