ABRAHAM MARTIN, KNOWN AS “THE SCOT” AND THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM by Pierre-Georges Roy

ABRAHAM MARTIN, KNOWN AS “THE SCOT” AND THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM by Pierre-Georges Roy

ABRAHAM MARTIN, KNOWN AS “THE SCOT” AND THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM by Pierre-Georges Roy

Contributed By Carol Y Williams -

(Translated from Recherches Historiques, bulletin d-archeologi, d-histoire, de beographie, de bibliographie, de numismatique, etc., Vol 34, pp 568-570. 1928.)

Abraham Martin, known as “the Scot,” has a rather obscure history. It is supposed that he was of Scottish origin. Written proofs are entirely lacking to support his assumption. The nickname “the Scot” given to him, however, seem to favor this opinion. Martin, “the Scot,” arrived in Quebec with Marguerite Langlois, his wife and his daughter, Anne, between 1614 and 1621.

Martin’s first name was given to the plains where the French and English armies met on 12 September 1759. The first concessionaire of this land was the surgeon, Adrien Duchesne, who gave it to Mr. Martin, as indicated by the following document:

“We, the undersigned certify, to whom it may concern, that last year, 1645, Mrs. Adrien Duchesne, surgeon on the ship of M. de Repentigny, being in Quebec, told us that he had given the land which had been given to him in the city of Quebec, to Abrham Martin, river pilot and that he was guaranteed the right to have it worked. If time had permitted he would have given him a deed. What we certify is the truth. Done this 15th day of August 1646. Giffar-Tronquet-Letardif-Delaunay-Bissot-Guetet”

A certificate from Lecoustre of 27 December 1647 qualifies Martin as a “royal pilot in this country.” Thus we have two authentic documents which prove that Martin was a river pilot, that is, of the Saint Lawrence River. We, therefore, have the right to proclaim him “the King’s first pilot in this country” as long as no one can give us the names of anyone who held the position before him.

Abraham Martin died in Quebec on the 8th of September 1664. The 1st of June 1667, Martin’s heirs sold to the Dames Ursalines de Quebec “the quantity of 32 acres of cleared land located in the suburbs of Quebec with a house and a barn on the land.” This was the concession that Abraham Martin received from Duchesne with an additional 12 acres that the Messrs de la Compagnie had given him by contract the 16th of May 1650. The Dames Ursulines paid 1200 tournois pounds (money struck in the 13th century at Tours) for their acquisition. (Acte de Pierre Duquet, notaire a Quebec. Ler juin 1667.)

In 1922 the Canadian Pacific Company, whose role in the maritime activities of Canada is well marked by the sumptuous vessels they maintain on the Saint Lawrence, erected a monument ot Martin in downtown Quebec on the quays where their trans-Atlantic ships dock. This monument, the work of sculptor Henry Herbert bears this inscription: “This monument reminds the passer-by of Abraham Martin called the Scot first pilot of the King on the Saint Lawrence and laborer of the illustrious plains which bear his name”

A number of Martin families claim Abraham Martin as their first Canadian ancestor. We believe that they are wrong. Between 1640 and 1700, at least a dozen Martin families, from different provinces in France, came to settle in Canada. The Martin families of today must rather descend from these families.

In our opinion Abraham Martin, also called the Scot, left no heirs bearing his name unless it is the canon Martin. Of his marriage with Marguerite Langlois he had ten children, which we list here:

1) Anne Martin born in France in 1614, married in Quebec the 17th November 1635 to Jean Cote, and died in the same place 4 December 1683. Jean Cote died 28 March 1661.

2) Eustache Martin born in Quebec 24 October 1621. Died unmarried before 1 Jun 1667.

3) Marguerite Martin born at Quebec 4 January 1624, married in Quebec 22 May 1638 to Etienne Racine . Died in Chateau-Richer 25 November 1679.

4) Helene Martin, born in Quebec 221 June 1627. On the 22nd of October 1640 she became the wife of Claude Etienne, then on 3 September 1647 the wife of Medard Chouart des Groselliers.

5) Marie Martin, born in Quebec 10 April 1635, was married 21 January 1648 to Jean Cloutier and died 25 April 1699.

6) Adrien Martin born in Quebec 22 November 1638, died unmarried before the first of June 1667.

7) Madaleine Martin born in Quebec 13 September 1640, was married 6 February 1653 to Nicolas Froget or Froget, then on 1 February 1681 to Jean-Baptiste Fonteneau.

8) Barbe Martin born in Quebec 4 January 1643 and was married 12 January 1655 to Pierre Biron. She die din Quebec 5 October 1660.

9) Anne Martin born in Quebec 23 March 1645 and was married the 12th November 1658 to Jacques Ratte.

10) Charles-Amador Martin born in Quebec the 7th of March 1648 and was ordained a priest the 14th of March 1671. At the establishment of a Chapter (of Canons) of Quebec on 8 November 1684, he received a canonry. He died 19 June 1711.

It is then certain that Abraham Martin did not have any more descendants of his name after 17ll. However, by his daughters he has left a numerous posterity. The Cotes, the Racines, the Cloutiers, etc. have spread out everywhere in the Province of Quebec.

Research was done by Mary Scott, Silver Springs, Maryland.