This branch of the Martin family is of German descent, and first located in Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, New York, and in later years settled in Albany county, where the family is both numerous and prominent.
(I) David Martin was born in Dutchess county, New York, or in Germany, March 18, 1751, and died in New Scotland, New York, having attained more than three-score years. He is believed to have served in the revolutionary war. He came to the town of New Scotland, Albany county, to secure land with timber, and leased a farm near Voorheesville, a wild and unbroken tract. He struggled along under adverse circumstances for some time and at last became so thoroughly discouraged that he decided to abandon the farm and return to Dutchess county, but his heroic wife was made of sterner material and would not give up; they labored side by side in the fields and succeeded in bringing the farm under profitable conditions of cultivation. From field and orchard they secured more than a living and died in comfortable circumstances. He married, in Dutchess county, New York, Catherine Becker, born January 10, 1753. Children:
- John D., born October 16, 1780, see forward;
- Henry, January 19, 1783;
- Elizabeth, March 5, 1785;
- Mary, October 6, 1786;
- David, January 18, 1789;
- Jacob, June 2, 1791;
- Catherine, March 4, 1796;
- Samuel, September 11, 1798.
This family was noted for longevity, most of them living to be over eighty; the most of them married and had issue.
(II) John D., son of David and Catherine (Becker) Martin, was born in Dutchess county, New York, October 16, 1780. He came to Albany county with his parents, shared with them the labors of the early days, and finally succeeded to the ownership of the Martin homestead farm. He prospered in worldly affairs and later purchased another farm upon which he lived until his death in 1870, being then in his eighty-ninth year. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when he affiliated with that organization in New Scotland. He married Jane Van Pelt, born in the town of Providence, Saratoga county, New York, daughter of Peter and Mary (Van Slyck) Van Pelt, of early Dutch ancestry. Jane Martin died in New Scotland, February, 1879, aged eighty-eight years. Children:
- David, see forward.
- Maria, born March 17, 1816, died June 14, 1898; married Hezekiah Alexander, of Albany, who died December 4, 1899; children: John, David, Anna, Maria.
- Catharine, married John Crannell, both deceased; children: Gardner and Amanda.
- John, died young.
- Judy Ann, born 1833, died 1893; married Jacob Filkins, also deceased; no issue living.
- Samuel, born August 28, 1834, a farmer of New Scotland; married (first) Evaline Siver, now deceased; he married (second) Caroline Orme; had issue by both wives; by the latter Caroline, an only child, who lives with her aunt.
- Eliza A., unmarried.
(III) David (2), eldest son of John D. and Jane (Van Pelt) Martin, was born on the homestead farm in New Scotland, September 28, 1814, died April 28, 1903. He was educated in the town schools, and followed the occupation of farming all his life. He purchased a farm in New Scotland, upon which he resided until his death, and now owned and cultivated by his daughter, Phoebe Rebecca Martin. He was a man of integrity and honorable purpose, a member of the Methodist church, and a Republican. He married, January 6, 1849, in Albany, Phoebe Alexander, born in England, October 1, 1823, died in New Scotland, New York, August 22, 1908, daughter of John and Harriet (Pike) Alexander, both born in Ransbury, Wiltshire, England, where they were married, In June, 1845, they sailed for the United States and after a voyage of thirty-eight days arrived in New York. They came to Albany where they joined their son Hezekiah, who had preceded them to the United States. Later John Alexander and his wife removed to Watertown, Wisconsin, where she died, aged fifty-five years. John then removed to Rochester, Minnesota, where he died. Harriet Pike was his second wife and sister of his first wife. By both wives he had twelve children, one only now surviving (1910), Anna, wife of Ira Palmer, now living in Oklahoma. Children of David and Phoebe Martin:
- David, born December 23, 1849, died January 8, 1874, unmarried.
- Harriet Jane, born July 4, 1852; married, April 28, 1881, Silas Cheseboro; they live on the old Martin homestead. Silas Cheseboro is a descendant of William Cheseboro, the emigrant from England, who settled in Stoughton, Connecticut. The line descends through Saxton, son of William Cheseboro, who settled in New Scotland, where he married Jane Young, and later removed to Ohio. George, son of Saxton Cheseboro, was born in New Scotland, and married Julia Ann Martin, who died in 1887. In 1852 he went to California, traveling overland, and died there shortly after his arrival. Silas, son of George Cheseboro, married Harriet Jane Martin.
- Catherine, born October 13, 1854; married J. Henry Bell, of Voorheesville, New York; children:
- William D., deceased;
- George M., assistant postmaster of the village;
- Mary, died at age of sixteen years;
- Anna R., married Chauncey D. Hakes;
- Harriet, unmarried.
- John, died young.
- William S., died young.
- Mary Ella, born September 5, 1860; married Frederick Van Deusen, of Pelham, New York; children:
- Frederick;
- Charlotte E.,
- Harold,
- Clarence.
- Phoebe Rebecca, born February 22, 1863; now owns and occupies the farm purchased by her father and where he lived for some years; she has proved a competent manager, and by her industry and energy has made the farm a veritable garden for fertility and productive fruit culture.