EARLY MARTIN LINES
LEROY COLLIER
Lineage. We are attaching the first ten generations listed in our book
"Some Martin Families, Descendants of Martin de Tours and Geva de Burci,
1033-1991" which we compiled in 1991:
SOME MARTIN FAMILIES,
DESCENDANTS OF MARTIN dE TOURS AND GEVA dE BURCI 1033-1993
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Chapter 1
Le Seigneur de S. Martin, Marteine de Turribus, Martin de
Tours, Lord Marcher of Keymes (1) was born after 1020 A. D. He was
a Norman and a General in the Army of William, the Conqueror. He
fought with distinction in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. He is
thought to have been a direct descendant of Bishop Martin de
Tours of France though no hard facts have been found to prove it.
He was rewarded for his bravery and his success in battle with a
grant of territory in North Devonshire and was made Lord
Combe/Martin of Martinshire. The Barony of Dartingham in South
Devonshire was awarded him in 1088 and in 1094 he subdued the terr-
itory of Cemeas (Keymes) in Pembrokeshire in South Wales and took
it by force of arms. He was titled the Lord of Courts and was given
the usual attributes of a Lord Marcher.
Martin de Tours (1) was the first Lord of Keymes. The Barony
of Keymes was made up of 22 parishes. As Baron of Keymes, he exer-
cised so many privileges that the Barony became virtually an inde-
pendent state. He founded a monastery for St. Benedictine monks at
St. Dogmaels near Cardigan which was annexed as a cell to the Abby
of Tyrone of France and became an important institution during the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. He was succeeded by his son
and heir, Baron Robert FitzMartin, who endowed St. Dogmael's Monas-
tery with large acreages of land.
Martin de Tours married Geva de Burci, d/o Serlo de Burci,
who married (2) William de Falaise. Four children listed below, not
necessarily in the order of their births.
A. Nicholas FitzMartin (2).
B. William FitzMartin (2).
C. Avice FitzMartin (2), married Lucas de Hoda.
D. Baron Robert FitzMartin (2), succeeded his father as Lord of the
Barony of Keymes. He also possessed the Barony of Dartingham where
he lived. He and his successors were summoned to the King's Council
as Barons of Keymes, and were Lords of the English Parliament. He
married (1) Maud, widow of William Perverell (Purvill), d/o Lord
Nottingham, who was a Captain in the Army of William, the Conqueror.
He married (2) Alice de Nonant, d/o Roger de Nonant. Three children,
listed below, not necessarily in the order of their births.
1. Robert (Secondus) FitzMartin (3).
2. Sibyl FitzMartin (3), married Warin de Morcelles.
3. Baron William FitzMartin (3), b-ca 1125 at Dartingham in Devon-
shire, d-ca 1216. He lived during the reign of both Henry II and
Richard I and was a man of considerable importance. He married
Angharad Griffydd, d/o Rhys Ap Grifid (Griffydd) who was Prince of
South Wales. Three children.
DESCENDANTS OF MARTIN DE TOURS (1)
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a. Baron William Martin (4), b-1160, d-1215, married Avice de Breaute
Toriton who was a sister of Fulke de Breaute. For a listing of their
descendants turn to Chapter 2, page 3.
b. David Martin (4).
c. Sir Oliver Martin (4), b-1165, was a Knight and a Crusader. He
helped King Henry II in his conquest of Ireland and settled in Galway.
In 1193, he went to the Holy Lands with Richard Couer de Lion and
shared his captivity. He was granted arms by King Richard in the
Holy Lands. We have not traced Sir Oliver further as the line we are
interested in goes back to his brother, Baron William Martin.
(1)Kinpatch, The Martin Family, by Melva Ruth Thomas Campbell,
Woodland CA, Pg. 217
(2)The Genealogy of Martin .... The Early Generations, compiled by
The Family Society of Martins, 21 Lynnhurst Road, Exmouth, Devon
EX8 EDS
(3)Thomas Martin of Albemarle Co., VA, His Ancestors and Some of His
Descendants and Some Martin Notes compiled by Mrs. Virginia Eliza
McNaught.
(4)The Genealogy, Ibid.
(5)Thomas Martin, Ibid.
(6)Book of Pedigrees, Volume 10, College of Arms, Dublin Castle.
(7)Colonial Families of the United States, by George Norbury
MacKenzie, Pg. 495.
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