General Notes

William Martin, who succeeded his grandfather in 1282, his father having died in 1260. At this time he was 25 years old, and received livery of his inheritance April 1, 1282, having done homage. He was about the same time charged to have no dealings with the Welsh rebels, and in this and subsequent wars was frequently summoned to do military service against the Welsh, and being ordered to dwell continually in the Welsh Marches. He was summoned also for service overseas in Gascony. In 1283 he was summoned to the Assembly at Shrewsbury. He was summoned to Parliament from June 24, 1295, in reign of Edward I, to Sept. 24, 1324, in 18th of Edward II, by writs directed Willemo Martin, whereby he is held to have become Lord Martin, and was present in Parliament as a Trier of Petitions in 1320. In Nov. 1290 he came to an agreement with Wm. de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, as to the disputed rights in Kemys, acknowledging that he and his heirs were bound to do suit at the county court of Pembroke, cognizance of pleas arising within Kemys was allowed to the court of Kemys, and all other liberties as used by Martin's ancestors. Troops were raised in Kemys in 1294. In Sept. 1297, while staying at Ghent on the King's service, he made an agreement with John de Hastings, Lord of Abergavenny, by which William Hastings, son and heir of John, was to marry Eleanor, elder daughter of William Martin; and Edmund, son of William Martin, was to marry Joan or Jonette, elder daughter of John Hastings. In April 1298 he was granted custodies and marriages to the value of ú510, in recompense for his losses in a storm at sea while coming with the King from Flanders, in France. He held many offices from 1290-1307, and was summoned to attend the coronation of Edward II, Feb. 25, 1307/8. In Sept. 1308, after the death of Geoffrey, Lord Camville, he succeeded to the inheritance of his mother, Maud de Brian; this included the whole of the Honour of Barnstaple. In addition to summons to Parliament, he was summoned to Councils in 1309 and 1324. In 1309 and 1310 he was required to raise 200 footsoldiers in his lordships of Kemys and Dyfed. In 1314/5 he was appointed justice of South Wales, and keeper of the Castle of Carmarthen, and other of the King's castles there. He married before Jan. 1281 Eleanor, widow of Sir John de Mohun, and daughter of Sir Reynold Fitzpiers. He died before Oct. 8, 1324. He was succeeded by his 2nd, but 1st surviving son, William, who was aged 30 at his father's death, but he died sine prole before April 4, 1326. At his death the barony fell, according to modern doctrine, into abeyance, between Eleanor and  William's other sister, Joan.