Captain Martin Swain was born in Newport (Marine City), Michigan to Martin Swain and Lottie Fowler on March 4, 1843. When Martin was a young child his mother passed away and his father sent him across the river to live in Sombra, Ontario with Abram and Martha (Bury) Smith. Martha Bury Smith was the daughter of William and Margaret Oughton.
Martin attended some school, but he also chopped wood and drove a team to earn his way.
Martin first married Mary Bury in 1865 at Marysville, Michigan. Mary was the daughter of William and Margaret (Oughton) Bury and sister to Martha (Bury) Smith. To this union was born Harry M. Swain
Martin’s second marriage was to Emma Knight on January 31, 1882 in Chatham, Ontario. Emma was the daughter of William and Margaret (Bury) Knight. Rachel’s mother Margaret was the daughter of William and Margaret (Oughton) Bury. Margaret was a sister to Mary (Bury) Swain – Rachel Knight Swain was Mary (Bury) Swain’s niece and was her husband Martin’s niece through marriage.
Martin began his career on the lakes in 1857 when he went to work on the tug Bruce as a deck hand and later as a waiter on the Grand Trunk Car Ferry Union. Through the following years he worked on various lake vessels. In 1863 he went to New York and shipped out as an able seaman on the brigantine Timothy Fields, which operated between Bangor and Philadelphia. Later Martin went on sea vessels traveling to such places as Queenstown, Naples, Greenock, Liverpool and back to Quebec.
When Martin return to working on the lakes he shipped out on the steamer Sam Ward, the favourite little steamer out of Marine City, as well as many other lake vessels and tugs – the list is a large one.
Captain Martin Bury was noted for being a widely famed wrecker. He was a member of the International Shipmasters Association
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