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264. Thomas Forsythe, Sr., born perhaps Bef. 1755 in Ireland; died Abt. 1807 (date of will) in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of 528. ? Forsythe. He married 265. Nancy Parker Bef. 1776 perhaps in Westmoreland (now Fayette) County, Pennsylvania.
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Notes for Thomas Forsythe, Sr.
From the book "The Pioneer Forsythes of Fayette County, Pennsylvania and Their Descendants" (Forsythe Book) by Glenn Luther Forsythe, "According to a letter written by Mary Ann Forsythe, a granddaughter of Thomas and Nancy (Parker) Forsythe, to Mary Ann's daughter, L. W. Reynolds, 'Thomas Forsythe came to America from Ireland and settled in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He met a Dutch lady, Miss Nancy Parker, (and) they were married and had a family of ten children.'
"There is some doubt as to whether Nancy Parker was Dutch. Parker is not a Dutch name and there were no substantial Dutch settlements in the vicinity at the time. One of the daughters did marry a Mr. Vandine (VanDyne?), though, so it is possible that Nancy did have some Dutch ancestry.
"The earliest record located so far shows that Thomas Forsithe acquired a warrant to purchase a tract of land in Tyrone Township (now Perry Township), Fayette County, Pennsylvania on January 21, 1785. In December of the same year he obtained a patent for that land and purchased it. In the first records concerning him the Forsythe name was spelled Forsithe. It is spelled Forsythe in the 1790 Federal population census and in current usage."
Further from the Forsythe Book, "Little information about the origin of Thomas Forsythe other than what has been passed on by family traditions and the federal censuses exists. Mrs. George Marsh of West Newton, Pennsylvania, stated that Thomas tomahawked a tract of land, probably the same tract which he later acquired by warrant when Fayette County was first opened to settlers. But he had to leave because of Indian hostilities. In 1774 (?) he returned when Governor Dunsmore of Virginia reopened the area. Thomas probably married at that time as his first child (Elizabeth?) was born about 1779."
The Indian problems occurred in the mid-1760's after the white encroachment reached an intolerable level, and several incidents of whites killing Indians raised the Indian rage to a fever pitch. At that point Governor Dunsmore of Virginia, who was the primary official who turned his back as the whites encroached, finally called for all whites to vacate the area. By 1768 a treaty had been executed with the Indians and their lands comprising current day south-western Pennsylvania was purchased for white settlement. The territory was officially opened in 1769 for settlement. If Thomas was present at the time of the Indian hostilities, then he was likely born 10 to 15 years earlier than his estimated birth date stated above. That part of Pennsylvania was part of Bedford County, Pennsylvania in 1772. According to the 1772 Bedford County tax list as published in "The Monongahela of Old or Historical Sketches of South-western Pennsylvania to the Year 1800" by James Veech, 1910, no Thomas Forsythe was listed - either among the heads of household, borders with no household, or freemen. It is possible he came to the area sometime after 1772 or it is possible he was there and not counted or counted among Virginia tax rolls. This same area of southwestern Pennsylvania was also claimed by Virginia and was Yohogania County within the District of West Augusta. (Virginia sold land for as low as 10 shillings per 100 acres and Pennsylvania sold for about 5 pounds sterling, according to Veech. There was much contention between the two factions with anyone holding office under the laws of Pennsylvania and attempting any official act was likely to be arrested and jailed by persons claiming to hold office under the government of Virginia, and vice versa for the Virginia officials. The issue was not settled, in Pennsylvania's favor, until the Mason-Dixon Line was officially run in 1785 - the year Thomas purchased his land.) The 1772 Bedford County tax list did contain the name of Frederick Parker listed in Springhill Township. Could this have been Nancy's father? Also listed in Springhill Township was Christian Pitser, father of Rebecca and wife-to-be of John, son of Thomas Sr.
