John K. Martin Records 1777-1907

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

John K. Martin, Records, 1777-1907. Accession 12, Business Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

John K. Martin, Records, 1777-1907. Accession 12, Business Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Records, 1777-1907, of John K. Martin, a pension agent for military veterans of the Revolutionary War, Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, War of 1812, Indian Wars, Mexican War, Civil War. The records contain pension claim files for individual veterans and their spouses relating to their military service. The pension claim files principally consist of correspondence and notes concerning land warrants and military service, but there are also wills, deeds, and even Bible records and genealogical notes proving linkeage of an heir to the veteran or land ownership. Correspondence within the pension files is between Martin, other pension agents and the pension office in Washington, D.C., and veterans and their family members.

This collection also contains Martin's business correspondence, personal correspondence for both Martin and his father in-law Michael Howell, financial files including receipts and account books, Martin's files while serving as an administrator of the estate of Elijah Brown (1781-1850), military files and discharge papers, deeds and plats, publications, Martin's notes, and envelopes which were removed from their respective correspondence at a previous time.

Pension files, 1777-1883 and n.d., principally consisting of correspondence, notes, deeds, wills, Bible records, genealogical notes, and other documentation relating to claimants' military services in the Revolutionary War, Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, the War of 1812, Native American Wars including the Sioux Uprising, Black Hawk War, and Seminole Wars, the Mexican War, and the American Civil War. A typical file contains correspondence with the claimant, documentation concerning the nature and length of military service, proof of relationship to the individual performing the service (if deceased), and drafts and correspondence with various Federal government agencies concerning pensions and bounty lands. There are also files for unidentified claimants and claimants of unidentified wars. Volumes containing registers of action and notes on pension claims, 1848-1882, are also found within this series.

Pension files, 1777-1883 and n.d., for claimants with military service during the Revolutionary War.

These are pension files, 1857-1859 and n.d., for claimants with military service during the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair. The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair was a maritime conflict off the coast of Norfolk involving the United States Frigate Chesapeake and the British HMS Leopard. The conflict nearly escalated to war between the two countries in June 1807.

These are pension files, 1812-1883 and n.d., for claimants with military service during the War of 1812.

These are pension files, 1846-1881 and n.d., for claimants with military service during the Mexican War.

These are pension files, 1850-1858, for claimants with military service during the Black Hawk War, Seminole Wars, and Sioux Uprising.

These are pension files, for claimants with military service during the American Civil War.

These are pension files for claimants of military service during unidentified wars.

Consists of registers of action and notes on pension claims. There are four volumes dated 1848-1852, 1850-1858, 1853-1857, and 1878-1882. Notes pension claimant's name and action or notes on claimant taken by John K. Martin.

Business correspondence, 1832-1883 and n.d., principally consisting of letters concerning his general business as a land agent and exchanged with attorneys, judges, politicians, and Federal and state officials. There is also correspondence with specific land agents concerning claims, land bounty warrants, and other business related to military claimants. Also contains correspondence with United States mail agents.

Correspondence, 1832-1883 and n.d., concerning John K. Martin's general business as a land agent. The correspondence is principally exchanged between Martin and clerks, attorneys, judges, politicians, and Federal and state officials and concerns the delivery, purchase and sale of bounty land warrants and scrip.

Correspondence, 1850-1881 and n.d., exchanged between Martin and specific land agents. These were the agents with whom Martin corresponded most frequently during his many years as a land agent. Concerns the delivery, purchase and sale of bounty land warrants and scrip. There are also circulars sent to Martin from the United States Pension Office.

Correspondence, 1840-1861, principally exchanged between Martin and United States Mail agents during the period when Martin was a mail agent. Concerns his routine duties as well as his termination as mail agent following the election of Millard Fillmore, a Whig, as President.

Personal correspondence, 1826-1907 and n.d., of John K. Martin and Michael Howell, Martin's father in-law, principally concerning Martin and Howell family matters and land transactions. There is also correspondence exchanged between members of the Palmeter family of Richmond, Virginia, and New York. The link of the Palmeter family to this collection is uncertain.

Personal correspondence, 1847-1907 and n.d., exchanged between Martin and family members and friends. A small group of letters relates to fraternal organizations of which Martin was a member. There is also correspondence with and concerning the Jennings family and the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railway concerning his disatisfaction with railcar service. Correspondence also exists between John K. Martin and the Wallace family of Richmond, Virginia, and a small portion of correspondence written by and concerning the Wallace family of Richmond, Virginia, postdates Martin's death.

Personal correspondence, 1826-1877 and n.d., exchanged between Howell and family members and friends. Principally concerns family matters, difficulty with tenants on family properties, and family real estate purchases and sales and recommendations for acquaintances land transactions. Undated envelopes that were previously separated from their respective correspondence are included at the end of this subseries.

Personal correspondence, 1852, exchanged between Palmeter family members and concerning family events and family matters.

Financial files, 1815-1882 and n.d., consisting of receipts and accounts for John K. Martin and his sometime business partner John R. Fulford of Richmond, Virginia. Receipts and accounts for John Martin generally note purchases for various and sundry goods, rent payments, the purchase of slave labor, and legal service fees from clerks of court. There are also receipt books for land warrants, extra pay and other money received by Martin and William M. Fulton and account books noting state taxes received and miscellaneous business accounts for Michael Howell. An account book for an unidentified carpenter is also contained in this series.

