The Martin Family View Family Tree

Samuel Martin has been documented as having been called “Black Sam.” Samuel married Kesiah (Wilson) Shepard sometime between 1803 and 1812. Samuel and Kesiah had at least two children, Jane and Kisy Louisa, born in 1812 and 1814 respectively. In August and October of 1813, Samuel Martin made land petitions to the government of the day. In August 1813, Samuel Martin, “a black man,” put forth the following petition: “Had built a house in which he and his family resides and now has part of his land fenced in and under cultivation, his lot being in Charlottetown...James Bagnall procured a license of occupation in 1807 and claims he made improvement. [He] claims he made all the improvements therefore he wishes a grant of said lands...Petition for a piece of wasteland set out by Charles Wright, Esq., Surveyor General in Charlottetown.”

Two months later, in October 1813, another petition was put forth requesting “a license of occupation for a vacant piece of land bounded as follows: south by town lots 15, 16, and 17, east by lot 55 of the 4th hundred and #2 of the 5th hundred. On the north by a road and on the west by Governor’s creek.” This petition is the first documentation of the land in Charlottetown which would eventually become known as the Bog, and constitute the initial community for the Black Islanders on PEI.

Samuel’s next appearance is in a newspaper advertisement that appeared in the Royal Gazette in 1860, in which Martin advertizes his Chimney sweeping business: “Samuel Martin, licensed Chimney sweep, informs the inhabitants of Charlottetown, that an act was passed during the last session of the General Assembly, requiring persons resident in Charlottetown to have their chimneys swept at least one a month in winter, and once in two months in the summer; and he hopes in future, as so small a sum as 4d, per flue is allowed, that persons will have their chimneys regularly swept. The fine will be enforced if persons so not keep ladders on their houses, as the law directs.”

Even with the strict regulations regarding having chimney swept, this could not have been a lucrative business as Samuel’s name appeared in the newspaper nine years later having been convicted of bootlegging: Conviction - This day, Samuel Martin of Charlottetown (a colored man), was fined before W. Cundall, Esq., J.P., in the penalty of five pounds, with costs, for retailing spiritous liquors without license, and in the penalty of twenty shillings for selling liquor on the Lord’s Day. The St. Paul’s Anglican Church records document “Black Sam’s” death, which occurred on the14 November 1863. Samuel died aet 102 years, but some people say, he lived to be 108 years. This indicates that he had his two daughters with Kesiah Shepard when he was 51 and 53 years old.

Surnames appearing within the descendants of Samuel Martin and Kesiah (Wilson) Shepard:

• Suckles