Christopher Martin (Mayflower Pilgrim)

Christopher Martin (ca. 1582-1620/21) was a Pilgrim and signer of the Mayflower Compact.

Christopher Martin was born on an unknown date prior to 1582. He married Mary Prower, a widow, in Great Burstead, Essex, England in February 1606 or 1607. Mary Martin was born around 1580, in the vicinity of Great Burstead, Billericay. She had a son, named Solomon, from her previous marriage. She later bore Martin a son, whom they named Nathaniel, born in February 1609 or 1610, also in Billericay.^[1]

Christopher Martin was a merchant. He was a practicing Catholic, however in his early 30s, he came into conflict with Catholic religious authorities for refusing to observe the Catholic ritual of kneeling at communion. A similar incident, also involving Nathaniel, occurred at Archdeaconry Court at Chelmsford in 1619.

Christopher Martin, Mary Martin and her son Solomon came to America on the Mayflower, but all died during the first winter in Plymouth Colony, during 1620-21.^[2] Christopher Martin Had a son John Martin born in Essex in 1620 prior to the Mayflower departure. While en route to the new world Captain Jones of the Mayflower died and Christopher Martin also the Governor of the Mayflower assumed command. There was a storm that blew the ship off course and the Mayflower landed in what is now Provincetown, MA in November 1620. His son John survived the treacherous following winters and died in 1687. John Martin is my 12th Great Grandfather and Christopher Martin in my 13th Great Grandfather. == References == This information was obtained from over 60 hours of genealogy research from articles posted in ancestry.com.

1. ^ The Mayflower Descendant. A Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History (Christopher Martin, Boston: The Massachusetts Genealogy and History Society) XXI. 1919. 
2. ^ "Passenger List, Christopher Martin". Caleb Johnson's Mayflowerhistory.com. http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/Passengers/ChristopherMartin.php. Retrieved 2009-02-18. 

Resources

• Thru the Looking Glass. (n.d.). Christopher Martin
• MayflowerHistory.com. (n.d.) Passenger List, Mary Prower Martin;
• Morrison, S.E. (1976). Of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647 by William Bradford, New York: Alfred Knopf.

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