By Staff
A couple of weeks ago I was at the Brewton Public Library interviewing Brooke Walker and Doug O'Barr when I happened to run into a lady from Opelika who was doing genealogical research. She said something about her family tree and, of course, I spoke to her.
She was looking for material on the Martin, Lovelace, Strong and Rankin families. She shared some information with me and I looked on the Internet to see if I could find anything else about them. Well, I did and will tell you what I did find out. I also want to give her address, so if you can help her at all, maybe you will. Her name is Nancy Martin Adams, 2004 Highpoint Drive, Opelika, Ala. 36801.
Some of you may be familiar with the El Dorado Hotel that used to be at Keego. It was the cornerstone of a thriving resort located to take advantage of the healing springs at Keego. The owner of that hotel was Dr. John Elijah Martin and there are descendants of his living in the Brewton area today.
The original ancestor, according to some, who came from Lauren, Ireland, was James Martin (1728-1785) who married Jane Liddell (1727-1786). They came to live in Kershaw County, S.C., traveling on the &#8220Snow James and Mary” ship.
They were the parents of William Martin (1755) who married Sarah Rotten, John Martin (1756), Jane Martin (1758), Andrew Martin (1760-23 March 1814) who married Jane Roseborough and James Martin (1762).
James Martin left a will in Kershaw County dated in 1786.
Andrew Martin married about 1784 to Jane Roseborough. He was a Revolutionary soldier.
Mrs. Adams, who did this research, said that she had seen genealogies that said that Jane Roseborough was the daughter of Alexander Roseborough and Jane Fears, but she is not sure if it has been proven. Their children were John Fears Martin (31 Dec. 1805 in Edgefield County, S.C.), William Martin, James Martin, Elizabeth Martin, Moses Martin, Jane Martin and Simon Martin.
John Fears Martin (31 Dec. 1805-7 Feb. 1847 in Edgefield County, S.C.) was buried at Dry Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Saluda County, S.C. He married Sarah Cockcroft (15 May 1804) on 16 Oct. 1827 in Edgefield County. She was the daughter of John Cockcroft and Mary Still.
Their children were William Andrew Martin (19 May 1828), James Fears Martin (25 Oct. 1829), Jane Elizabeth Martin (4 April 1831), John Bryant Martin (27 July 1832), Moses Elijah Martin (8 Jan. 1835) and Thomas David Martin (14 May 1836).
After Sarah's death, John Fears Martin married second to Harriett Susan Raborn (14 Jan. 1817). They were the parents of Sarah Ann Martin (31 Aug. 1840), Joseph Abney Martin (12 June 1842), Susanah Isabella Martin (16 May 1844), Osmous Watson Martin (15 Aug. 1845), Harriett Amanda Martin (1 March 1847) and Ellen Jane Martin (25 Oct. 1843).
I have to take a time-out here to say that this Sarah Cockcroft, the daughter of John Cockcroft and Mary Still, would be related to my husband's family through the Still line. It is a small world. I will continue with this next week and may be able to find enough information to add to the Still line as well.