The Martin Women

Quick Facts

Elizabeth Martin 1727-1797, Grace Martin 1758-1820, & Rachel Martin 1763-1849

Elizabeth Martin was the wife of Abram Martin. Abram had served under George Washington during the French and Indian War. In 1769, the couple moved their family from Virginia to South Carolina, settling in what is now Edgefield County.ⁱ The Martins had nine children, eight of them sons, who all became patriot soldiers. In 1773, while on a surveying trip in Wilkes County, Georgia, Abram was killed by Native Americans, leaving Elizabeth a widow.ⁱⁱ 

During the Revolutionary War several of Elizabeth’s daughters-in-law lived with her. Two of the most notable daughters-in-law were Grace and Rachel. Grace was the widow of Elizabeth’s oldest son, William, who had been killed at the Siege of Augusta and Rachel was the wife or another son, Barclay.ⁱⁱⁱ Throughout the war the Martin women nursed and tended the wounded continental army soldiers.^iv

One day in May of 1781, during the siege of Ninety Six, Rachel and Grace took on a new role. They had heard that a British currier would be passing through the area with two guards. Disguising themselves as men, using their husbands clothing, they set out to ambush the currier. Taking position along a protected turn in the road they waited. Just before night fall, they heard the approaching messenger and guards. Armed with firearms the women jumped out and startled the men. They demanded the surrender of documents as well as the guards' weapons.^v

According to a local tale, after the ambush, the British returned from the direction they had come and sought accommodations at a house. The house turned out to be non-other than the Marin home. When Elizabeth asked why they had returned so early they exclaimed how “two Rebel lads” had surprised them and stolen their dispatch.^vi The men were fed and rested, never expecting their two younger host to be the “lads” they had encountered.With the exception of her eldest, William, all of Elizabeth’s sons survived the war. When alerted about her son’s death, Mrs. Martin responded, “He could not have died in a nobler cause.”^vii

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i. Buckner, Gladys, "The Martintown Road," Daughters of the Amreican Revolution Magazine, vol. 108, no. 1, Jan 1974, pp 25, 56. https://services.dar.org/members/magazine_archive/download/?file=DARMAG_1974_01.pdf; accessed 10 August 2023

ii. Bland, Marian, "An Entire Family of Patritos," The Edgefield Advertiser, June 27, 2022, An Entire Family of Patriots – The Edgefield Advertiser: accessed 10 August 2023

iii. Buckner. 

iv. "The Daring Exploits of Elizabeth, Grace, and Rachel Martin," The American Battlfield Trust, The Daring Exploits of Elizabeth, Grace, and Rachel Martin | American Battlefield Trust (battlefields.org): accessed 10 August 2023

v. Buckner. 

vi. "The Daring Exploits of Elizabeth, Grace, and Rachel Martin," The American Battlfield Trust, The Daring Exploits of Elizabeth, Grace, and Rachel Martin | American Battlefield Trust (battlefields.org): accessed 10 August 2023

vii. Hardy, Stella Pickett. “The Martin Family,” Colonial Families of the Southern States of America: A History and Genealogy of Colonial Families Who Settled in The Colonies Prior To The Revolution. Tobias A. Wright, 1911. pp. 366-374