"It is proposed in this account to trace only the descendants of William Martin, or William Seaborn Martin, as he is familiarly known by his descendants, who was first of Stratford, and afterward of Woodbury. The tradition in the family is, that this William's father emigrated from Plymouth, Eng., and that this son was born on the passage to this country. But every person, who has had any experience in genealogical investigation, well knows how little reliance can be placed on such legendary information. It may have been the case; the story is thoroughly circulated among his descendants, and is confidently believed. There was a Robert, who lived some years in New Haven, and had ch., John and Stephen, baptised there before his removal from that place some time previous to 1655. It is possible, that this Robert had a son, William, born as the story indicates, who at maturity found his way to the neighboring town of Stratford, and thence with the early settlers to Woodbury. There was a Samuel Martin of Wethersfield, who m. in England, wid. Phebe Brace, or Bracey, a dau. of William Bisby, merchant of London, and came over with his wife and her ch., by her former husband, about 1650. It is not impossible, that this lady gave birth to a child on the voyage, whom she called William from the name of her father, and Seaborn from the circumstances of his birth. Another circumstance in favor of this supposition, is the fact of William's marriage in 1685, which would make him according to this theory, about twenty-five years of age at that date, an age when he might be expected to form this connection. The records of Wethersfield show no birth of any child of Samuel, as might be expected, if William was born on the passage over, and the parties had no other children. This was a second marriage, and the parents were probably somewhat in years. Wethersfield furnished many inhabitants for Stratford, and this would account for his appearance there.
William Martin1 and his wife Abigail, were admitted to the first church in Woodbury, on their removal there, Aug. 30, 1685. She was the daughter of Jonathan Curtiss [Caleb Nichols], of Stratford, and b. Oct. 17, 1671. They were m. June 25, 1685, when she was about fourteen years of age. Their first child was born in the twentieth year of her age. He died July 4, 1715. His widow survived him some twenty years, and died Jan. 4, 1735. He was buried near the center of the old burying-ground in Woodbury, and a coarse native stone, on which was chiseled, 'W.M., July 4, 1715,' was set up at the head and foot of his grave. These stones have been removed in digging other graves, and now lie on the ground near the place of their original location."