Martti Marttinen

Martti Martinpoika Marttinen (Mårten Mårtensson) was a Finn born about 1610 in Rautalampi, Finland.

He first emigrated to Sweden, later, in 1654 arrived to America on the ship Örnen ("The Eagle") on 22 May 1654 at Fort Christina, Delaware, New Sweden.

Mårten died in May 1706 at the age of 96 in New Castle County, Delaware

Source [http://web.archive.org/web/20120204034331/http://www.colonialswedes...]

• Muutti ensin Värmlantiin, ja sieltä Uusi Ruotsi -siirtokuntaan Delawarejoen laaksoon - ehkä 1641 tai 1654?
• Myytti: kotoisin Rautalammilta, mutta siellä ei 1500/1600 Marttisia - Petäjävedellä ja Kannonkoskella olisi…
• Saloheimo: Marttisten suku lähtöisin Juvan pitäjän Paikkalan kylästä - ei välttämättä Mortonin sukua…
• Arveltu myös että lähtöisin Pohjanmaan ruotsinkieliseltä alueelta…

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Excerpt from Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig, Mårten Mårtensson and his Morton Family, Swedish Colonial News,Volume 1, Number 13 (Spring 1996):

In the year 1750, Peter Kalm borrowed the church books of Gloria Dei and copied various entries
that caught his fancy. Among these were three burial records, which read, in translation, as
follows:

31 May 1706. Old Mårten Mårtensson at Ammansland, born in Finland in Sweden, and
said to be 100 years old.
8 Feb. 1713. Mårten Mårtensson's widow Helena, born in Sweden, 97 years old.
3 Dec. 1718. Old Mårten Mårtensson at Calcon Hook, born in Sweden, came to this land
when 8 years old, died in his 75th year.

The first and third entries suggest that the father Mårten Mårtensson was born in Finland and later
moved to Sweden, where his son Mårten was born. Helena, Mårten Sr.'s widow, was not, however,
the mother of any of his children. She was the widow of Mårten's partner, Johan Grelsson, who
died about 1684.

Mårten Måtensson arrived in New Sweden on the Eagle in 1654 and was among the "new
freemen" pledging loyalty to Governor Rising at Tmicum Island, 9 June 1654. Initially, Mårten
made his home near Fort Trinity (now New Castle), where, in September 1655, he pledged
allegiance to the Dutch after their capture of that fort. Dissatisfied with living under Dutch rule,
Mårten soon moved to join the Finnish settlers at Ammansland.

Ammansland, meaning land of the wet-nurse in Swedish, first had been cleared for settlement
under Governor Rising in the winter of 1654-1655. Ammansland extended along Darby Creek
between Crum Creek on the west and Muckinipattus Creek on the east. This area, which became
known as Ridley Township after the creation of Pennsylvania, was the principal settlement of
Finnish settlers in Pennsylvania under English rule.

Mårten Mårtensson built his cabin at the present site of the Morton Homestead. His partner Johan
Grelsson's cabin was a short distance away, on Ammansland Run. Between them, they owned 728
acres, extending from Ammansland Run to Muckinipattus Creek. In 1685, after marrying Johan
Grelsson's widow. Mårten Mårtensson and his stepson, John Archer, acquired 500 acres on the
upper side of Raccoon Creek in Gloucester County.

In 1694, the Ammansland plantation was divided between Mårten Mårtensson and Johan Grelsson's sons. Mårten retained the strip containing the Morton Homestead and Johan Grelsson's
old home lot. John Archer obtained a 137-acre strip immediately to the east. All lands east of John
Archer went to Mårten, who paid £40 for the half he didn't own. (See map, Swedish Colonial
News, Fall 1991 issue, page 3.)

Mårten Mårtensson, Sr., was one of the signers of the Swedes' 1693 letter to Sweden, requesting
new ministers and Swedish Bibles, using the same distinctive mark as appears on the 1654 oath of
allegiance to Rising. After the arrival of the new ministers, Mårten pledged £1.10 per year for
Rudman's salary in 1697. Thereafter, he ceased to be active in either church or court affairs.
In lieu of a will, Mårten Mårtensson signed two deeds in May 1703, dividing his lands between his
two youngest sons. The home plantation (the Morton Homestead) was given to his son Matthias
"for taking care and maintaining of me and my wife during the remainder of our natural lives."
The rest of Mårten's lands at Ammansland and on Raccoon Creek were divided between Matthias
and Andrew.

Mårten Mårtensson probably had three wives during his lifetime. This is inferred from the gap in
ages between his two eldest sons and his four younger children. He had 34 grandchildren and at
least 147 great-grandchildren, the most famous of whom was John Morton, signer of the
Declaration of Independence. John Morton's wife Anna Justis was also a great grandchild.

Mårten Mårtensson was swedish citizen born about 1610 in Finland. He emigrated in 1654 and arrived to America on the ship Örnen ("The Eagle") on 22 May 1654 at Fort Christina, Delaware, New Sweden.

Mårten died in May 1706 at the age of 96 in New Castle County, Delaware

Source [http://web.archive.org/web/20120204034331/http://www.colonialswedes...]