Elaborating on history of Fisher-Martin House

I am writing in response to the photo and caption of the “Fisher-Martin House Prior To Its Move To Lewes” in the Delaware Cape Region History in Photographs series in the Nov. 18 issue of the Cape Gazette.  The caption neglected to include anything about the Martins who lived in this house and worked its land for centuries. Here are a few words about the famous Martin family of Cool Spring.

Joshua Fisher owned the house for only a few years, before he sold the land and property in 1736.  Also on that date, the Rev. James Martin purchased the house and land.  Rev. Martin, a Presbyterian, was of Scots-Irish descent and left Ireland in response to a call to serve the Coolspring Presbyterian Church (and congregations of Lewes and Indian River, as well.)  This house was the first manse for the preacher of Coolspring Presbyterian Church, and the Martins owned the house until 1959.

In its church archives, Coolspring Presbyterian Church, still active almost 300 years later, has the journal of Clara Martin Burton (1867-1949) who was the granddaughter of James Fergus Martin who was a farmer (1799-1876).  Clara spent a good amount of her childhood at her grandfather’s house, the Old Martin Homestead.  The Martins were life-long members of Coolspring Presbyterian Church.  Clara wrote, “Grandfather was born and died in the Old Martin Homestead in Coolspring, Del.  It was said to be the oldest building in the state….Rev. James Martin who organized the Cool Spring Presbyterian Church, I think was our great-grandfather Martin’s brother.  Grandfather had an uncle who was named James. Grandfather had in his possession when he died an old watch that they said was his uncle’s James Martin. It has on its face James Martin instead of figures or Roman numbers.”  

Clara Martin describes the Martin house in a 1945 letter to her nephew.  “I do not know how many acres of land grandfather had but I do know it was a large track to look at it.  He was not rich but I would say a good liver (sic) and seemed to me very happy and contented.  It looked to me as tho there had been around seven acres reserved; in one corner by the cross roads leading from Millsboro to Cool Spring Station & Georgetown to Lewes for the home and yard to same. In those days the house was built it was considered a mansion.  We always called it the ‘hip roof house.’ The carpenters say that is not correct.  There was a large parlor, bedroom & a big hall downstairs and four bedrooms upstairs and a garret.  Also had a big kitchen joined to one corner of the big house.  A small front porch.  Grandfather and grandmother sleep in bedroom down stairs.  One room upstairs was the guest room one was the ‘girls’ (our aunts and your mother) room - one was uncle Roberts and the other one was Charlies [the bound boy].  The garret was used as all garrets are.  In it I have had many a fine time pulling out hoops-shaker bonnets-silk dresses that cousin Mary & Emily Martin keep stored there.  I would dress up in them & parade all over the garret.  I had to put them back tho when I quit. I had the free run of the house except a closet in the parlor I never was allowed even a peep.” Coolspring Presbyterian Church is located at 28843 Log Cabin Hill Road, just around the corner from the original site of the Fisher-Martin House.