When Americans recall the giants of the Revolutionary War era, familiar names like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Marquis de Lafayette often dominate the conversation. While their contributions are undeniably significant, countless others played essential roles in shaping the nation’s future. One such man, largely overshadowed by his more famous contemporaries, was General Joseph Martin. Once called indispensable to the war effort by Theodore Roosevelt, Martin was a soldier, frontiersman, diplomat, and statesman — and one of Henry County’s most influential residents.
Born in 1740 near Charlottesville, Virginia, Joseph Martin Jr. was the third son of Joseph Martin Sr., a wealthy English immigrant who became one of Albemarle County’s early landowners. Young Joseph inherited land from his father but had little interest in the life of a planter. At just 16 years old, he ran away to Fort Pitt, present-day Pittsburgh, and enlisted to fight in the French and Indian War. After years in the military, Martin developed skills as a fur trader, land surveyor, and real estate speculator. His talents won him 20,000 acres of land from Patrick Henry, which led to the establishment of Martin’s Station in what is now Tennessee.
Martin became known as a capable leader and was a trusted associate of other frontier legends like Daniel Boone. He bought land in present-day Henry County overlooking the Smith River and named it Scuffle Hill, a nod to the struggle it took to afford it. While his wife and children stayed there, Martin frequently traveled westward on expeditions.
His military career advanced in the years after the French and Indian War. Appointed a captain in the Pittsylvania County militia, he fought in Lord Dunmore’s War and helped secure frontier settlements. In 1776, Martin assisted Colonel John Donelson in founding what would eventually become Nashville, Tennessee.
During the Revolutionary War, Martin used his deep connections with Native American tribes to secure neutrality among many Appalachian groups, which proved crucial in preventing British alliances and attacks in the backcountry. His efforts earned praise from General Nathanael Greene and helped shape the outcome of the southern campaign.
Martin was appointed Agent and Supervisor of Indian Affairs for Virginia in 1777 and later served in the same capacity for North Carolina. He fathered children with a Cherokee woman, Betsy Ward, in accordance with customs that facilitated trade and diplomacy. Though later dismissed for being “too lenient” toward Native Americans, Martin’s dedication to fair treatment earned him lasting respect.
Beyond the frontier, Martin served in government roles for Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. He was elected to the Virginia General Assembly, where he and fellow Henry County delegate John Redd opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts. In 1793, he became brigadier general of the Virginia Militia, the first from the region to hold that title.
Martin fathered 18 children between two marriages and helped shape early Henry County. In 1791, the town around the courthouse was renamed Martinsville in his honor. He spent his later years at Belmont Plantation before passing in 1808. Today, he rests in the family cemetery on that property — a largely forgotten but vital figure in America’s founding story.
Jarred Marlowe is a local resident and historian. He is a member of the Col. George Waller Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Blue & Gray Education Society, and the committee chair for the Martinsville-Henry County 250 Committee. He may be reached at marloweja15@gmail.com.