In February 26, 1773 Westmoreland County was spun off from Bedford County. This county was all of southwestern Pennsylvania, which included the area that is now Fayette County. Glen Swartz in the RootsWeb World Connect database "glen_swartz" quotes research done by W. Don Shoaf from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Deed Book A-1, page 160, "1778 Jun 01, Deed. Charles Martin to Thomas Forsythe, 150 acres (with all improvements) on the south side of Youghiogheny River, adjoining John Vanmeter, a run, the top of Rich Hill, Mr Powers, and Moses Thompson; it being the upper part of a 300 acre tract, the lower 150 acres of which was sold to Thomas Reed. Price: 100 PA currency. Witnesses: Moses Thompson and Edward Cook." This timeframe fits the estimated time of the start of his family, and this area fits the general area of the subsequent warrant and purchase mentioned in the Forsythe book above and in the material that follows. That warrant was in Fayette County, and Fayette County was formed from Westmoreland County on September 26, 1783.
As found in "History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania: with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men"; edited by Franklin Ellis; L. H. Everts & Co., Philadelphia, 1882, page 715 in the Perry township history section, "Gen. J. B. Sweitzer owns 240 acres of land adjoining the Beeler tract, east on Jacob's Creek. This was part of the Turnbull lands. Thomas Forsyth took out a patent for 171 acres of land in this part of the township. He had sons, - Ezekiel, David, and Thomas. Ezekiel settled on the homestead. His son Thomas now lives on the farm adjoining. Henry and John, sons of Ezekiel, both live near. David, son of Thomas, lived in Westmoreland County." This warrant description is supported by the following information.
Fayette County attained its final, and current, boundaries in 1784 and the county government set about mapping out the land claims of its inhabitants. According to the Fayette County Warrant Register, page 84, Thomas Forsithe obtained Fayette Co, survey warrant No.4 for Patentee surnames starting with F for these 150 acres he purchased in 1778. The date of the survey warrant was January 21, 1785 with the return date being December 17, 1785 and the acres in the return determined as 171 acres rather than 150. The register identifies the patent to be registered in Vol. P, No. 4, Page 268 and the survey to be found copied in Book A61, Page 197 in Tyrone Township. The survey states "Situated in Poverty Neck on the East Side of Youghiogeni River in Tyrone Township Fayette County and surveyed the 21st Day of May 1785. In Pursuance of a Warrant Dated the 21 Day of January 1785 by Alexander M Clean Deputy." The accompanying map identifies Thomas' property as adjoining those of Joseph Whitesides, Peter Studibaker and an area to the south and west identified as Vacant Inaccesable River Hills.
Other data involving Thomas included in Tyrone Townnship tax records from FHL film #1449318 - Fayette County, Pennsylvania Tax records of Tyrone Township, 1785-1855, and census records are:
1785 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Forsith, 150 acres, 2 horses, 2 horned cattle.
1786 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Fursithe, 150 acres, 2 horses, 3 cattle.
1787 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Forsythe, 171 acres, 2 horses, 3 cattle.
1788 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Forsith, 171 acres, 2 horses, 4 cattle.
1789 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Fersithe, 170 acres, 3 horses, 3 cattle.
Thomas Forsythe 1790 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania census, page 65:
1 male 16 and over, 3 males under 16, and 5 females
1791 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Fursithe, 71 acres, 2 horses, 3 cattle.
1793 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Fursithe, 71 acres, 3 horses, 3 cattle.
1795 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Fursythe, 170 acres, 2 horses, 3 cattle.
1796 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Fursythe, 171 acres, 3 horses, 4 cattle.
1797 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Forsithe, 171 acres, 2 horses, 5 horned cattle.
1798 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Fursythe, 171 acres, 2 horses, 2 cattle.
1799 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Fursythe, 171 acres, 2 horses, 3 cattle.
1800 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Forsythe, 171 acres, 2 horses, 3 cattle.
Thomas Forsith 1800 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania census, page 605:
2 males under 10, 2 males of 10 & under 16, 1 male 45 and over
2 females under 10, 1 female of 10 & under 16, 1 female 45 and over
(3 females were already married and out of the house.)
1801 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Forsythe, 171 acres, 2 horses, 3 cattle
1802 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Fursythe, 171 acres, 3 horses, 3 cattle.
1803 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Fursythe, 171 acres, 3 horses, 4 cattle.
1804 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Forsythe, 171 acres, 3 horses, 3 cattle.
1805 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Fursythe, 171 acres, 2 horses, 2 cattle, 1 still.
