Daughter of daughter of William Thomas Shields and Jane Cabe Shields.

Married to Lorenzo Leigh Bennitt on August 2, 1858 in Guilford County, North Carolina.

Lorenzo and Martha were the parents of:
Roberta Jane Bennett Shields
James Lorenzo Bennett

Married to Nathan Couch on April 27, 1867 in Orange County, North Carolina.
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North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011
Name: M M Shields
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 2 Aug 1858
Marriage Place: Guilford, North Carolina
Spouse: L L Bennett
Spouse Gender: Male
Event Type: Marriage

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Martha Bennett
Age: 23
Birth Year: abt 1837
Gender: Female
Birth Place: North Carolina
Home in 1860: Orange, North Carolina
Dwelling Number: 594
Family Number: 594
Household Members Age
L L Bennett 27
Martha Bennett 23

North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011
Name: Nathan Cauch
Gender: Male
Father: William Couch
Mother: Dicey Couch
Marriage Place: Orange, North Carolina
Marriage Date: 27 Apr 1867
Spouse: Martha M Bennitt
Spouse Gender: Female
Spouse's Father: William T Shields
Spouse's Mother: Jane Shields
Event Type: Marriage

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Martha Couch
Age in 1870: 36
Birth Date: abt 1834
Birthplace: North Carolina
Dwelling Number: 125
Home in 1870: Durham, Orange, North Carolina
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Durhams
Occupation: Keeping House
Household Members Age
Nathan Couch 30
Martha Couch 36
Jane Couch 10
James Couch 8
Dicey Couch 77

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Martha Couch
Age: 42
Birth Date: Abt 1838
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1880: Durham, Orange, North Carolina
Dwelling Number: 16
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Occupation: Farming
Household Members Age Relationship
Martha Couch 42 Self (Head)
Robertta Bennet 19 Daughter
James R. Bennet 17 Son

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Martha M Couch
Age: 62
Birth Date: Feb 1832
Birthplace: North Carolina, USA
Home in 1900: Durham, Durham, North Carolina
House Number: 52
Sheet Number: 3
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 52
Family Number: 54
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Mother
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina, USA
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia, USA
Mother: number of living children: 1
Mother: How many children: 1
Can Speak English: Yes
Household Members Age Relationship
Ira W Shields 41 Head
Berta G Shields 39 Wife
Ira W Shields 12 Son
Madge M Shields 12 Daughter
Martha S Shields 8 Daughter
James B Shields 6 Son
Jesse Shields 4 Mother
Berta G Shields 2 Daughter
Martha M Couch 62 Mother

1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Martha M Couch
Age in 1910: 78
Birth Date: 1832
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1910: Durham, Durham, North Carolina
Street: Fish Dams Road
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Mother-in-law
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Native Tongue: English
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Number of Children Born: 2
Number of Children Living: 2
Household Members Age Relationship
I William Shields 51 Head
Roberta J Shields 49 Wife
Ira W Shields Jr. 21 Son
Madge M Shields 19 Daughter
Mattie S Shields 18 Daughter
James B Shields 16 Son
Jesse C Shields 14 Son
Bertie L Shields 11 Son
Robert F Shields 8 Son
Martha M Couch 78 Mother-in-law

North Carolina, U.S., Deaths, 1906-1930
Name: Martha M. Couch
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 85y
Marital status: Widowed
Occupation: Domestic
Birth Date: 1833
Birth Place: Orange Co., N.C.
Death Date: 27 Apr 1918
Death Place: Durham, Durham, North Carolina
Burial Date: 28 Apr 1918
Cemetery: Shields Burying Ground
Father: W. T. Shields
Mother: Jane Cabe
Reference ID: p 389 cn 2873
FHL Film Number: 4215347