Individual Details

Said to be daughter of David Ellington of Amelia Co.

The Morehead book alludes to the death of Martha "through Tory treachery" but gives no details - apparently from an account of daughter Obedience.


Found online:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~judfan/4308.htm
The American monthly magazine, Volume 2; Daughters of the American Revolution

Captain Joseph Motley, himself served in the French and Indian War,
under Colonel George Washington, and was with him at Braddock's defeat. He did not go into the Revolutionary army, but sent six sons, while he remained at home with the delicate wife and little children whom he must protect from harm in his hiding place in the woods, because of the many Tories that then infested that part of the State....

Alas, not enemies, but former friends, brought to them the saddest of all disasters. One day there came galloping into the yard a troop of noisy, drinking, rude Tories, led on by their neighbor and friend, who, knowing the family and their faithful devotion to their Country, had determined to wreak their vengeance upon the innocent and helpless children and their mother, then as helpless in bed herself, nursing an infant only a few weeks old. After demanding something to eat, to drink, the whereabouts of her husband and sons, this man seized her hand, felt the pulse, declared, " Mrs. Motley, you need bleeding, and I shall bleed you," pierced the tender vein with his knife, despite her struggles and the cries of the frightened children. They saw the life blood spouting from the loved mother's arm as she fainted into unconsciousness, and the. picture seemed never to fade away from the daughter's memory. The Tories hurried away ; the faithful servant applied restoratives and brought back to temporary life the dying mother ere the father's return to his house. Seeing his wife's condition, he seized his gun and started in pursuit of the murderer. But the good mother called him back, beseeching him to leave vengeance to the Lord and save his own life for their children's sake. He yielded to her, put aside the gun to soothe and comfort the dying hours.

Marriage		Joseph Motley
Death	Bef 1782

Spouse	Joseph Motley (1720 - 1806)
Child	Daniel Motley (1768 - 1815)
Child	David Motley (1753 - 1826)
Child	Obedience Motley (1768 - 1863)
Child	Amy Motley (1770 - 1853)
Child	Samuel Motley ( - )
Child	John Motley ( - )
Child	Martha Motley ( - )
Child	Prudence Motley ( - )
Child	Sarah "Sally" Motley ( - )
Child	Delilah Motley ( - )
Child	Elizabeth OR Lucy? Motley ( - )