1806 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Forsithe, 171 acres, 1 horse, 2 cattle, 1 still.
1807 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thos Fursythe, 171 acres, 2 horses, 3 cattle, 1 still..
1808 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Forsithe, 171 acres, 3 horses, 3 cattle, 1 still.
1809 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania tax record:
Thomas Forsithe, 171 acres, 1 horses, 3 cattle, 1 still.
In Thomas Forsythe's will, dated November 9, 1807, he does as we all wish with wills of our ancestors and names all of his children. He provides for wife, Nancy, with the house and two cows and the provision that she be "supported with bread and meat" while she remained a widow. He then provides for sons John, Thomas, David and Ezekiel and for daughters Elizabeth Vandine, Peggy (Margaret) Jones, Nancy Jones, Hannah McKenna, and Polly and Sally (both of whom he mentions have not yet come of age). The lands, goods and chattels were to be split equally by David and Ezekiel and to be paid at Nancy's death. The will went to probate on January 16, 1808 with son-in-law Richard Jones "My hole and Sole Executer of this My Last Will and Testement" and son David "Forsithe Executer of this My Last Will and Testement". I am not clear as to Whole and Sole Executor versus Executor.
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265. Nancy Parker, born Bef. 1755 in possibly Pennsylvania; died Abt. 1820-1821 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
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Notes for Nancy Parker
Not a great deal is known about Nancy, other than what was mentioned in the notes for Thomas. The name has evidently been passed from generation to generation as there has been no documentation found other than the letter mentioned above. It is possible she was born in Pennsylvania, but that also is unknown. If Fredrick Parker from above is indeed her father, then we know she was in the area by 1772. She might not have been in the immediate vicinity too much before that because settlement in this area was not "officially" allowed until 1769, after a peace settlement had been reached with the Indians, although many settlers took it upon themselves to encroach on Indian land long before 1769. Her birth date is estimated from the 1800 census which has her at age 45 or greater.
Nancy is shown as head of household, age greater than 45, in 1810 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, page 235. Also in the household were 1 male age 16 to 26, 1 female age 10 to 16, and 1 female age 16 to 26. Nancy is shown on line 27. Nearby are other members of the family - line 26 David Forsythe, line 23 Thomas Forsythe, line 22 Richard Jones, and line 21 Aaron Jones. Aaron is not proven to be a son-in-law, but there is that possibility and will be mentioned below. Nancy is not found by name in the 1820 census, but there is a possibility she is the female of age 45 and up living in the Ezekiel Forsyth family in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, page 144 (and on the line immmediately below David Forsythe). Now Thomas Jr. was in Tyrone Township in 1817, 1818 and 1819 tax lists, then was found in the 1820 Brown County, Ohio census (see Thomas Jr. narrative in previous generation). It is very possible he was in Tyrone because his mother's health was declining during that time and that he left for Brown County, Ohio after her death to be with brother John and his family. Since the 1820 census day was officially August 7, 1820, with the following 13 months alloted for collecting the enumeration data, it is likely Nancy died between that date and September 7, 1821 and Thomas Jr. and family still had time to get to Brown County, Ohio for that enumeration. Even if Nancy had died before the census taker got to Ezekiel's home, the enumerator was instructed to include her if she had been alive on August 7, 1820. In the 1821 tax list Ezekiel and David had divided the land of Thomas Forsythe, each taxed on 80 acres. Presumably this supports the above possibility and means then that Nancy had died, for Thomas wrote in his will the lands, goods and chattels were to be split equally by David and Ezekiel and to be paid at Nancy's death.
Thomas and Nancy are believed to be buried at Jacobs Creek Cemetery in Westmoreland County, just across the Fayette County line. This is located about a mile and a half from the original family homestead. It is located on the flood plain of the Youghiogheny River and many stones have been destroyed. Whatever the reason, their stones have not survived.
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Children of Thomas Forsythe and Nancy Parker are:
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i.
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Elizabeth Forsythe, born Abt. 1776 in Westmoreland (now Fayette) County, Pennsylvania; died Bet. 1840 and 1850 probably in South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; married Asa Vandine Abt. 1800; born Abt. 1776; died Bet. 1825 and 1830 in Pennsylvania.
