The Untold Story of Martin the Armenian, America’s First Armenian Immigrant

Martin the Armenian holds a significant place in history as the first recorded Armenian to settle in what is now the United States. Arriving in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1618, Martin was part of the early wave of settlers in the New World. His presence is documented in Virginia records, which show that he testified in a court case in 1619 and worked as a tobacconist, a key trade in the tobacco-driven economy of the colony. Martin is also credited with introducing silkworm cultivation to the New World, an early attempt to diversify the colony’s agricultural output and establish a silk industry.
The circumstances of Martin’s journey to Virginia remain partially obscured by history, but evidence suggests he likely traveled from Europe, possibly Holland, where Armenian merchants had established a strong presence by the mid-16th century. Armenians, renowned for their role in international trade, had developed extensive commercial networks, particularly in cities like New Julfa, Persia, and Amsterdam. These networks often connected them to European colonial ventures, including those of the British East India Company. According to Vahan Kurkjian’s A History of Armenia, archived Dutch government correspondence from the period reflects the use of the Persian dialect of the Armenian language, indicating that Armenians from New Julfa were actively engaging with Dutch trade hubs. This suggests that Martin may have been part of this diaspora, leveraging his connections to reach the New World.
Martin’s arrival in Virginia is often linked to colonial figures such as Sir George Yeardley, the governor of Virginia, and Captain Samuel Argall, a prominent explorer and deputy governor. Hayk Demoyan, author of Armenian Legacy in America: A 400-Year Heritage, posits that Martin may have arrived as a servant or associate of Yeardley, who had previously served in Virginia and fought in the Netherlands against the Spanish. While it is unclear whether Yeardley directly encountered Martin in Holland, the connection is plausible given the presence of both Armenian communities and British military personnel in the region. Similarly, documents unearthed by Professor Karen Ordahl Kupperman of New York University describe Martin as “wholly dependent on Argall,” suggesting a close association with the captain, who is best known for his role in the kidnapping of Pocahontas. The fact that Martin was occasionally mistaken for Persian may indicate his familiarity with the Persian language, further supporting the theory of his origins in New Julfa.
Once settled in Virginia, Martin demonstrated his entrepreneurial spirit by introducing silkworm cultivation and engaging in the lucrative tobacco trade. His efforts were so valued by the Virginia Company of London, the principal investor in the colony, that he was granted favorable customs treatment despite being labeled a “Stranger.” His contributions were significant enough to earn him an invitation to England to sit on the company’s governing council. However, after the dissolution of the Virginia Company in 1624, Martin disappears from historical records, leaving behind little trace of his later life.
Martin’s significance extends beyond his individual achievements. As the first Armenian in the New World, he paved the way for others, such as George the Armenian, who was commissioned by the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1653 to produce silk and was compensated with 4,000 pounds of tobacco. Over time, Armenians continued to contribute to the development of the American colonies, with Armenian cartographers mapping the eastern seaboard and individuals like Yohan Algha Babigian inadvertently arriving in the U.S. in the late 18th century after being blown off course during a voyage. Babigian, a New Julfa Armenian, later translated a volume of American history into Armenian, further bridging the two cultures.
Martin’s story also resonates in the broader context of Armenian history. In 1773, an Armenian expatriate living in India, Shahamir Shahamiryan, drafted a proposed constitution for an independent Armenia, drawing inspiration from American ideals of liberty and referencing the leadership of George Washington. This underscores the enduring connection between Armenian aspirations for freedom and the American experiment.