James Martin
(1851-1934)

James Martin was the eighth and only surviving child of the twelve children of James Martin, and the oldest of the five children he had with his second wife Mary Tingey of Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, England.

James, like his father, worked as a Railway Platelayer for the Great Eastern Railway (GER).

He married Sarah Elizabeth Giddings who lived up the railway line at March, Cambridgeshire and together they had twelve children. The family settled at the Railway Gatehouse at 2nd Drove, Little Downham, with his widowed mother, Mary living with them until she married her third husband, Matthew Watling, in 1877.

Despite the large family, James was pre-deceased by 6 of his 12 children; 2 of their spouses; and his wife. After his wife's death in 1925, he went to live with his youngest daughter, Ethel Everitt in Stretham until his own death.

James was a Wesleyan Methodist, and his burial was attended to by a Wesleyan Minister.

Life Events

Born

• 10th May 1851 in Oxlode, Cambridgeshire, England.

Baptised

• 3rd August 1851 at St. Leonard's Church, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, England.

Married

• Sarah Elizabeth Giddings (1852-1925) on 30th January 1874, at The Providence Chapel in March, Cambridgeshire, England.

Children

• Isaac Watson Martin (1874-1934) married Sarah Elizabeth Rogers (1873-1907) and Florrie Butcher (1885-1940)
• Rose Ellen Martin (1876-1955)
• Walter James Martin (1878-1936) married Rebecca Ann Lythell (1879-1954)
• William Martin (1879-1890)
• George Edward Martin (1882-1958) married Annie Frances Redhead (1878-?)
• Herbert Martin (1884-1917) married Daisy Burnell (1885-1952)
• Mary Martin (1886-1915)
• Emma Jane Martin (1887-1917) married John William Goodge (1885-1917)
• Percy Martin (1889-1890)
• Percy Martin (1891-1967) married Amelia Neal
• Ethel May Martin (1895-1999) married Ebenezer Everitt (1892-1969)
• Albert Martin (1899-1918)

Census and Residence

• 1861: 9yrs, Second Drove Rail, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, England.
• 1871: 19yrs, Gatehouse, 2nd Drove, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, England.
• 1881: 29yrs, Main Drove House, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, England.
• 1891: 39yrs, Railway House, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, England.
• 1901: 49yrs, A Furlong, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, England.
• 1911: 59yrs, A Furlong, Gate House, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, England.

Employment

• 1861: Farm Labourer
• 1901-1911: Railway Platelayer to Great Eastern Railway (GER)

Death

• 2nd May 1934 at his daughter Ethel's house in Stretham, Cambridgeshire, England, aged 72yrs.

Burial

• 5th May 1934 at Lawn Lane Cemetery, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, England, after a service by a Wesleyan Minister.