Generation No. 1
1. BENJAMIN1 MARTIN was born 1822 in Grates Cove, Newfoundland, and died 19 July
1897. He married CATHERINE BUSSEY 1850 in Grates Cove, Newfoundland.
Notes for BENJAMIN MARTIN:
>From Random Island Pioneers, page 135
The second family to settle permanently in Hickman's Harbour was that of Benjamin and
Catherine Martin of Grates Cove. They were married in the Wesleyan Chapel in Grates Cove in
1850 and had four sons (Simeon, 1851, Benjamin, 1854, Abraham, 1855 and James, 1858) before
taking up permanent residence at Hickman's Harbour in 1859. Like many of the early settlers to
Hickman's, Benjamin made several trips to the harbour to get wood and even spent a winter there
living in a tilt before deciding to settle there. Benjamin and Catherine had two sons (Alfred, 1862,
and Hezekiah, 1872) and two daughters (Sarah Ann, 1867 and Susannah, 1873) born in
Hickman's Harbour.
All of their children married and settled in Hickman's Harbour. Starting with James around 1880,
different members of this family had business establishments in this and neighbouring communities
over the years. One view is that Benjamin Martin's ancestors came from England to Grates Cove
in the 18th century. However, there is evidence that he was of Irish descent. More specifically,
his ancestors may have been Irish Catholics who were converted to Protestantism during the
mission of Reverend Lawrence Coughlan in Harbour Grace in the 1760s. Benjamin married a
devoted Wesleyan and the whole family became steeped in the tradition of this Church.
Children of BENJAMIN MARTIN and CATHERINE BUSSEY are:
2. i. SIMEON2 MARTIN, b. 1851, Grates Cove, Newfoundland.
3. ii. BENJAMIN MARTIN, b. 1854, Grates Cove, Newfoundland; d. 24 September
1912. ****** this is the one who married Rosannah Button of Old Perlican***
4. iii. ABRAHAM MARTIN, b. 1855, Grates Cove, Newfoundland.
iv. JAMES MARTIN, b. 1858, Grates Cove, Newfoundland; m. JANE BLUNDELL.
5. v. ALFRED MARTIN, b. 1862, Hickman's Harbour, Newfoundland.
6. vi. SARAH ANN MARTIN, b. 1867, Hickman's Harbour, Newfoundland.
7. vii. HEZEKIAH MARTIN, b. 1872, Hickman's Harbour, Newfoundland.
viii. SUSANNAH MARTIN, b. 1873, HIckman's Harbour, Newfoundland; m. HANUEL
BRYANT.
Contributor: Sandy Elkins MacEwen