Martin de Tours

The Norman family of Martin probably came from Tor or Tour in the vicinity of Bayeux. The individual here indicated was Martin d'Amfreville, sire de Tour, who came to England at the conquest and conquered Cameys in Wales. It was erected into a palatine barony, which he governed as lord marcher, having his castle at Newport, where the ruins still exist.

He was a great benefactor to religious houses and began the foundation of a Benedictine abbey at St-Dogmael's, annexing it as a cell to the monastery of Tyrone in France. His son Robert Fitz Martin gave the endowment, which charter was witnessed by Henry I. Shortly after the compilation of Domesday he was in possession of the honour of Dartington and other lands, formerly belonging to William de Falaise. William Fitz Martin of the next generation married the daughter of Rhys-ap-Griffith, sovereign of South Wales. William's grandson acquired the honour of Barnstaple by marriage with Maud, daughter of Guy de Brian and Eva his wife, heiress of Henry de Tracey, lord of that barony. She brought him large possessions in Devonshire, where he already had great estates. The family later held considerable possessions in different parts of England, among which were Seaborough and Althelhampton in Dorset; Compton-Martin in Somerset; Comb-Martin in Devon, and Long Melford in Suffolk. --(This name appears on the Falaise Roll).