Her death certificate records Martha Jane Sexton, age 84 years 3 months, born 6 July 1831 in Virginia, died 6 Oct 1915 in Carter Co., Ky, widowed, parents don’t know, cause of death sarcoma of kidney, informant A. J. Sexton, Carter, Ky, burial in Sexton Cemetery.

The birthdate is incorrect; she was listed as age 12 in the 1850 census and age 22 in the 1860 census.

1850 census of Wythe Co., Virginia, district 68, enumerated 2 Aug, lists on p. 85 as family #591:
Nathan Nelson, 40, laborer; Jane Boles, 25; Martha Nelson, 12; Henry, 10; Larkin, 8; Ellen, 6; Cloyd, 4; Sarah, 2. All born in Virginia.

Ashe Co., North Carolina marriage records list the marriage on 21 July 1857 of William Sexton and Martha Jane Nelson, both residents of Wythe Co., Virginia.

From a Sexton Family History posted online, author unknown (reformatted by me because it was originally in all caps):

“I don’t have a description of William, but through family members I have a vague description of Martha. Martha, so I have been told, was very short, possibly a little taller than five (5’) feet and about as wide, but would tackle most anything or anyone.

William was a deserter from the Civil War so the story has been told to me. I have not been able at this time to find a record of him ever being signed up for the South or the Union. It is said his reason for desertion was due to the fact he did not want to face family members on the battlefield.

I have been told William left his family in Virginia with the understanding he would meet them in Carter County Kentucky. Late in 1863 (probably December) William’s wife Martha had the task of packing a few belongs and three small children (Jack, Millard and Alice, one month old) and moving them to Kentucky, by horseback and alone.

Martha was in the process of packing when Confederate soldiers came to her home looking for William. She had a large barrel of feathers and during the search one of the soldiers decided to check the barrel of feathers, by this time Martha had enough of the search. My understanding from several family members is when the soldier put his hands on the top of the barrel she took a corn knife (or a knife that fits the discription of a corn knife) and cut off some of the soldier’s fingers. Apparently the soldiers did nothing to her since she was allowed to leave virginia, unharmed.

In route to Carter county Kentucky the children rode the horse, Alice (one month old Alice) was somehow tied to the horse. While crossing a creek Alice fell from the horse in the icy cold water and nearly froze to death. If it had not been for the people (name’s unknown) living on a nearby farm helping, Alice may have died at the early age of one month, instead of living to the young age of 97 years.”

1860 census of Wythe Co., Virginia, district 68, Wytheville P.O., enumerated 28 July, lists on p. 215 as family #1616/1436:
William Sexton, 22, ore worker; Martha, 22; Andrew, 2; Henry Briggs, 23, ore worker. All born in Virginia.

1870 census of Carter Co., Ky, precinct 2, enumerated 29 June, lists on p. 25 as family #182/171:
Sexton, William, 35, digs iron ore, b. Va; Martha, 35, b. Va; Andrew, 11, b. Va; Millard, 9, b. NC; Alice, 6, b. Va; Elizabeth, 4, b. Ky; Malinda, 10/12, b. Ky.

The next household is headed by Calvin Sexton, age 38.

1880 census of Carter Co., Ky, ED 5-13, enumerated 16 June, lists on p. 34 as family #293/295:
Sexton, William, 45, farmer; Martha, 45, wife; Jackson, 21, son; Millard, 19, son; Alace, 17, dau; Rebecca, 13, dau; Malinda, 11, dau; Wm F., 6, son; Preston, 3, son; Bush, Rosa, 2, adopted dau, b. Ky Ky Ky. William through Alice born Va Va Va, Rebecca through Preston born Ky Va Va.

1900 census of Carter Co., Ky, district 2, enumerated 22 June, lists on p. 14B as family #245/253:
Sexton, William, 65, b. Sep 1835, Va Va Va; Martha J., wife, 68, b. July 1831, Va NC Va, married 42 years, mother of 8 children, 6 living; Baker, Henry, grandson, 12, b. Feb 1888, Ky Ky Ky.