William Martin Papers UPT 50 M379

Summary Information

Prepared by

Joseph-James Ahern

Preparation date

August 2010

Date [bulk]

Bulk, 1785-1795

Date [inclusive]

1757-1795

Extent

24.0 Items

PROVENANCE

Accession No. 1975:10.

ARRANGEMENT

The collection is in its original order as bound.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

William Martin was born in Philadelphia on September 2, 1765 to English emigrants John and Mary Martin. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1786, and established a practice in Georgetown, VA. Three years later he returned to Chester, PA where he continued his medical career. In April 1789 Martin was chosen on behalf of the citizens of Delaware County, PA to give a welcoming address to George Washington on his way to New York for his presidential inaugural. At some point Martin began to study law, and was admitted to the practice in 1794. In 1797 he was appointed Justice of the Peace for Chester, Ridley, Middletown and Lower Providence in Delaware County. Martin died on September 28, 1798 after contracting Yellow Fever from the crew of a British ship under his care.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The William Martin Papers consist of miscellaneous manuscripts that were bound by his grandson, John Hill Martin, around 1865. The documents include legal cases (mostly forms examples of writs), medical observations, correspondence, speeches, and literary extracts in Martin’s handwriting. They were bound in no particular order.

William Martin’s University of Pennsylvania Diploma is in the Diploma Collection (UPP 231) and listed in the Archives General Pre-1820 Guide (No. 1771).

Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

Pennsylvania. Courts. — General subdivision–History.;

University of Pennsylvania. School of Medicine.

Personal Name(s)

Martin, William, 1765-1798.

Subject(s)

Yellow fever–History–19th century.–United States

Inventory