Richard was the oldest child of George and Susanna. He received "children's land" in 1659 (common land of Salisbury New Town/Amesbury, set aside for children of the first settlers -- one child per family). One year later, while still only 13 years old, Richard received the grant of a "township" -- an advance acknowledgment of his right to vote in town meetings when he reached the age of majority. This "township right" was granted to some 20 young men -- sons of the first settlers -- in a single town meeting on December 10, 1660.

In 1669, he received a gift from his father of over 20 acres of land in three divided parcels. Although it is not clear if this land transfer played any part in the family dispute, Richard was charged shortly after with "abusing his father, throwing him down, taking away his clothes and holding up an axe against him". Tried by a jury at his request, he was convicted and sentenced to be whipped ten stripes on October 14, 1669, at Hampton (now Hampton, NH) meeting house.

In 1674, Richard Martin married Mary Hoyt (Bartlett). She was born in Salisbury on February 20, 1646, the daughter of Sgt. John and Frances Hoyt. She was also the widow of Christopher Bartlett. This is the same Bartlett who successfully sued Richard's mother, Susanna, for slander in 1669. For a short time after their marriage, Richard and Mary lived with Mary's parents in Newbury, Massachusetts. There ensued a public scandal, recorded in the court files of Essex County, involving Richard and Mary Martin and a former suitor of hers, Thomas Tewksbury. Mary had apparently promised herself to Tewksbury, but upon hearing allegations that he was a married man with family in England, she promptly married Richard Martin, while continuing to receive visits from Tewksbury. Richard's parents, George and Susanna Martin, then entered the fray with a legal complaint against Tewksbury in September 1674. After a great deal of personal family scandal emerged in various testimonies, the case was dismissed for lack of evidence.

Richard took the oath of allegiance and fidelity in Amesbury, Old Norfolk County (now Essex County), Massachusetts on April 7, 1669 and again on December 20, 1677. He served on a trial jury in 1675, and in 1676 he was sued and found liable, along with his father and brother, for breach of contract. He was in the town's "training band" (a local militia) in 1680 when he signed a petition for the appointment of a "chieffe officer".

Amesbury town records show that on April 11, 1694, Richard licensed two horses, "a iron grey mare ... an other mare black ...", with distinctive ear notches, which gave them permission to graze freely on the town common. In 1703, he filed suit against the town, but we don't know why.

Richard Martin followed the tradition of his father, working as a lot layer for the town for many years. He lived on the south side of Goodale's Hill, sometimes called Pleasant Valley. The remains of several tanning pits have been found on this property, suggesting that Richard may have been a tanner (leather worker), as well as a farmer.

Richard Martin died without a will in 1729. His widow, Mary, "by Reason of Eage and Infirmity of body", refused to administer the estate. That task was given to a son-in-law, Samuel Huntington, who reported an estate inventory valued at 11 pounds.

Richard and Mary Martin had at least five children: John, George (our ancestor), Anne, Dorothy, and Elizabeth.

Family info provided by Franz Martin by email 12/27/10

Sued Mary Hoyt’s later mother-in-law, Susanna Martin, for slander in 1669.