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Elizabeth's married name of Vandine/VanDyne was given in Thomas' will; "Forth I do allow to my Daughter Elizabeth Vandine Ten Pound to be paid also at her Mothers Death". Elizabeth is found as head of household in the 1830 and 1840 censuses:
Elizabeth Vandine 1830 South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania census, page 144
1 male under 5, 1 male of 10 & under 15
1 female of 20 & under 30, 1 female of 60 & under 70 (born 1761-1770)?
Elizabeth Vandine 1840 South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania census, page 282
1 male of 20 & under 30
1 female of 60 & under 70 (born 1771-1780)
According to these census entries, Elizabeth is between 60 and 70 in both censuses. Not very probable. It is most likely the 1840 census is correct, thus placing her birth date between 1770 and 1780. No Vandine appears in the the immediate vicinity in 1850.
Knowing that Elizabeth may have stayed in the area after marriage, checking Fayette and Westmoreland came up with one possibility as husband - Asa Vandine. He was found in Westmoreland in 1810 and in Fayette in 1820 after which he disappears and Elizabeth is left with the remaining minor children for the 1830 and 1840 censuses.
Asa Vandine 1810 Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania census, page 223
2 males under 10, 1 male of 26 & under 45 (born 1766-1784)
2 female under 10, 1 female of 26 & under 45 (born 1766-1784)
Asa Vandine 1820 Salt Lick Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania census, page 130
2 males of 26 & under 45 (born 1776-1794)
2 females under 10, 1 female of 10 & under 16, 1 female of 16 & under 26, 1 female of 45 & over (born bef 1776)
Nothing more is known about this family - where was Asa born? who were his parents? where was Asa before 1810? who were the children? why were there 2 males in the 26-45 age group in 1820, and who was the second one? what happened to the 2 males under 10 from the 1810 census? and more. It was supposed that Elizabeth died before 1850, because she was not found in the 1850 or later censuses. But was she living with one of her married daughters? That is another question we do not have an answer for.
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ii.
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Margaret Forsythe, born February 17, 1779 in Westmoreland (now Fayette) County, Pennsylvania; died August 17, 1830 in Clinton Township, Wayne County, Ohio; married Richard W. Jones Abt. 1796 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania; born Abt. 1765 in Maryland; died Abt. November 1854 in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana.
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Margaret's married name of Jones was given in Thomas' will; "Fiftly I do allow to my Daughter Peggy Jones Ten Pound to be paid in like Manner" (also "at her Mothers Death"). Additionally, Thomas' son-in-law Richard Jones was identifed in the will as "My hole and Sole Executer". The biographies of at least three descendants identified their progenitors as Richard and Margaret Forsythe Jones - 2 sons in "Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana: Historical and Biograhpical, Illustrated" by Goodspeed, Weston A., ed. and Charles Blanchard, ed., Chicago, Illinois, FA Battery & Company, 1882 and one grandson in "A Biographical Record of Boone County Iowa, Illustrated," New York & Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1902 - with Richard as born in Maryland and Margaret as born in Pennsylvania. It is possible the Richard Jones in the 1790 Frederick County, Maryland census (page 169) is our Richard and would complement the marriage license for Richard Jones and Margaret Forsythe in Frederick County for November 10, 1796.
Richard Jones appears in the 1800 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania census (page 608), 1810 Tyrone Township census (page 235) and 1820 Dunbar Township, Fayette County census (page 132). Son Richard W. says in his Porter County biography that he was born July 16, 1816 and they moved to Wayne County, Ohio when he was 6 years old (1822-1823). Son David F. says in his Porter County biograpy that he was born July 12, 1821 and removed to Wayne County when 2 years old (1823-1824). Allowing for some degree of error this places the family migration to Wayne County circa 1822-1823. Daughter Hannah married Aaron Little on March 16, 1824 in Wayne County, Ohio. This pretty much fixes the timeframe for their migration.
