The founder of the Martin family of New Scotland, Albany county, New York, was John Martin, born in Coxsackie; orphaned early, died quite old in 1816. He was a soldier of the English army, who during the revolution was loyal to the king and suffered imprisonment and exile. He settled in New Scotland before the war. He was a farmer and became the owner of a large farm. He married Maria Fralich, who bore him thirteen children, four of whom were sons. He died in New Salem about 1816.
(II) Peter, son of John and Maria (Fralich) Martin, was born on what was called the "Taggert farm" in New Scotland, December, 1781. This farm was his property afterward, and is yet in the Martin name. He was drafted in the war of 1812, but through the kindly offices of a friend, who knew of his young family, a substitute was provided and Peter was not required to serve. He married (first) Christianna, born 1783, died 1839, daughter of William and Jennie (Drummons) Allen, both born in Scotland. She bore him seven children. He married (second) Peggy Jones; no issue. Peter Martin and his wives are buried in the New Scotland Reformed Church burying ground, they being members of that denomination. Children: Margaret, Isabella, Mary, Jennie, William, Avery and John.
(III) William, son of Peter and Christianna (Allen) Martin, was born in New Scotland, Albany county, New York, October 18, 1806, died September 1, 1902. When he was six years of age his parents removed to the farm where he was reared and of which he afterward became the owner. When he was thirty years of age he purchased one-half of his father's estate, and in 1851 bought the remaining half. He erected new buildings and made many other improvements. He was a man of untiring industry and strict integrity. He was a member of the Reformed church, and a Democrat. He married, October, 1829, Mary Ann, born 1809, died April 19, 1880, daughter of William Moak, a descendant of Jacob Moak, born in Switzerland in 1700, came to America in 1730, and is the progenitor of the Moak family in Albany county, New York. Children:
- Mary Jane, married Benjamin Van Zandt; both deceased; children: William B., Mary, Louisa, Etta, deceased.
- Peter W., born in New Scotland, June, 1834; he was a farmer, later a merchant, in Guilderland Center; now living retired in Voorheesville; he was inspector and town clerk; he married, October, 1858, Sarah Ann, daughter of Casper Perry, of New Scotland; children:
- Elveretta;
- Emma J., died aged ten;
- Levi W., now of Voorheesville.
- William Moak, now of New Salem; married Louise Flansburg; now deceased; children:
- Garry E., born 1870; married, September 4, 1894, Annie M. Taylor; child:
- Effie L., born December 2, 1895;
- Grace, died young.
- Garry E., born 1870; married, September 4, 1894, Annie M. Taylor; child:
- Robert, see forward.
- Harriet, deceased; married Levi Wood, a grocery dealer and inventor of the "carbon acetylene gas light"; children: Ella and Frank M.
- Rachel Taylor, married John Crounse, whom she survives; a resident of Saratoga Springs, New York; children: Milton, Ada F., Eva, William H., Alden M., Robert F.
- Alden, died aged twenty-two years; unmarried.
(IV) Robert, son of William and Mary Ann (Moak) Martin, was born in New Scotland, April 21, 1838. He was educated in the public schools, and has spent his life engaged in agriculture. He is one of the prosperous and substantial men of his town, owns the old Martin homestead, where he resides, and other valuable real estate in the town. He is a successful fruit grower, as well as a general farmer. Honorable and upright in his life, he is thoroughly respected. He is independent in politics, with a strong leaning towards the doctrine of Prohibition, a principle he urges by both precept and example. He is a member of the Reformed church, and lives in accordance with his profession. He was for four years a member of Company H, Eighty-second Regiment, New York National Guard. Having lived a life of unusual activity, he has fairly earned the comfort and ease he now allows himself, having surrendered the chief cares of his estate to his son. He married, December 29, 1869, Amelia Wood, born on the Wood homestead, October 19, 1843, daughter of Arnold and Mary B. (Spencer) Wood, who were married at Westerlo, Albany county, New York, in 1838, and settled on a farm in New Scotland. Arnold Wood was born in 1806, died on his farm in New Scotland, 1881, and his wife was born in Westerlo, 1806, died in New Scotland in April, 1897. Arnold Wood was a son of Gideon Wood, born 1778, of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a descendant of the early New England family of English descent, who were numbered among the early Puritan settlers. Gideon Wood settled in Westerlo, New York in 1806, purchased a farm, which is now owned by Charles Wood. He was a manufacturer of spinning wheels, also a wheelwright. He died in 1861, aged eighty-three years. He married Jerusha M. Atkins, also of Cape Cod descent. She died in 1858, aged eighty-one years. Had Uriah, Arnold, Ann and Elizabeth. They were members of the Society of Friends, and possessed the virtues of that exemplary sect. Children of Arnold Wood:
- William, a farmer of Selkirk, New York; married Permelia Augusta Patterson; children:
- Lansing A.,
- Anna, died young,
- Alton C.,
- Carrie.
- Levi, a resident of Voorheesville; inventor and manufacturer of Night Commander Acetylene Gas Light.
- Amelia, married Robert Martin.
- Charles, born September 11, 1845; a farmer on the old Wood homestead in New Scotland; married Catherine H. Flansburg;, children: Harriet, Imogene, Mary, Bertha, Jane.
- Ann E., died young.
Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children:
- Arvilla H., born June 3, 1878; married Clarence S. Harkey, a farmer of New Scotland; child:
- Clara Amelia, born April 9, 1894.
- Frank W., November 19, 1884; educated in the Rockland Military Academy, Nyack-on-Hudson, and the Altamont high school. He is chief manager of his father's estate, and resides with him on the homestead farm. He is a man of good business capacity, modern,and progressive in his methods, and holds a high position in his community. He is independent in politics, and a strong friend of the cause of prohibition. He is a member of the Reformed church. He was for some time member of Company C, Tenth Regiment, New York National Guard. He married, October 24, 1906, Grace Taylor, born April 22, 1887, daughter of Alfred J. and Anna Prudence (McMillan) Taylor (see Taylor IV). Children:
- Frances E., born August 21, 1907;
- Chester Shaw, January 27, 1910.