A package from the public library of Huntsville, Texas arrived this week. It was stuffed with the genealogical findings of a distant Trantham cousin. In a frenzy reminiscent of Christmas mornings past, I ripped into the padded envelope and quickly scanned for the section on “Martin Trantham”, our presumed common ancestor. I had high hopes that the author, Herbert Raymond Trantham, Jr., had successfully made sense of the many Martins.
Not so much.
It appears Herbert’s ancestor, Martin Trantham, is yet another entrant in the “Too Many Martins” melee. His Martin Trantham was born about 1720 and died about 1800. The names of his children – Robert, John and James – set him apart from the other Martin Tranthams. Herbert also found evidence that his Martin fought in the Revolutionary War.
There are a few theories swimming about in my head. We know that a Martin Trantham sold (or gave) land to a “Robert” Trantham in 1754. Robert’s son, “Robert”, was also named in the deed. We also know that Martin Tranthams cannot help themselves and like to name sons by different wives “Martin”. Thus, it’s possible that the father “Robert” was a half-brother to the Martin selling him the land and his name was also “Martin”. His middle name may have been used in the deed to avoid confusion between the two Martins. The only problem with my theory is that Herbert believes the younger Robert was born about 1775, long after this land transaction occurred.
The search continues.
Herbert died in 1993. Thankfully, he had donated his Trantham research to the local library and they were kind enough to photocopy it for me. There was no issue doing that because Herbert wanted others to be able to benefit from his research as long as he was given credit.
Credit is duly noted. Thanks, Herbert.
Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relation: Unknown
Common ancestors: Presumably the earliest Tranthams or Trenthams of North and South Carolina
References:
Trantham, H. R., Jr. (date unknown). Descendants of Martin Trantham (Trentham) of South Carolina. Unpublished manuscript.
Hello. I am also seeking information regarding a son of a Martin Trantham named James, particularly a James Zachary Trantham who I believe to be my ?5th great grandfather. My line of Tranthams moved from NC to East Texas possibly by way of TN or MS.
Hello, Trantham Cousin
Thanks for reaching out. The migration pattern you’ve described is typical of our Trantham or Trentham ancestors. The promise of fertile, untamed lands in the West enticed our ancestors to venture into parts unknown. Tennessee and the Mississippi Territory became popular destinations for the Tranthams in the early 19th century. The migration continued before and after the Civil War with many Tranthams settling in Texas, Arkansas and Southern Missouri. My own Trantham ancestors followed that path – North Carolina to Tennessee to Arkansas (back) to Tennessee and then into Texas. It’s very possible that your ancestor was a descended of one of the Martin Tranthams of North Carolina. The one that died about 1783 in Rowan County had TWO sons named Martin by different wives and they had many children. I am not familiar with James Zachary. How far back have you been able to trace your Trantham lineage?
I am fairly confident that my 4th Great Grandfather was a John Jabin Trantham, born 1804 and living in Kershaw county, South Carolina. I am a descendant of John Jabin’s son William Jackson Trantham and grandson Bedford Forrest Trantham, the later of which was one of several brothers named after confederate generals.
There is an online transcription of the will of a James Trantham of Kershaw county, SC dated 1823 that lists wife Mary, sons George M, Jabin, Cyrus, and James. If this is indeed the father of John Jabin then James (the father) would be my 5th Great Grandfather. I have anecdotal evidence from older family members that James Zachary’s father was named (you guessed it) Martin, but which Martin that may be is hard to say.
Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. You’ve done quite a bit of research. Congratulations. The Tranthams who passed through Kershaw County, SC are definitely related. Martin Trantham who died about 1783 in Rowan County, NC had siblings. (I recently discovered a sister named Mary who married Robert Dixon who appears in land records in Cumberland County, NC.) Martin Sr. was married at least twice that we know of and had two sons named Martin. (Why mess with a good thing?) One of his sons stayed in NC; the other ventured out into TN and MS. At some point, a contingent of Tranthams migrated to Kershaw County, SC which is where my line and yours intersect. Some of the elder Tranthams who landed in South Carolina included a Martin, a John and a David. They were elder in a sense they had money to acquire land. They had sons and daughters who married – some stayed and some left. Frankly, the Trantham family tree is a bit cloudy between 1750 and 1800. Relationships are unclear and lots of folks – including me – make assumptions as to who begot whom. Doesn’t really matter though as anyone with the last name of Trantham or Treantham is related and we all came from the same male ancestor who at some point in the distant past decided to take the last name “Trentham” back in England. I jokingly told another cousin that I hope to be buried with a copy of my family tree in hopes that in the afterlife my ancestors can help me correct it. Cheers!