John MARTIN b.1620 and Esther ROBERTS b. 1628 in Dover Colony (New Hampshire) married in 1648 and settled in Piscataway Colony (New Jersey) 1666. Not a lot is known about John’s parents except that the Martin lineage goes back four generations to Richard Martin of Poulehurst in Kent England. John was known as John Martin, the FIRST.

Esther’s parents were Thomas ROBERTS, born abt. 1600 in Worcester, England and Rebecca HILTON, born aft. 1607 in London, England. Edward and William HILTON, brothers and wealthy London Fishmongers came and settled the Dover Colony at the same time the MARTINS and ROBERTS, around 1618. Not quite certain of the relation of Rebecca to Edward and William HILTON. Thomas ROBERTS and Rebecca HILTON were married in 1627 in the Dover Colony.

John and Esther ROBERTS moved south to New Jersey around 1661 becoming original property owners on Oyster River, New Jersey. John and Esther settled near the Baptist Church. John served as an assistant justice in Woodbridge, New Jersey in 1676 and as an assistant justice in Piscataway, New Jersey in 1678. He was an associate of monthly court, 1677 and assistant court of sessions in 1677.

With family and friends he established Piscataway, named after the Piscataqua region of New Hampshire.

At least two sons Joseph and Benjamin and a daughter Lydia were born to John and Esther ROBERTS. Benjamin Martin was named in the will of his father, March 17, 1687 as a son. Lydia married to John SMALLEY, II. John Smalley, Sr. father and Ann Walden Smalley, mother, were married in 1638. John came to the Colonies from England in the "Francis and James" to Boston and moved to New Jersey in 1668. Joseph married to Sarah Trotter and their son James married Hannah Smith and Edmund married Jane.

Benjamin MARTIN married first to Margaret REYNOLDS, daughter of Nicholas Reynolds, on October 24, 1680 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Three known children were born to Benjamin and Margaret ; Peter, Esther and Jonathan, born June 12, 1687 at which time his mother died. Benjamin married a second time to Margaret Elston on November 10, 1688. Margaret’s father was Peter Ellstone (Elstone). Benjamin died after 1732.

Jonathan married 1st, Elizabeth Dunham ; 2nd to Martha Runyan and 3rd to Dinah Pyatt. Eight children were born to Jonathan and Dinah. James, Peter, Elizabeth, Rachel, Catharine, Sarah, Jacob and William.

Catharine, born about 1745, was a remarkable woman--tall, dignified and reserved. She married first to William Shreve Loudon Co., VA, November 10, 1755 and second to David Thomas, 1769 in Kentucky. She died about 1830 in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

Sources: 1. Louise Martin Mohler, "The Martin Family of America" c1983. 2. First Settlers of Piscataway and Woodbridge 3. The Compendium of American Genealogy
Submitted by Janelle Morrow Walker Warden of Satellite Beach, Florida

The Children of John Martin and Esther Roberts, were:

1. Joseph,  b. 1652 married to Jane ?
2. Benjamin,  b. 1656, d. aft. 1732 married to Margaret Reynolds ; (2) to Margaret Elston.
3. Lydia,   b. abt. 1658 married to John Smalley, II

CARTER ELY WARDEN
of GRAY, TENNESSEE

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