Richard is in the 1830 Clinton Township, Wayne County, Ohio census (page 30), 1840 Clinton Township census (page 9) and 1850 Clinton Township census (page 8), with Richard having purchased 80 acres of land in Wayne County from the State of Ohio in 1833. Margaret died August 17, 1830 in Clinton Township and is buried in Newkirk Cemetery, just across the line in Holmes County, Ohio. The tombstone states her age at death as 51 years, 6 months, 0 days which fixes her birth date given above. Richard's grave has not yet been located so the census will have to suffice for estimating his birth date. The 1850 Wayne County census has his age as 85, placing his birth date as about 1765. All censuses, except the 1800 census, works with the birth date circa 1765 and the Boone County bio of his grandson reports his grandfather was born in 1762. I am using 1765 as his likely birth date.
Richard went to Porter County, Indiana in 1853 where his son Richard, Jr. was living. He died in the fall of 1854, hence his estimated death date of about November 1854. His will was made April 13, 1848 in Wayne County, Ohio and probated there February 12, 1855. In it he names all living children by name and he and Margaret had 4 sons and 6 daughters.
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iii.
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John Forsythe, born February 16, 1781 in Westmoreland (now Fayette) County, Pennsylvania; died March 25, 1855 in Moulton, Wells Township, Appanoose County, Iowa; married Rebecca Pittsor/Pitzer Abt. 1808 in Clermont County, Ohio; born December 1, 1790 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania; died March 29, 1833 near Straight Creek, Brown County, Ohio.
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John is identified in his father's will, "Secondly I do Will and allow My Son John Forsithe One Hundred and Forty Dollars to be paid as soon as possible of the Produce of the Orchard." John is unique among the heirs in that he was to be paid as soon as possible while all others were to be paid at their mother's death. Chances are that he had been preparing to leave the area. John appears in the 1805 Tyrone Township, Fayette County tax list as single with 0 acres, 0 horses, and 0 cattle, but he is found nowhere in the Fayette County area after that point.
The Forsythe Book states, "As a young man he moved to Brown County, Ohio, in 1800. He was one of the earliest residents of the area. The move was probably made by boat down the Youghiogheny, Monogahela and Ohio Rivers. John traveled to Brown County with a Robert Forsythe. This Robert may have been a son of one of the original Thomas Forsythe's brothers..." It may be that he had been in "Brown" County, Ohio, and perhaps he came back when his father started failing, but we do know he was residing in Fayette County in 1805 as well as among the Thomas Forsith family enumeration on the 1800 Fayette County census (page 605). So it is likely he did not leave until after the 1805 tax list was generated, so the haste noted in the will could possibly support the fact that John was only there for a short while. Some additional information brings into doubt the story about John traveling with Robert Forsythe. There were two John Forsythes in the "Brown" County area in the early 1800s and it was most likely the other John who was there with Robert, as supported by the following notation. In "The Virginia Military Surveys of Clermont and Hamilton Counties, Ohio 1787-1849" by Alam Aicholtz Smith, 1985, "Brown, John Survey No. 4858. Surveyed for John Brown, assignee, 500 acres of land on part of a Military Warrant No. 4666 on the waters of the East Fork of the Little Miami. Batavia Township, Military Warrant 4666, Robert Forsythe and John Forsythe, heirs of Robert Forsythe, a captain for 3 years, patent to John Brown." (Note: This area at that time was still a military tract, and Brown County had not come into existence yet. Brown became a county in 1818 from parts of Clermont and Adams Counties.) There is no clear reason why our John would be an heir of Robert Forsythe.
Glen Swartz in the RootsWeb World Connect database "glen_swartz" states "according to Chris Pitzer (well documented): Rebecca Pitzer, b. 1 Dec 1789 PA, d/o Christian Pitzer (ca 1740-1797) and Maria Elizabetha Reede." Christian's family was in Bedford County, Westmoreland County and Fayette County, Pennsylvania from at least 1772 until 1791 when he appears in county records in Mason County, Kentucky, across the Ohio River from Clermont and Adams Counties, Ohio (later to include Brown County). It appears some of the Pitzers may have moved across the river to Ohio. In Clermont County a John Pitzer married Catherine Leeferry on March 14, 1805 a Jamima Pitzer married John F. Foor on August 27, 1811, a Mary Pitzer married John Jones on March 1, 1814, and a Jonathan Pitzer married Elizabeth Foore on January 15, 1818. I checked Adams County in that timeframe and found no Pitzer marriages or John Forsythe marriage. In checking Clermont County there was no John Forsythe marriage, but then marriage records for that county between March 12, 1807 and April 26, 1810 are missing (just our luck). With all the other Pitzer marriages in that county and with the aid of a letter from his second born child who stated she was born July 17, 1810 some 8 or 10 miles west of Georgetown (which placed her in Clermont County at the time), it is probably safe to say that is where John was married. Additionally, since their first born child was born in December of 1808, it probably lends credence to the theory that John migrated to Clermont County between 1805 (tax list entry) and 1807 (Thomas writing his will and his demise), then was in a hurry to return to Ohio. I have estimated their marriage as abount 1808, but it could have been late 1807 and John was in a hurry to get back to his new wife.
