In 1794 aged 13 he was employed by the navy as a loblolly boy, meaning personal servant, to Bass who was the surgeon on board HMS Reliance for her voyage to Australia. Martin was still with Bass in 1799 at age 18 when Bass left the navy, but at that point record of him ends.
In 1794 at age thirteen, he was employed by the navy as a loblolly boy—meaning personal servant—to Bass, who served as the surgeon on HMS Reliance for their voyage to Australia. Martin continued working with Bass until 1799 when he turned eighteen and left the navy, but there is no further information about him.