Herbert R. Trantham, Jr., a distant cousin, wrote a comprehensive history of the Tranthams focusing primarily on the descendants of his ancestor, James Trantham. Herbert puts forth that James was the son of Martin Trantham and his wife “Jane”. And, he wrote that Martin, Jane and James along with brothers Robert and John lived in Kershaw County, South Carolina sometime around 1800. Since James named one of his sons George Martin Trantham, I am inclined to believe that he may be correct.

Herbert also introduced evidence that this particular Martin and his family lived for a brief time in the Natchez District of Mississippi. Huh? This intrigued me so I decided to retrace Herbert’s research footsteps. So, back to the Library of Congress I went in search of the same material Herbert cited in his work.

Sure enough, Martin “Frentham” arrived in Natchez, Mississippi on July 5, 1788 along with his wife and three children. What I did not understand was that the Natchez District was actually controlled by Spain at this time. So, we have the local commandant, Carlos de Grand Pre, to thank for the meticulous records that have survived. He kept a close watch on his former British subjects and their comings and goings. A year after Martin arrived, Carlos kept track of how much tobacco each of his “foreign” planters grew. That is after all, why, I suspect so many farmers flocked to this fertile Spanish-controlled corner of the world – tobacco money! BUT, Martin Trantham was not listed among them.

I agree with Herbert’s conclusion that Martin and his family returned to South Carolina. This, however, begs the question: just who IS this Mississippi Martin Trantham whose wife’s name was “Jane”? And why did they return to South Carolina??? More research is needed.

That said, a theory is emerging. This is NOT a new Martin Trantham as I first believed. Instead, this Martin Trantham is likely the SAME Martin Trantham who ended up in Williamson County, Tennessee and is the son of Martin Trantham, Jr. and Elizabeth Martinleer Eppinger. “Jane” may have been his first wife, followed by “Massey” his second, and, last but not least, Rachel Holladay his third. Men outlived their child-bearing wives quite often those days so it’s not outside the realm of possibility that he had three wives.

Perhaps there were not as many Martins as I first believed. Or at least one fewer. More to come….

 

Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relation: Puzzling for sure
Common ancestors: Martin Trantham – that’s such a cop out!

Reference:
Mississippi Genealogical Exchange, 5 (2), p. 41.