The History of the Family Patriarch
John (Chow) Martin
BIOGRAPHY
John (Chow) Martin Sr.
First Generation
John (Chow) Martin was born John Chow in the Canton district of China and emigrated to Trinidad circa 1850, settled in Chacon Street San Fernando, prior to a later move to the 'Bentik' area, now known as Vistabella.
John Martin Jr.
Second Generation
Due to the discrimination meted out to the Chinese during that era, John like many other Chinese at that period of time, changed his surname to a 'non-Chinese' sounding name, hence the title 'Martin'.
John, a fisherman by trade, was the owner of several small fishing boats which set out each day for as far as 'down the main' (Venezuela). Legend has it that either he and / or his employees once witnessed some nefarious wrong doings aboard a Venezuelan pirogue and that they were given a sum of gold to buy their silence. Rumors of golden doubloons were rife at the time and gold was reported to be in treasure troves extending from the wharf to various streets radiating from that area - Chacon, St. Vincent, St. James etc.
John Martin later became a Christian and married Margaret Augustus, the daughter of a Scottish missionary couple who had formerly lived and worked in St. Kitts prior to moving to Trinidad.
The ceremony took place in San Fernando and from this union emerged the second generation of Martins - Issa, John Jr., King Horn, Matilda and Agnes, and as they say in show business - 'The rest is history!'
Margaret, a school teacher, was born on July 4, 1837 and died in 1901.
It is not known when John Martin was born or when he died. (If anyone has this information, please let us know.)
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