Christopher Martin was a merchant by trade and in 1607 married the widow Mary Prower. He was sued shortly after by another merchant for unlawful trading because Christopher had not finished his required seven year apprenticeship. Christopher and Mary have only one known son, Nathaniel Martin born February 26, 1609. However, Mary did have another son, Solomon Prower, from her previous marriage. A few years later, Christopher began demonstrating his puritan views by refusing to kneel and take communion during an Easter service in 1612. During his sons' Confirmation ritual, Nathaniel and Solomon refused to cooperate with Vicar, and Christopher Martin was cited for refusing to turn over his accounts to the church warden. Christopher promptly sold off all his belongings and made plans to bring his family to America. It is speculated the Nathaniel may have died shortly after since he was not brought along. Being a wealthy Londoner, Christopher seems to have had some problems getting along with the other Mayflower Passengers. Passenger Robert Cushman wrote of him "Also he so insulteth over our poor people, with such scorn and contempt as if they were not good enough to wipe his shoes. It would break your heart to see his dealing, and the mourning of our people, they complain to me, and alas I can do nothing for them; if I speak to him, he flies in my face, as mutinous and saith no complaints shall be heard, not received but by himself, and saith they are froward and waspish discontented people, and I do ill to hear them. The sailors also are so offended at his ignorant boldness, in meddling and controlling, in things he knows not what belongs to; as that some threaten to mischief him, others say they will leave the ship and go their way; but at the best this cometh of it, that he makes himself a scorn and laughing stock unto them." He, his wife Mary, and stepson Solomon Prower, died soon after arriving in Plymouth Colony.