Thomas Bryan Martin
Encyclopedia
Colonel Thomas Bryan Martin (1731–1798) was an early American jurist
, legislator
, and prominent landowner.
to Denny Martin and his wife, Frances Fairfax (1703–1791), sister of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
(1692–1781), and arrived in Virginia
from England in 1751. The following year, Martin was appointed land agent by his uncle, Lord Fairfax, of the Northern Neck
Proprietary. Upon his becoming a land agent, Martin took up residence with Lord Fairfax at Greenway Court
in the Shenandoah Valley
near present-day White Post
in Clarke County
, Virginia.
In 1758, Martin and George Washington
were elected as burgesses to the House of Burgesses
for Frederick County
, Virginia. Martin also presided as the first judge of Hampshire County
, Virginia (now in West Virginia
) beginning in 1757.
Martin granted 100 major leases for the Northern Neck Proprietary from 1759 to 1775 and 225 additional leases from 1783 to 1793.
The city of Martinsburg
in Berkeley County
, West Virginia was named for Martin by his long-time friend, General Adam Stephen
when it was chartered in 1778.
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
, legislator
Legislator
A legislator is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people...
, and prominent landowner.
Biography
Martin was born in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to Denny Martin and his wife, Frances Fairfax (1703–1791), sister of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron was the son of Thomas Fairfax, 5th Lord Fairfax of Cameron and of Catherine, daughter of Thomas Culpeper, 2nd Baron Culpeper of Thoresway....
(1692–1781), and arrived in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
from England in 1751. The following year, Martin was appointed land agent by his uncle, Lord Fairfax, of the Northern Neck
Northern Neck
The Northern Neck is the northernmost of three peninsulas on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This peninsula is bounded by the Potomac River on the north and the Rappahannock River on the south. It encompasses the following Virginia counties: Lancaster,...
Proprietary. Upon his becoming a land agent, Martin took up residence with Lord Fairfax at Greenway Court
Greenway Court, Virginia
Greenway Court was the estate and hunting lodge of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron in what is now Clarke County, Virginia, United States...
in the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
near present-day White Post
White Post, Virginia
White Post is an unincorporated town in Clarke County, Virginia, USA. White Post is located at the crossroads of White Post and Berrys Ferry Roads off Lord Fairfax Highway White Post is an unincorporated town in Clarke County, Virginia, USA. White Post is located at the crossroads of White Post and...
in Clarke County
Clarke County, Virginia
Clarke County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 14,034. Its county seat is Berryville.-History:Clarke County was established in 1836 by Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron who built a home, Greenway Court, on part of his 5 million acre property,...
, Virginia.
In 1758, Martin and George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
were elected as burgesses to the House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
for Frederick County
Frederick County, Virginia
Frederick County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is included in the Winchester, Virginia-West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was formed in 1743 by the splitting of Orange County. For ten years it was the home of George Washington. As of 2010, the population was...
, Virginia. Martin also presided as the first judge of Hampshire County
Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,964. Its county seat is Romney, West Virginia's oldest town . Hampshire County was created by the Virginia General Assembly on December 13, 1753, from parts of Frederick and Augusta counties ...
, Virginia (now in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
) beginning in 1757.
Martin granted 100 major leases for the Northern Neck Proprietary from 1759 to 1775 and 225 additional leases from 1783 to 1793.
The city of Martinsburg
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest...
in Berkeley County
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
, West Virginia was named for Martin by his long-time friend, General Adam Stephen
Adam Stephen
Adam Stephen was a Scottish-born doctor and military officer. He came to North America, where he served in the Virginia colonial militia under George Washington during the French and Indian War. He served under Washington again in the American Revolutionary War, rising to lead a division of the...
when it was chartered in 1778.