Class is now in session. In my opinion, there are only three documents that accurately depict the often mixed-up relationships between the members of the early Trantham family. One is Lewis Peach’s 1884 letter in which he reveals most of the names of Martin and Elizabeth (Martinleer Eppinger) Trantham’s children and their spouses. The second is the 1783 will of Martin Trantham, Sr., in which he reveals that he had two sons named Martin by different wives.
The third document comes to us in the form of a 1761 deed which appears in condensed form as follows in Abstracts of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, Volume One, Books 1-3, 1754-1770.
p. 131 14 Nov 1761 John Martinleer, of Cumberland (also signed by Sarah Lear (sic)) to Martin Trantham, Jr., planter, of Cumberland, for £40 proc., 320 a(cres) on both sides of Upper Little River near Clark’s corner, between the falls and Joshua Shadrack’s land, being upper 1/2 of 640 a(cres) patent to (said) Martinleer 18 May 1754, which is conveyed to (said) Martin Trantham for his lifetime and after his decease to his heirs begotten of Elizabeth Epinger (sic).
Whew. If you had difficulty following that, basically, John Martinleer sold some land to his son-in-law Martin Trantham, Jr., with a catch. Martin’s children by a wife other than Elizabeth Eppinger would not inherit this particular piece of land.
There are four main reasons why this document matters to Trantham historians like moi:
- It establishes – although it does not say it outright – that John Martinleer was Elizabeth’s father. Why else would he have cared about who inherited land he was selling?
- It confirms that Elizabeth’s first husband was named “Eppinger” and Martin was not her 1st husband. Duh. But it’s important.
- It tells us that Martin and Elizabeth were likely married in 1761.
- My favorite bit – John Martinleer’s name was in all likelihood John Martin Leer or Lear given that his wife signed the deed Sarah “Lear”. Yeah, that makes sense. Sarah, incidentally, was John’s 2nd wife and Elizabeth’s stepmother.
Of course, it also places all of them in Cumberland County, North Carolina straddling the Upper Little River. And it tells us that both John and Martin were “planters”. No, that does not mean they liked to garden. They owned plantations.
Is it odd that John Martinleer sold land to his-son in-law with strings attached as a “wedding present”? Not so much. John GAVE a different tract of land to Elizabeth’s first husband in 1756. That must have turned into a bad idea when he died leaving Elizabeth a widow. One can imagine the conversation between father and daughter went something like this: “Look, I am not made of pounds sterling. I can’t keep shelling out 320 acres every time you get married.”
Martin and Elizabeth sold this land in 1766. This is likely when they made the move to South Carolina. And from South Carolina, they moved again to Tennessee where Elizabeth, a.k.a. “Betsy” died at the nonsensical age of 159.
Since this blog is named after the many Martin Tranthams that make up my family tree, I feel a bit obliged to write about them from time to time. Big “thank you” to my distant cousin Susan who first introduced me to this important deed! Class dismissed.
Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relation: Pretty positive about this one
Common ancestors: Yes
Reference:
Fields, W. C., editor. (1995). Abstracts of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, Volume One, Books 1-3, 1735-1770. Fayettevile, NC: Cumberland County Genealogical Society.
Hi enjoyed your post. Not many researching Martinleer.
I have researched our Buie line an have cNe across connection to the two families staring first in 1754 an ending in 1844.
My gx3 Duncan Buie Esq married a Lucy Martinleer about 1802 of Cumberland now Harnett. John Z Martinleer b1700? D1775 married twice. I’m confused or in doubt as to if there were two John’s as one probate in 1776 an the other afterwards. Lucy Martinleer would be my gx3 grandmother mother to my gx2 Granddather Duncan George W Buie b1811 NC d1887 La.
She is mentioned in the 1800 Cumberland Census as a Martinlere not Martinleer.. As head of house with one young male an 12 slaves.. After the death of her husband in 1841., see Cumberland County Wills an Probates, Free Famliy Search,, Estates NC., Duncan Buie 1841 makes mentions of her as Lucy.. In 1844 Henry Moore husband to Sara Martinleer, daughter to William d1816 an Sara request all inherited lands be sold an mentions Lucy Marinleer widow of Duncan Buie, her dower lands separate not to be included.. Ref: Cumberland County Deeds Henry Moore dated 1844., At the time of his request he has move with Wife to Henry County Alabama..
Lucy Marinleer can also be found in George Martinleers probate dated 1800, again using Free Famliy Search where She an Jean Atkins bounded to his estate..
Also in 1816 Duncan Buie b1759, in support of his wife Lucy bounded to the estate of William Martinleer, widow Ann..
Being Lucy was head in 1800 of her estate..
An Duncan Buie b1759 had a proviso us son John R Buie b1792 is safe to assume Duncan Buie Ann Lucy Martinleer were married about 1801-1802.. Through that marriage their first daughter was Margret Duncan Buie b1804. Margret later married Duncan McFarlands son Tyram d1833.
Honestly, I’m not sure how to place Lucy Martinlleer in relation with John Z, d1700, George , d1800, John d1786? , or William Martinleer d1816. The sale of land by Henry Moore dated 1844 doesn’t make it clear her relationship to the Famliy.. One sentence indies a Buie her natural life, an a widow of George Martinleer.. What I.,! Find odd is to why she named her first son my gx2 both of Duncan Buie an George Martinleer being the later was her deceased husband..
My Great great was Duncan George Washington Buie b1811 d1887.
Any info on how to place Lucy Martinleer Buie would be greatly appreciated…
Tracy Bowie
Hello, Tracy
First, thanks for visiting my blog. To be honest, I haven’t spent a great deal of time researching the Martinleers. But, I will definitely take a look at the information you’ve provided.
Ken
Thank you for this information. My name is Chuck Trantham. My dad’s name was Calvin Franklin Trantham. And his dad’s name was Guy Franklin Trantham so unfortunately we never got to meet because he died when my dad was 3. So I am currently tracking down to Trantham family because I have never had the chance to meet one nor have I ever knew of another one. So thank you very much for this information it is a huge help in me tracking down my family history
Hello, Cousin Chuck
Thanks for reaching out to me. Glad you enjoyed the post. The Tranthams are one of my favorite lines to research and not just because it’s my last name. Most likely we share a common heritage to the early Trenthams and Tranthams who passed through North Carolina before 1800. If I can be of any help to you, let me know.
Ken