Receipts and accounts, 1844-1882 and n.d., of John K. Martin generally noting purchases for various and sundry goods from Richmond area merchants, rent payments made to Richmond landlords, and slave labor. Also includes legal service fees receipts from clerks of court. The bulk of the receipts and accounts are for Martin but there are also receipts for John R. Fulford, a sometimes business partner of Martin.

Account books and volumes, 1815-1861 and n.d., There are also receipt books for land warrants, extra pay, and other money received by Martin and fellow land agent William M. Fulton and account books noting state taxes received and miscellaneous business accounts for Michael Howell. An account book for an unidentified carpenter is also contained in this series as is a ledger of legal fees. There is also a bank book for Elijah Brown for whom Martin was the estate administrator and account books for the Wallace family.

Administrator's files, 1816-1858, of John K. Martin, who served as administrator for Elijah Brown (1781-1850). Consists of accounts and receipts, correspondence, legal files, and Bible records proving family line and beneficiaries.

Military files, 1775-1781, 1820-1853 and n.d., consisting of discharge papers, 1820-1853 and n.d., including discharge certificates for veterans, a list of Revolutionary War battles, lists of officers and soldiers from various wars, military returns, and military payrolls.

Deeds and plats, 1782-1881 and n.d., pertaining to John K. Martin's land speculation and his service as a surveyor in the Richmond, Virginia, area. Includes deeds and plats for land in Richmond that Martin surveyed including the James River and its islands. Also contains correspondence concerning those deeds with city engineers.

Publications, ca. 1850-1871 and n.d., principally consisting of business cards, advertisement broadsides, and broadsides for events and political causes collected by John K. Martin. There are also blank forms, programs, and "An Epitaph on the Sheriffality."

Notes, ca. 1840-ca. 1882 and n.d., principally containing John K. Martin's research information that he compiled prior to disbursing land warrants for pension claimants. Includes abstracts and copies of court records including articles of agreement, deeds, plats, wills; land warrants; pension applications; genealogical notes and Bible records; military records. Several types of documents are often all recorded on the same page and the individual to whom the notes pertains has not been determined. As a result, the notes have been filed according to the manner in which Martin used them: as information relevant to disbursing land warrants. There are also notes concerning military records that were used to determine a claimant's qualification for pension. Filed at the end of the series are miscellaneous notes for which the research use could not be accurately deciphered or determined.

These envelopes were separated from their respective correspondence at some point in the past.

Biographical / historical:

John K. Martin was born in New Jersey in 1817 and moved to Richmond around 1837. He served as the United States mail agent from 1839 to 1847 and became involved in Democratic Party politics around that time. This political association cost Martin his position as mail agent with the election of Millard Fillmore, a Whig Party member. Martin then developed a legal practice as a pension and claims agent for military veterans. At this time Martin also speculated in western lands to make extra money.

On 27 June 1843 John K. Martin married Elizabeth Howell, daughter of Michael Howell of Richmond, at Centerary Church in Richmond. Martin died on 5 September 1883 in Richmond.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Charles M. Wallace, Jr. of Richmond on 1 November 1912. Originally accessioned on 16 January 1913.
Arrangement:

Arranged into the following ten series: I. Pension Files, 1777-1883 and n.d., II. Business Correspondence, 1832-1883 and n.d., III. Personal Correspondence, 1826-1907 and n.d., IV. Financial Files and Volumes, 1815-1882 and n.d., V. Administrator's Files, 1816-1858, VI. Military Files, 1775-1781, 1820-1857 and n.d., VII. Deeds and Plats, 1782-1881 and n.d., VIII. Publications, ca. 1850-1871, IX. Notes, ca. 1840-ca. 1882, X. Envelopes, n.d.

Arranged chronologically by subseries (war) with claimants of unidentified wars and registers of action on claims filed as individual subseries at the end of the series: A. Revolutionary War, B. Chesapeake- Leopard Affair, C. War of 1812, D. Native American Wars, E. Mexican War, F. Civil War, G. Unidentified Wars, H. Registers of Action on Claims.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by veteran's surname with individual items within each folder arranged chronologically.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by veteran's surname with individual items within each folder arranged chronologically.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by veteran's surname with individual items within each folder arranged chronologically. Unidentified claimants are arranged chronologically at end of subseries.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by veteran's surname with individual items within each folder arranged chronologically.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by veteran's surname with individual items within each folder arranged chronologically.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by veteran's surname with individual items within each folder arranged chronologically.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by claimants' surname with individual items within each folder arranged chronologically.

Arranged chronologically.

Arranged in three subseries: A. General, B. Land Agents, C. United States Mail Agents.

Arranged chronologically.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by agent's surname and within each folder the correspondence is arranged chronologically.

Arranged chronologically.

Arranged in three subseries: A. John K. Martin, B. Michael Howell, C. Palmeter Family.

Arranged alphabetically by correspondent with individual items within the folder arranged chronologically.

Arranged chronologically.

Arranged chronologically.

Arranged in two subseries: A. Receipts and accounts, B. Account books and volumes.

Arranged chronologically by year with individual receipts within each folder arranged by month. Clerk of court, slave, and John R. Fulford receipts are filed separate from the other receipts and accounts and are filed at the end of the subseries.

Arranged alphabetically.

Arranged alphabetically with individual items within each folder arranged chronologically.

Arranged in two subseries: A. Discharge Papers, B. Rolls and Lists.

Arranged alphabetically by surname with individual items within each folder arranged chronologically.

Arranged alphabetically.

Arranged alphabetically with individual items within each folder arranged chronologically.

Arranged alphabetically.

Folders are arranged alphabetically.

Physical description:
18 cubic feet