John Martin 1809-1861

 

This is the headstone of Dr. John Martin, my 3rd great grandfather who lived and died in Wales.  His son, my 2nd great grandfather, was the product of a fling that Dr. Martin had with his housekeeper.

 

Here is a little excerpt of a history written by Raymond Martin:

 

"John Martin, the husband of Anna Jenkins, was the son of Dr. John Martin of Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales.  He was a surgeon.  He was given a good education by his father even to lessons on the violin.  His mother was Mary Ann Gibbs. She and Dr. Martin never married.  She had been employed in Dr. Martin’s home.  She lived in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire but worked in Merthyr.

 

There is a possibility that Dr. John Martin died of pneumonia.  The Martins were mining engineers who came to that part of Wales from northern England.  One relative of his was the High Sheriff of Monmouthshire, a position considered very important over there at the time."

 

The following info was posted at osmond.org and includes better photos of the headstone: