This Day in Jekyll History, March 11, 1775
On This Day in Jekyll History…
March 11, 1775, Clement Martin, owner of Jekyll Island, dies.
Clement Martin is a lesser known figure in the history of Jekyll Island. He arrived in the colony of Georgia in 1754 having moved from St. Kitts in the Caribbean. Martin was appointed to the King’s Council - a group of 12 influential men from the colony - in addition to being elected to the General Assembly of the colony.
Martin was granted 600 acres on Jekyll Island by the King’s Council in 1766 - claiming land previously held by Raymond Demere. In 1768 Martin gained rights to the remainder of Jekyll Island after he petitioned for the land formerly occupied by Major Horton and his family.
Martin probably never occupied Jekyll Island as his primary residence, but did cultivate the island for a number of years. Upon his death on March 11, 1775 Jekyll Island transferred to the ownership of the island in equal shares to his son John, and daughters Jane and Anne. Interestingly, his eldest son - Clement Martin, Jr. - was intentionally left out of the transaction. Apparently, Clement Jr. had caused great offense to his father. According to his will, Clement Martin, Sr. left his namesake “six dunhill fowls for having cheated me of six thousand pounds.”
The Martin family had little time to enjoy the island after their father’s death. With the outbreak of the American Revolution, John Martin remained loyal to the British - resulting in the seizure of Jekyll Island and his banishment from Georgia.
Enjoy History? Visit the Jekyll Island Museum, 100 Stable Road, Jekyll Island, GA www.jekyllisland.com/history
or become a Fan of the Jekyll Island Museum on Facebook
Tags: 1775, Clement Martin, jekyll island, jekyll island history
