My direct paternal ancestor Charles William MARTIN is understood to have been born in Magdeburg, Prussia circa 1780. He came to England via France about 1795 and joined the British Navy. He married, as a widower, to Priscilla SHERKEY in December 1813 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England while on shore leave. Following his discharge from the navy in 1815, he made his home at the birthplace of his wife in Frome, Somerset, England. The couple had 5 children. It is thought Charles died in 1824.



A family letter written 1879 by his youngest child (born 1824) and that son's photograph came to light some years ago. The letter revelead that his mother told him that his father was ' a man of colour boorn in upper germany but i expect of african descent ...' Germany ties in with British Navy record saying born in Prussia. The letter also says he spoke several languages fluently and was a bit of a musician.



Extensive Y-DNA testing says I'm of Native American ancestry which contradicts/denies my supposed African origins! My haplogroup is Q-YP910 and have no matches.



It is mere speculation on my part that those direct paternal ancestors were taken into slavery from the Americas, assumed the surname of their master and sold/transported to Europe.



It remains my goal to trace where my direct paternal ancestry originates within the genealogical timeframe.