Colonel Jack Martin Rock House

July 12, 2025

Colonel Jack Martin Rock House

Atop one of the many hills that comprise the Sauratown Mountain range stands the walled remains of an old stone house that is nearly 250 years old. It is the former family home of Revolutionary War veteran Colonel John "Jack" Martin.

Known as the "Rock House," the rural home, completed around 1784, is one of the oldest in Stokes County and the Piedmont.

The Stokes County Historical Society has taken great measures to preserve the Martin home.

The home was unique for its time, especially along what was close to the colonial frontier. Martin's homestead was four stories, with three-foot-thick brick walls, and was exteriorly sided in white stucco. The home was either destroyed by fire or a windstorm around 1897. By the time an article featuring the Rock House was published in The State magazine in 1934, much of what remained of the home had already been overgrown. Although it was in a neglected state, thousands of tourists would take a moment to drive by and visit the historic structure.

The Rock House in 1934 (The State)

Efforts to preserve the Rock House began to pick up momentum in the 1970s. The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. That same year, the Stokes County Historical Society took ownership of the Martin home. Since then, the historical society has led efforts to maintain the ground, preserve the structure, and prevent vandalism. Col. Martin's Rock House still attracts numerous visitors per day.

A look into the basement of the Rock House. It is here where the kitchen and fireplace were located. It is said that the fireplace was big enough to hold an ox.

Jack Martin, born in Essex County, Virginia, in 1856, was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War but was known locally as "Colonel." He served in the state militia until 1799 and achieved the rank of colonel. He served in the North Carolina legislature and was also a Stokes County magistrate. A slaveholder, Martin once owned over 9,000 acres of land within Stokes County.

Martin married Nancy Shipp in 1784. He passed away in April of 1822 at the age of 66.