Meet Thomas Bryan Martin and his loneliness

All we got left of Thomas Bryan Martin is a town named after him -- Martinsburg. But back then this man was big. If you wanted land, you went to him. He was the front man for Lord Fairfax. He also was elected with Colonel George Washington to represent Frederick County 1758 to 1761. He represented Hampshire County prior to that - 1756-1758. Lord Fairfax could depend on him to watch after his Proprietorship, ensuring that grants and surveys and quit rents were all collected and recorded. Thomas Bryan Martin was a cousin to Lord Fairfax. But more than that he was dependable.

He was also lonely in the 1760s.

This is a known phenomenon of the back country. The phenonemon reappeared in later years as Prairie Madness.

You can feel the need.

You can read between the lines of the loneliness Thomas Byran Martin felt in the backcountry of Greenway Court.

Thomas Bryan Martin writes to his sister 26 Feb 1760. She is in England contemplating marriage.

Thomas Bryan Martin writes, " first . . . learn to know yourself before you think of choosing a companion. . . . for believe me. my dear girl, what you admire will at a future day appear in different colors. The skillful apothecary often conceals his bitterest pill. Matrimony when accompanied with poverty, and its attendants, hatred, contention, contempt and their thousand disagreeable companion is an unsavory dish."

Then looking at himself, "strange creatures these old bachelors. I hate them mortally . . . . I am a silent man --too silent --- I am often thought a fool."

Belvoir was the previous center of business for Lord Fairfax. The two previous agents for Lord Fairfax, William Fairfax and then his son George William Fairfax worked out of Belvoir. After George William Fairfax left Belvoir for England , Greenway Court became the place of Lord Fairfax's Proprietary land business, far from society. Thomas Bryan Martin then became the prominent agent, but who was also doing most of the work anyway when George William Fairfax was official agent.

Compiled by Jim Moyer 6/30/2024

.