Patriot Ancestor: Joseph Martin
Submitted by Compatriots Mark Miller &
Zach Miller
1st Lieutenant John Martin's son, Private Joseph Martin (Mark's 4th and Zach's 5th great-grandfather) was born March 31, 1763 in Sussex, New Jersey and served under Captain Joseph Harker in the 2 Battalion, Sussex County, New Jersey Militia which fought in The Battle of Minisink. Joseph Martin enlisted when he was about 15 or 16 years old (about 1778 or 1779) and served for about a year total. According to Joseph's pension application, at some point after his enlistment, the Native-Americans became troublesome with frequent incursions into the settlement of Sussex where Joseph's family lived. As a result, Joseph received permission to return to his mother and family to help protect them. Joseph's father John Martin took his son's place in service. After about a month's time serving for his son, John Martin returned home to Sussex and the son, Joseph, returned to complete his original term of service as well as the month that he missed while guarding against the Native-Americans at home. Joseph's wife was Martha Bryson (Born 1765 / Death June 29, 1852) At some point after the war Joseph moved to Shiloh, Middle Island Creek, Virginia (now West Virginia) where he died on April 23, 1833 at the age of 70 years old. He is buried at Little United Methodist Cemetery, Little, Tyler County, West Virginia.