GenConnecticut-L Archives

From: Sean Tracy <>
Subject: Henry and Martha Tracy of CT c. 1790
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 1997 18:08:14 -0400

Members of the Tracy Family who have been researching their roots
for some time state with much assuredness that MARTHA who was
married to Henry Tracy was a MARTIN, even quoting grandmothers
and great uncles... I find it hard to deny such certainty but I
have no more than these family traditions to go on.

MARTHA (MARTIN?) Tracy, according to the information recorded in
the 1850 Census was born in Connecticut, c.1774. A tombstone
inscription found on a broken stone in Pierce Twp., Clermont Co.,
Ohio leads me to believe she died 1854.

A Family Tradition forwarded to me says "MARTHA MARTIN was a
descendant of ROBERT MARTIN who settled in New Haven, Connecticut
prior to 1646." She was also a "direct descendant of Mary Yale,
sister of Elihu Yale, founder of Yale University. Mary Yale was
a daughter of David Yale and his wife, Ann Morton. Ann Morton
Yale married (2) Gov. Theophilus Eaton, 1st governor of New Haven
Colony."

Further, this same Family Tradition says, "MARTHA MARTIN was the
wife of Henry Tracy, a native of Connecticut and a descendant of
Lt. Thomas Tracy who arrived at Salem, Massachusetts in 1636."

Well...Henry probably was born in CT, tho I haven't yet been able
to confirm that; he probably is a descendant of Lt. Thomas Tracy,
tho, again, I haven't confirmed that either but I am closing in on it.

'Henry Tracy and Martha, his wife', did convey title to land they
owned in Addison (formerly Middletown), Steuben Co., NY in August
1814. This piece of land, a 'farm or plantation' of 74 acres,
abutted land owned by a GEORGE MARTIN. There doesn't seem to be
a grantee listing showing how they acquired the land... a
reasonable theory might be that their land was split off from the
same parcel as that of George Martin (who could have been a
relative, father? or brother? of Martha) at the same time -or later-
he acquired his. (Just a thought.)

MARTIN names appearing (frequently I may add) in Steuben County
affairs c.1800 include: three brothers who are listed among the
settlers of Middletown in 1797:
JOHN,b. 28 Jul 1753, d. 13 Jun 1823, his wife
was Jerusha ______;
JAMES, d. c.1805; first of early settlers to
die;
ISAAC;

and, relationships to above or each other unknown
by me:
GEORGE; ROBERT;

Martha and Henry Tracy are said to have had 12 children; the
eldest was Mary Ann Tracy. b. c.1795 in Middletown, NY; my
ancestor Enoch Tracy, b. 24 Oct 1804 in Middletown, NY; and the
'next to the youngest of 12', Ira Francis, b. 10 Oct 1806 probably
in Middletown, by this time renamed Addison, NY; I don't have names or
dates for the other nine children except that Jonathan and Flemon have
been
tentatively suggested.

The Barbour Collection does have brothers Isaac, b.25 Apr 1748, and
James, b. 3 Mar 1735, the sons of Robert and Abigail (Parker) Martin,
m.15 Jul 1734, all of Wallingford.

Preliminary research on the Yale connection does NOT look hopeful
proving the Traditions, but...

Have any of you information about this MARTHA MARTIN... or of MARTIN
families in this part of the country?

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this,

Sean Tracy
Pomfret, CT

This thread:

• Henry and Martha Tracy of CT c. 1790 by Sean Tracy <>