After their Marriage in 1788 Martin and Sarah (Sally) lived with his parents in the place in Matague MA, Asahel, his father, died in 1796 and the young couple assumed the care of Thankful, his mother until her death in 1817. Martin was an enterprising man; he is credited with building a dam across the Connecticut river at Deerfield MA then considered quiet an accomplishment. He was the first postmaster of Montague and a justice of the peace. He owned large tracts of fertile farm land and was able to distribute largely to his children. Nor was he confined at home for kindness and favors, None went from his door hungry or thirsty. Martin was always anxious to "go West" and after his mother's death he started off for Waterville OH where his cousin Elijah Gunn was living. He had only Indian trails to follow, and in some places the prairie grass was so tall it almost reached the top of his head when on horseback. The country through which he traveled was uninhabited. except for the Oneida Indians. From Springfield NY he was accompanied to Waterville by Richard Gunn son of Martin's cousin, Elisha Gunn.
exploring the beautiful Maumee River Valley, he thought that this was the place for him and bought 173 acres, known as river tract 33, in what is now Waterville township, Lucas county O but was then Waynesfield Logan County then after 1820 Wood county Oh ( Lucas County was set off in 1835). The had fist been taken up as government land by Isaac Richardson, who turned out to be a land shark. Martin signed a note with Richardson 3/7/1818 for $696 payable in 3 years. Family legend has it that he (or his heirs) had to buy it again from the government. At any rate by the time the red tape had been straightened out, Martin had been dead for 4 years for the patent to river tract 33 from the US government is dated 7/9/1823. Shortly after their arrival their youngest son Albert was struck by lightning and killed while playing along the Maumee River. This was in April 1818. Soon after Martin dreamed 3 times in the same night that he was going to die. In his dream he begged that he be given one more year, and this seemingly was granted. In the summer of 1819, he went back to Montague to settle up some business, returned Waterville and died within the one year. On his deathbed he was asked how he felt and replied that he did not care if he lived or died. He may have died from the Ague or Maumee river fever a form of malaria very prevalent at the time and often fatal. He was first buried at the Dodd farm, and probably in the little french cemetery that was located on river tract 38 where his son Albert was also buried. Many years later his great granddaughter had his bones removed to Wakeman Cemetery in Waterville where his wife Sarah and other members of his family are buried on lot 20. A new stone was placed on the lot in 1967 by Iris Tuttle Fowler and Majorie Bucher Shufelt Campbell gr gr gr granddaughters of Martin and Sarah.
He and Sarah had 5 children Wealthy, Willard, Fanny, Martin Jr, Albert.