John and Rebecca had 2 sons and 4 daughters, with all but the last child born likely in Clermont County. Hannah was born in 1820, after Brown County has been formed and the family is found in 1820 Clark Township, Brown County census, page 389. Clark Township is to the northwest of Georgetown, which is consistent with his daughter's letter stating she was born west of Georgetown. Rebecca dies in 1833, but the family continues to live in Brown County before the wander lust strikes - 1830 Scott Township (page 470) and 1840 Jefferson Township (page 226). Sometime in the late 1840s they choose to move and John is found living in the Aaron Reynolds family in 1850 Township 4S Range 3W, Pike County, Illinois census, page 75B (wife Mary Ann Forsythe Reynolds is John's second born child). Son Thomas Jefferson Forsythe is in Township 3S Range 3W on page 44A, three households away from Samuel and Elizabeth Forsythe Gregg. Also in Pike County, in Township 3S Range 4W census (page 128A) is Jackson and Hannah Forsythe Morrow. From here the family units move to Appanoose County, Iowa in 1854 where John dies March 25, 1855 in Wells Township at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Samuel and Elizabeth Forsythe Gregg, and is buried in Hilltown Cemetery there.
Note: John Fosythe from Davis County, Iowa, nephew of John, wrote a letter to cousin Thomas Forsythe in Fayette County on June 6, 1859 saying, "I will give you the name of his (Uncle John of Ohio) Soninglaus in Iowa, Appanoose County, 15 miles from where we live...William Morrow (married) Nancy." Nancy died in Brown County, Ohio in 1842 and in the 1850 Franklin Township census (page 404) William has married the widow Rachel Thompson and they are there yet in 1851. Then in the 1860 Wells Township, Appanoose County, Iowa census (page 655) William and Rachel are shown as having followed Jackson Morrow west.
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iv.
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Nancy Forsythe, born Abt. 1783 in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; died possibly Abt. 1812 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania; married Aaron Jones Abt. 1800; born Abt. 1782; died Aft. 1815.
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From Thomas' will we know her married name - "Sixt I do allow my Daughter Nancy Jones Ten Pounts to be paid in like Manner" (also "at her Mothers Death"). We also surmise that Nancy was old enough to be married by 1800 because the 1800 census for the Thomas Forsith family had only three girls at home in 1800, and it appears Thomas is naming his children oldest to youngest in the will. As mentioned in the Nancy Parker narrative above, there was an Aaron Jones on line 21 in the 1810 census, next to Richard and Margaret Forsythe Jones on line 22. Although not mentioned there, a John Jones was shown on line 17 of that census page.
Line 17: John Jones 12010-40010
Line 21: Aaron Jones 30010-10010
While there is no proof of this, I believe Aaron to be Nancy's husband. With John having 2 sons in the 10 to 16 age group, it seems to push the envelop of what is reasonable regarding her potential birth date and subsequent marriage date. Although there could be a couple of reasons for this seeming disparity, I am going with the proximity and the age groupings of the Aaron listing as best fit for Nancy. The estimated age for Nancy is based on the one and only census image found and how Nancy best fits in with the ages of her siblings. Aaron's age is estimated based on this census image and also the Tyrone Township, Fayette County tax records. Phillip Jones first appears in the tax lists in 1795, then John in 1798, Thomas and Richard in 1802, Peter in 1803, and finally Aaron in 1806.
