William H. Martin was originally from Pennsylvania, and settled in Raleigh after the Civil War, marrying Martha Kirkham in 1865. Chief Martin came into office in July of 1858, elected to the position by the Raleigh Board of Commissioners under Mayor William H. Harrison.  His assistant was Bryan Lunn, an African-American man.  George Scales lead the Night Watch, with an integrated watch consisting of Bryan Dinkins, Caswell Hood, Wilie Hunter, Simon Craven, and Robert Crossan.
Chief Martin died in November of 1917, at the age of 76.  His obituary lists seven surviving sons and one daughter, several of whom still lived in Raleigh.  He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.



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