John Wills Martin (24 Jan 1869) was an English-born merchant and political figure in

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

. He represented Placentia and St. Mary's in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1832 to 1836. He came to St. John's from

Poole Poole () is a large coastal town and seaport in Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester and adjoins Bournemouth to the east. Since 1 April 2019, the local authority is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Counc ...

Dorset Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset (unitary authority), Dors ...

in 1816, later working as a clerk at

Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...

for George Garland and Sons. In 1827, he was sent to Twillingate. Martin later was employed by another firm in St. Mary's. In 1830, he was named

justice of the peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

for the southern district, and, in 1834, a commissioner of roads. He was married twice: to Phoebe Cooper in 1827 and to Martha Taylor in 1839. In 1834, Martin was named a governor for the Savings Bank in St. John's. In 1836, he became head of a branch in Carbonear of the mercantile firm which employed him and also became justice of the peace for the northern district. In 1843, he was named a justice of the peace for Fogo. Martin to his hometown of Longfleet Poole about 1943–44 with his Wife Martha, they had 3 daughters, Mary Jane, Martha & Julia (According to the 1861 England Census for Poole Dorset, St. James District). After his return to his Native town in Poole from Newfoundland, Mr. Martin continued to be a Merchant and shipowner, around 1858 he was elected to the office of Mayor and Chief Magistrate of the borough of Poole. In 1862 he was named by the Liberal Government most suitable person to be included in Her Majesty's Commission of the Peace for the town and county of Poole and filled the vacancy for the magisterial bench. He was a fair & impartial Judge until taking ill. He attended Town Hall and took his share in the duties and responsibilities of the bench. Mr. John Wills Martin died in his home on 24 January 1869 in his 75th year after suffering an illness from bronchial infection which confined him to his home and he gradually declined. As reported by the Poole and Dorset Herald on 28 January 1869.

References

* Members of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly 1790s births 19th-century deaths Year of death missing Year of birth uncertain English emigrants to pre-Confederation Newfoundland Newfoundland Colony people {{Newfoundland-politician-stub