I have a John Henry Martin b: Aug 5, 1849 who seemed to enjoy putting a different birthplace on every census. Some say GA, some say KY, some say AR. And if that's not enough, his stated birthplace changed from GA to KY to Manx Island, UK. He told all his children he was French! He named one son William Claudious Martin and it does sound French??? I'm starting to feel a skelaton in my closet!!!! Rhonda
The problem (as I have found out..) is that John H & John Henry were common names (kinda like the "Smith" of the times). I have found that name in many of my searches, with each name being from different clans. In my years of research in Ohio, PA, and WV (and VA) I have discovered "at least" 15 different clans, none of them related. Some were British, Some French, Some Irish, Some German, etc.... This makes the searches very difficult for someone of that name. (I have a John Henry also... as well as 2 John's and 2 John A.'s). Ken Martin Temple City, CA On Sep 6, 2005, at 10:25 AM, Rhonda Chesnutt wrote: > I have a John Henry Martin b: Aug 5, 1849 who seemed to enjoy putting > a different birthplace on every census. Some say GA, some say KY, > some say AR. And if that's not enough, his stated birthplace changed > from GA to KY to Manx Island, UK. He told all his children he was > French! He named one son William Claudious Martin and it does sound > French??? > > I'm starting to feel a skelaton in my closet!!!! > > Rhonda
Does anyone with a GA or KY Martin have them comming from France in the early 1800's? Or way my John imaginative about that also? Rhonda
Rhonda, My great, great grandfather also changed info. on his censuses and was difficult to trace. He abandoned his children and ran off with a divorced woman, he lied on their marriage cert. saying he was from Scotland (he was born in Iowa), he said his father's names was "George" when it was "Alexander"...so what we did was trace his other family members and get info. on them that was more reliable. I don't think my great-great grandfather was ignorant, maybe he was mentally unbalanced or he just plain didn't want to be found. Anyway expand your search to other family members and this will help give you more information. Carol Anderson Researching James M. Martin, son of Alexander+Mary Ann Martin, Mahaska Co. Iowa > Does anyone with a GA or KY Martin have them comming from France in > the early 1800's? > Or way my John imaginative about that also? > > Rhonda >