Martha Jenkins - Rust

Disputed husbands

From https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107229295/martha-rust

Martha Garner was a confirmed daughter of John and Susanna Keene Garner. Research since 1952 with the book "Garner–Keene Families of Northern Neck Virginia", which noted very little, has not resulted in confirming anything more. As the Garners moved from Northumberland to Westmoreland in about 1672, it appears Martha was born there. The date of birth noted, 1678, is a rough estimate and unconfirmed. In John Garner’s will of 1702, he unfortunately noted his daughters only by their first names, not married names, although it is confirmed that one, at least, was married by this date. The will does seem, however, to have listed all his offspring sequentially, oldest to youngest, but the sons separated from the daughters. If this assumption is correct, then Martha was the youngest daughter, which allows us to bracket her birth year in conjunction with later speculative marriages and offspring.
There are two conflicting speculative marriages for Martha, and now two memorials, the one noted here, to Samuel Rust, and a second, a marriage to first John Jenkins. Neither can be proven although both can claim many circumstantial records from Westmoreland making a partial case. All these families had various ties on the Northern Neck in this period and other marriages are found between them. The primary source for her Rust marriage is “Rust of Virginia”, Rust, Ellsworth Marshall, 1940 and later a variety of (as noted) circumstantial Westmoreland County records. The other speculative marriage to first John Jenkins, then William Harness, Martha Garner Harness, notes other sources, so one may judge for themselves. Many remain unconvinced on either, the conclusions appearing assumptive, and DNA results to date inconclusive. With so few actual records available, both could also be wrong…there were other Marthas in the Northern Neck in that period, one, obviously, either the Rust or Jenkins spouse, as they cannot have been the same person. No other confirmed records for Martha Garner are found other than her mention in her father’s will of 1702 and her brother, Benjamin’s, will of 1718, neither noting her married name.

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Martha Garner was a confirmed daughter of John and Susanna Keene Garner. Research since 1952 with the book "Garner–Keene Families of Northern Neck Virginia", which noted very little, has not resulted in confirming anything more. As the Garners moved from Northumberland to Westmoreland in about 1672, it appears Martha was born there. The date of birth noted, 1678, is a rough estimate and unconfirmed. In John Garner's will of 1702, he unfortunately noted his daughters only by their first names, not married names, although it is confirmed that one, at least, was married by this date. The will does seem, however, to have listed all his offspring sequentially, oldest to youngest, but the sons separated from the daughters. If this assumption is correct, then Martha was the youngest daughter, which allows us to bracket her birth year in conjunction with later speculative marriages and offspring.

There are two conflicting speculative marriages for Martha, and now two memorials, the one noted here, to Samuel Rust, and a second, a marriage to first John Jenkins. Neither can be proven although both can claim many circumstantial records from Westmoreland making a partial case. All these families had various ties on the Northern Neck in this period and other marriages are found between them. The primary source for her Rust marriage is "Rust of Virginia", Rust, Ellsworth Marshall, 1940 and later a variety of (as noted) circumstantial Westmoreland County records. The other speculative marriage to first John Jenkins, then William Harness, Martha Garner Harness, notes other sources, so one may judge for themselves. Many remain unconvinced on either, the conclusions appearing assumptive, and DNA results to date inconclusive. With so few actual records available, both could also be wrong…there were other Marthas in the Northern Neck in that period, one, obviously, either the Rust or Jenkins spouse, as they cannot have been the same person. No other confirmed records for Martha Garner are found other than her mention in her father's will of 1702 and her brother, Benjamin's, will of 1718, neither noting her married name.

The administrator of the other memorial and I have agreed to leave both up so all information is presented. The following information is then based on only what is known of Martha Rust, regardless of her maiden name.
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Samuel Rust was born in Westmoreland County in about 1674, later dates appearing incorrect, as he was called to juror duty in 1695 and would have had to have been of majority. That year is also the speculative marriage year in both memorials, in this case then making Samuel about twenty-one and Martha about seventeen. They are known to have remained in Westmoreland and had nine recorded offspring, the list following thought to be oldest to youngest, but unconfirmed:

John Rust
William Rust
Ann Rust (Harrison)
Jeremiah Rust
Mathew Rust
Benjamin Rust
George Rust
Hannah Rust (Eskridge)
Peter Rust

Few or no confirmed birth dates for these offspring are found, some family trees noting the birth of Ann about 1691 (and with the marriage in 1690, impossible with the approximate birth years of Samuel and Martha), so the marriage date remains, as much else, speculative. It does not appear, however, it could have been much earlier than about 1695 regardless. The details following address only Samuel, but some would have applied in part to Martha as well, plus their offspring.

Samuel was recorded as attending the Yeocomico Church in Westmoreland County, built first in 1655 and rebuilt in brick in 1706, still extant today. Various court records suggest some prominence in the county in later years, several of course, Samuel mentioned in conjunction with Garners. Some also suggest he was not always in keeping within the spirit, nor the actual intent of the county laws. In 1701 he may have been included among fifteen men "convicted by their own confession to be guilty of swearing and of drunkenness" and fined five shillings and fifty lbs of tobacco. In 1709 he was appointed "Surveyour of the Roads in this County to & from his Mill and It is ordered he cause the Same to be clear'd and repaired according to Law". He became a major landholder in the county, with holdings at the time of his death estimated to be near 1700 acres.

His will was written on 16 Aug 1715, and notes Martha and all offspring. It is very lengthy and specific, makes for interesting reading, and notes his mill, a continuing source of income for Martha and his heirs. He died in 1717/18. Martha's will was written on 3 Nov 1726, and contains only three "items". She died in 1729/30, the calendar shift making the year unclear, but 1730 appearing correct. Interestingly, Martha Harness, noted as born (of course) at about the same time was twice widowed and had seven children, so the two Marthas' lives, whatever their respective maiden names may have been, had some parallels.

Samuel was buried in a vault on his property west southwest of the village of Kinsale. Martha followed him in about 1730, and their son Jeremiah was interred with them, it appears, the following year. The "Rust Family Cemetery" was noted in records many years later in the sale of the property, then surrounded by a grove of trees, but was afterwards forgotten, to be rediscovered in 2013 on the grounds of what is now Vault Field Vineyards during some construction (see attached photo). The vault, after research and a rededication ceremony, was reburied to protect it.

Their vault is one of only a small number of remnants that remain today in Westmoreland County of that period of history.
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Note on links: Samuel and Martha's son, Jeremiah, also has a memorial, that link noted on his father's memorial page.

Allan Garner - Rev: 25 May 2021∼Married: Bef. 1691 Westmoreland, Virginia
Samuel Rust (1677-1718)

Children:

1. Ann Rust Harrison(1691-1748)
2. Benjamin Rust (1694-1754)
3. John Rust (1695-1731)
4. Jeremiah Rust (1695-1731)
5. William Rust (1696-1741)
6. Matthew Rust (1697-1751)
7. Hannah Rust Eskridge (1699-1729)
8. George Rust (1700-1775)
9. Martha Rust (1706-1718)
10. Captain Peter Rust (1710-1761)

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Feb 25 2023, 16:24:51 UTC

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107229295/martha-rust