Family and Education

2nd s. of Richard Martin, mayor of Exeter, by his 2nd w. Julian, da. of William Hurst^†, merchant of Exeter; bro. of William. m. (1) 1561, Mary (d.1576), da. of Leonard Yeo, 4s. 3da.; (2) Mary (d.1579), da. of William Strode I, of Newnham, wid. of Thomas Prestwood^†, s.p.; (3) Elizabeth, da. of Anthony Rous, 4s.

Offices Held

Bailiff, Exeter 1571, mayor 1574-5, 1585-6, sheriff 1582; j.p. Dorset from 1579.

Biography

Martin’s grandfather, Sir William Martin of Athel-hampton, Dorset, married into the Paulet family, and no doubt it was the Marquess of Winchester (who shared the patronage at Bere Alston equally with Lord Mountjoy) who brought Martin into Parliament for the borough in 1586. No activity has been recorded in his name for the 1586 Parliament, but a ‘Mr. Martin’ was the victim of an arrest by one William White. This episode may refer to Nicholas Martin, or to Henry Martyn. Named in the 1560 charter of the Exeter merchant adventurers, Martin and his brothers traded in fruit, soap and wine, with the Netherlands and France. He died in March 1599, and was buried at St. Petrock’s, Exeter.

Vivian, Vis. Devon, 553-4; J. J. Alexander, Exeter MPs; HMC Exeter, 57, 402; St. Ch. 5/E2/9; W. Cotton, Eliz. Guild, Exeter, 118; Trans. Dev. Assoc. xliv. 269.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: P. W. Hasler

Notes