IF Aaron was Nancy's husband then the following could apply to Nancy, "History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania: with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men"; edited by Franklin Ellis; L. H. Everts & Co., Philadelphia, 1882, page 715 in the Perry township history section, "...Michael Sowers lived in an old cabin and ferried people across the river. After his death one Dunn lived in the cabin. He was drowned a few years later, and the place was long known as 'Dunn's Deep Hole.' There is an old burial-place in the rear of where the cabin stood, where seventy or seventy-five years ago hundreds of graves were to be seen. In 1812, Aaron Jones lived there, and his wife was drowned in the river while crossing in a canoe. The name was changed from Dunn's to Layton's after the purchase by Abraham Layton in 1821." I have made the assumption this article notation refers to Nancy. Nothing else is known at this time regarding this daughter, including no information there is any relationship of Aaron to the other Jones' mentioned above, including Richard Jones, Margaret's husband.
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v.
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David Forsythe, born Abt. 1786 in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; died 1851 in Perry Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; married Charlotte ? Abt. 1806 probably in Fayette County, Pennsylvania; born Abt. 1789 in Pennsylvania; died Aft. 1850 probably in Perry Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
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David is an heir in Thomas' will - "of the rest I do allow My son David Forsithe one Half of My Lands Goods and Chattels...Each to be Equel shares of all at their Mothers Death and said David ... is to pay all the Above Mentioned Legacyes to the rest". David appears to have lived his entire life in Fayette County. In 1810 he is enumerated on the line immediately above widow Nancy Forsythe and as age of 16 and under 26. He is married with wife also of 16 and under 26 and a daughter under age 10.
David is found in the 1820 Tyrone Township census (page 144) with 3 boys under 10 (what happened to the boy from the 1810 census?), 2 girls under 10, 1 girl of age 10 and under 16 (where did this girl come from?), and one female of 16 and under 26 (wife is in the wrong age group). David appears in the 1830 Tyrone Township census (page 268) with one boy of 15 and under 20 (missing 2 boys), 3 girls under 5, 2 girls of 5 and under 10, 1 girl of 10 and under 15, and one girl of 15 and under 20. In 1840 David appears in the Perry Township census (page 245). This does not necessarily mean he moved since Perry Township was created in 1839 from parts of Franklin, Tyrone and Washington Townships. He has 1 boy under 5, 1 boy of 5 and under 10, 3 girls of 5 and under 10, and 3 girls of 15 and under 20.
David is alive in 1850, which allows us to find his wife's name. David, a farmer age 64, and Charlotte, age 61 and born in Pennsylvania, are found in Perry Township, page 262. David and Charlotte are not found in later censuses. Regarding David, a letter dated June 6, 1859 from nephew John Forsythe in Davis County, Iowa to cousin Thomas Forsythe in Fayette County states, "I will now give you a list of our Ohio friends. Unkel John Forsythe and family. They all landed in Iowa the Fall before we did. Unkel John is dead. He died the same day that we left the Guyon's House for Iowa (remember they migrated in 1855). He died verry sudden about the way Unkel David died". David's will was probated December 15, 1851 - from an index of the Orphan's Court of Fayette County, a December 15, 1851 accounting is contained on page 257 of Volume 5.
The child enumerations are confusing to say the least. Nothing more is known of David's family.
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vi.
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Hannah Forsythe, born Abt. 1788 in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; died Aft. 1807; married ? McKenna; born Unknown; died Unknown.
