Goodville Henry S Martin and Family

06/21/2020

These two photos were taken from Richard and Elva Martin’s book Descendants of Nathaniel Z Martin 1841-1993, page 17

06/18/2020

I am working on sorting information of the tenant home at 99 Breaker Lane farm. I spoke with my dad again and he insists the 2.5 story house was of log construction. He says that he is not certain that the whole thing was of logs but the main construction was logs. He also stated that the house set on the south side after the left bend of the lane (coming from Rt 23) and before the bend to the right. He says the front porch faced the south toward the stone home and the gable ends faced east and west. He remembers that the parlor was on the southeast corner of the house and there was a sofa in there. (When he was little he hid behind it after a huge thunder clap.) He remembers the west side of the first floor was all one room but doesn't remember the staircase, table, or grandfather clock. He doesn't even remember the summerhouse, but does remember the springhouse. Were there two springhouses at one time on the property??? The last time he was there was in 1951 for his grandma's viewing. He was 17 years old. He is disappointed that it may not have been reconstructed elsewhere but accepted graciously the fact that it may have been dismantled forever. (He will be 87 in October. He is the oldest child alive of my grandparents that had lived in that home.) I continue to seek it because of the insistence that Aunt Ruth portrayed that each board was marked for the purpose of reconstruction.

If you look again in the picture of the 2.5 story log/frame/tenant house I sent, you will see a barn in the distance. There is a barn on the 1899 map that belonged to John Stauffer. It appears to be the farm that Neil Good owns today. Does that hold true to what you know?

I find it interesting that the attached 1864 map shows Josh Stauffer as the owner the 99 Breaker Lane farm and there is only one house on the property. Do you know how Josh fits into your franschof? I must research this further; wouldn't it be something if Richard Martin and I were wrong on Henry's purchase dates??!! Maps are usually accurate! The 1875 map shows two homes on the property, so it is safe to say that the tenant home was built between 1864 and 1875. And I personally believe that Henry Sauder Martin built or had it built for one of his children and their family to live in. His will stated that he wanted the farm to go to his sons John and Jonathon. They accepted it but eventually John wanted to move out of state so he pulled out of the partnership. Soon after that Jonathon couldn't financially swing it, so his brother Nathaniel Z Martin purchased it from him. (Nathaniel is my 2x great grandfather. His son Nathaniel Sauder Martin and his wife Fannie were the last Martin owners of your farm.) There is some confusion in the deeds after the split of John and Jonathon so I am studying them to untangle the confusion.

06/18/2020

06/16/2020

15 October 1835, page 1, The Lancaster Examiner. I believe this article suggests that Henry S Martin owned the 99 Breaker Lane farm already by October 1835.

02/19/2020

Lancaster County Deed Book Z 10 Page 160-161 Henry S Martin’s Legatees and Henry S Martin Executors:
Agreement made and concluded this first day January 1 one thousand, eight hundred and seventy six, 1876, by and between the widow, legatees, and heirs of Henry S. Martin, late, of East Earl Township, Lancaster County Pennsylvania deceased. Whereas certain difficulties have suggested themselves concerning the meaning and intention portions of the last will of said Henry S. Martin and is is the desire of all interested to continue the mutual good feeling and peaceful relation among the members of the family and avoid any misunderstanding which might or could arise by reason of any uncertain or conflicting provisions in said will. Therefore we, Anna Martin, the widow, Jonathon Martin, Nathaniel Martin, Elias Martin, John W. Martin, Susanna Wenger, and her husband Joseph Wenger, Lydia Newswanger, and her husband Peter Newswanger, Maria Martin, Magdalena Martin, Esther Martin by her committee Abraham M. Martin, Lydia Witmer, by her guardian Jonas H. Martin. The said Anna, Jonathon, Nathaniel, Elias, John W., Susanna, Lydia, Maria, Magdalena, Esther, Lydia, and Anna, being the widow and all the legatees and heirs of said deceased in consideration of the premises and natural love and affection and the sum of one dollar to each of us in hand paid do hereby adjust, settle, define, and fix the meaning or intention of said will touching or relating to the provisions hereinafter mentioned that is to say ___. First the personal property, goods, and chattels of deceased not bequeathed to the widow or retained by her and excepting his Mearing apparel, shall be sold by the executors as soon as conveniently can be done. The bonds and outstanding moneys and payments of valuation moneys of farms then due be collected by the executors an order of court obtained for the sale of house and lot adjoining the East Earl farm and not mentioned in the will and after payments of debt and funeral expenses as directed being the funds then in their hands into a distribution the children living and the issues of those dead shall all be made equal, per stirpes taking in account the advancements charged against them or their parent respectively in the Testators Book (kept for that purpose) and the two thousand dollars directed to remain on the farms bequeathed to Nathaniel, Elias, and John are also to be taken into account against them in such distribution. In the distribution to be made at this time the Legacies of two thousand dollars in the will to Esther, Magdalena, Maria Martin, Lydia Witmer, and Anna Nolt are to be embraced so that all the legatees in the will shall be made equal with Nathaniel Martin the highest advanced. Third: If Jonathon, Elias, Nathaniel, and John shall make more money than is required to mend the annual payments or wish to anticipate the payments of the valuation money of their farms, the sums thus paid by them over and above their annual installment shall be equally divided by the executors among all the legatees under the will. Fourth: The widow of the testator shall not be obliged to pay over to the executors any of the accumulations of the moneys she receives under the will. The same shall be left to her free will. But if she does pay over to the executors or relinquish any part of it the same shall be equally divided between all the legatees. Fifth: It is agreed that Jonathon, Nathaniel, Elias, and John will on the first day of April A. D. one thousand, eight hundred and seventy-six 1876 accept the farms respectively bequeathed to them at the valuation and upon the conditions specified in the will of said deceased and the widow hereby accepts the devises and the requests given to her under said will in full of her decesor, thirds, or portion of the estate of the said deceased. Sixth: The residue of the estate as mentioned in the will shall be equally divided between the testator’s children then living and the lawful issue of any of them then dead in equal share per stirpis. Seventh: And we do hereby ratify and confirm the will of said Henry S. Martin in all other respects not notified by this agreement and we likewise ratify and confirm the selection of the appraisers of the woodland, their evaluation, of the same and its acceptance by Jonathon, John, and Nathaniel as appears by the records concerning the same. In Witness whereof we have whereunto set our hand and seals the day and year first above written. Signed, Sealed, and delivered in the presence of us: Martin E Stauffer, B. F. Weaver, for all except Joseph and Susanna Wenger. Witnesses to signature of Susanna and Joseph Wenger: E. G. Chamberlain and E. M. Winegart.
Signatures: Anna Martin, Jonathon Martin, Nathaniel Martin, Elias Martin, John W. Martin, Susanna (x her mark) Wenger, Joseph (x his mark) Wenger, Lydia Newswanger, Peter Newswanger, Maria Martin, Magdalena Martin, Esther Martin, Anna Nolt (by her committee, by her guardian,) Abram Martin, Jonas H. Martin, Lydia Witmer (by her guardian,) David Martin.

02/19/2020

This includes photos and documents of Nathaniel and his wife Lizzie and places they have lived.