I have conflicting information on Joseph Linn and Martha Kirkpatrick. In the Ryerson genealogy Joseph Linn is said to have married Elizabeth Kirkpatrick. My question is this: was there a convention in the late 1700s to call somebody named Elizabeth "Martha" or vice-versa? Because I also have a daughter of John Linn listed one place as Martha and another place as Elizabeth but it seems to be the same child. Any suggestions or info would be appreciated! --- Barb Frost

It was not common for someone named Elizabeth to be called Martha or vice versa. As to the identity of Martha wife of Joseph Linn, she is reported to be a Kirkpatrick but there is no documental evidence to prove this in the research I have conducted nor is there documental evidence to prove that her supposed sister Elizabeth Kirkpatrick was the wife of Stephen Roy. William Clinton Armstong published a book in 1927 entitled "Capt. John Kirkpatrick of New Jersey 1739-1822 and his sisters Mrs. Joseph Linn and Mrs. Stephen Roy" but he failed to document in my opinion circumstancial evidence of a relationship. Mrs. Joseph Linn and Mrs. Stephen Roy were perhaps born as Kirkpatricks and the naming of their children would certainly indicate such. Andrew Kirkpatrick is related to have had a daughter, Martha born in 1728 married 10 Aug 1747 Joseph Linn. This would place Andrew's birth at perhaps 1708 or earlier. Andrew is related to have had three more children, John born in 1738, David born in the 1740's, and Elizabeth born in 1749 who married Stephen Roy. There is a twenty one year span between the eldest and youngest of these four children. Andrew related that "after my brother's home was made fairly comfortable he and his sons aided me in building a home on a location near by and there I brought my bride in the autumn of 1737." This would appear to indicate that Andrew was married twice and that Martha was a child of a first marriage, if she was his child. Andrew further related "I was born in Scotland about the year 1710. The second child in a large family." He further related that "in 1736, we felt that it was possible to undertake the journey. Early in June of that year we took ship for New Castle, Delaware. There were eight in our party. My brother and his wife and their three sons and two small daughters, and myself." No mention is made of his supposed daughter, Martha who would have been about eight years of age. He further relates that "by the year 1750, we had four children, and, with the hope that it would be easier to provide homes for each of these, I made a trip some twenty-five miles to the northwest into what was still unbroken wilderness." Was he here speaking of Martha, John, David, and Elizabeth or John, David, Elizabeth, and an unknown child? Martha had m. three years previous on 10 Aug 1747 to Joseph Linn. The above references to Andrew's narrative were published by John Shawver, publisher of The American Register magazine in the 1920's. He was a Kirkpatrick descendant and published articles written by Robert Stewart in a series called "Seven Generations of Kirkpatricks." Andrew may never have written the above as no journal was known to exist, but instead was written by Robert Stewart who based his stories on information told by John Shawver's grandmother, Martha Kirkpatrick Williams, a granddaughter of John Kirkpatrick born in 1738. Are these to be considered as narrative stories only? William Clinton Armstrong published in 1927 Capt. John Kirkpatrick of New Jersey 1739-1822 and his Sisters Mrs. Joseph Linn and Mrs. Stephen Roy. The information on these families is quite extensive, but he fails to document any relationship between John, Martha, and Elizabeth to their presumed father Andrew Kirkpatrick. The only known deed recorded in Sussex County, New Jersey (which included Warren County) for Andrew Kirkpatrick is in Vol F p. 336 when Andrew Kirkpatrick and wife, Phebe transferred all their rights in the estates of Joseph and Sarah Read of Knowlton township, 6 May 1801. This Andrew was a son of John and a grandson of the first Andrew. There are a few vague references to an Andrew Kirkpatrick owning tracts in Byram and Hardyston townships, but no deeds. It can only be determined at this point that there is no basis or documentation to prove that Martha wife of Joseph Linn or Elizabeth wife of Stephen Roy were daughters of Andrew Kirkpatrick. They may very well have been his daughters, but conclusive evidence at this point is lacking. If someone has further information that would provide further information on this family, please share. J. Kelsey Jones ----- Original Message ----- From: <EFrost113@aol.com> To: <NJSUSSEX-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 3:35 PM Subject: [NJSUSSEX-L] Joseph Linn and Martha Kirkpatrick > I have conflicting information on Joseph Linn and Martha Kirkpatrick. In the > Ryerson genealogy Joseph Linn is said to have married Elizabeth Kirkpatrick. > My question is this: was there a convention in the late 1700s to call > somebody named Elizabeth "Martha" or vice-versa? Because I also have a > daughter of John Linn listed one place as Martha and another place as > Elizabeth but it seems to be the same child. > > Any suggestions or info would be appreciated! --- Barb Frost > >