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Hannah is an heir in Thomas' will - "Seventh I do also allow my Daughter Hannah McKennea Ten Pounts to be paid in like Manner of the rest, all at their Mothers Death..." Nothing else is known of this daughter. No McKenna has been found in the censuses of that era and area. From the Forsythe Book the letter from John Forsythe of Davis County, Iowa to his cousin Thomas Forsythe in Fayette County dated June 6, 1859 mentions people from the old home area who have ended up in Iowa and includes "John McClinon and his family is well...John McClinon has bought 80 akers of improved land one mile from where we live. (It is a) verry good farm." Could this be the McKenna mentioned in the will? There are no McClinon surnames in the Iowa census index in 1860 nor is there any McClinon in the WPA grave listings. There is a John C. McClelland, age 42 (born abt. 1818) and born in Pennsylvania, living in Marion Township, Davis County, Iowa in dwelling #258 (Thomas Forsythe is in dwelling #256 and John Forsythe is in dwelling #257). The 1856 State of Iowa census shows John McClelland living more tightly with the Glassburner clan. Could this be a son of Hannah McKenna? Or is it that he mentions John McClelland because the family was from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, or because his wife was possibly a Morrow, or because his wife's mother, Barbary, was a Glassburner and aunt to Christian Glassburner who married Eliza Jane Forsythe? He also mentioned "the old man Stall and his family" in the previous sentence, and John Stahl was living in Davis County, Iowa, near John Forsythe, and John Stahl was Barbary Glassburner's second husband. Unfortunately it appears this is not a son of Hannah as the 1850 Mississinewa Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania census (page 260B)shows John and his family, including his widowed mother Eleanor.
The Tyrone Township, Fayette County tax lists do show some names that resemble McKenna. In the 1795 and 1797-1801 tax lists there is an Arthur McKenn/McCan/McCann, in 1796 and 1798 a William McKiney, in 1797 a George McKinney, and in 1799-1801 there is Cain McKinney. Any of those names could be what was meant by McKenna in the will, but nothing firm to indicate this to actually be the case.
Hannah's birth date has been estimated based on placement among her siblings and the fact that she was married by the writing of Thomas' will.
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132
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vii.
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Thomas Forsythe, Jr., born December 23, 1791 in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; died January 18, 1872 in Davis County, Iowa; married Elizabeth ?.
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viii.
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Mary/Polly Forsythe, born Abt. 1793 in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; died Abt. 1847 in Perry Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; married Moses Wilkinson Abt. 1815 in probably Fayette County, Pennsylvania; born Abt. 1790 in Pennsylvania; died 1858 in Perry Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
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Mary is identified in Thomas' will as Polly - "I do allow my Daughter Polly When she comes of age to have One Cow and a Bed and Bedding and Ten Pounds to be paid at her Mothers Deth." It is assumed she was born before 1800 as the 1800 Tyrone Township Thomas Forsith census (page 605) contained 2 females under the age of 10 and Mary and Sarah are the only two unaccounted for earlier. In the 1810 Tyrone Township census (page 235) Nancy has one female age 16 to 26 (Mary) and 1 female age 10 to 16 (Sarah) at home yet.
According to the great granddaughter of Mary Ann Wilkinson, born January 11, 1833, Mary Ann's parents are identified in her death certificate as Moses and Mary A. Forsythe Wilkinson. In the 1820 Washington Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania census (page 121) for Moses Wilkinson, Mary appears in the of 16 and under 26 age group. For Moses in 1830 Washington Township (page 263) and in 1840 Perry Township, Fayette County (page 5) Mary is in an age group where she was born between 1790 and 1800. Only the 1810 (1784-1794) and 1820 (1794-1804) censuses seem at odds. Either Mary is a twin of Ezekial born in 1794 or she is born one side or the other of him. I think if she had been born in approximately 1797 it would have been clear in 1810 that she was in the 10 to 16 age group whereas if she were born in 1793 then it would have been easy to misplace her in the 16-24 age group.
In the 1840 census, there are 9 children enumerated. Glen Swartz in the RootsWeb World Connect database "glen_swartz" states research by Don Shoaf has identified what he feels are 11 children born to Moses and Mary (4 boys, 7 girls), with the first child born about 1817. With that knowledge I estimate they married in about 1815, another reason for suggesting a birth date of 1793. His list includes the last child that was possibly born to Moses and Mary as born in 1847, hence my estimate for her death date of about 1847. Moses died in 1858 (Fayette County, Pennsylvania Wills Book 3, pages 317-318, no. 21).
Know that much of the vital information for Mary is supposition on my part.
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ix.
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Ezekiel Forsythe, Sr., born June 02, 1794 in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; died June 14, 1845 in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; married Mary Ann Bird Abt. 1817-1818 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania; born December 24, 1799 in Pennsylvania; died June 14, 1879 in Perry Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
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Ezekiel is an heir in Thomas' will - "of the rest I do allow ... my son Ezekiel the other half of all My Lands Good and Chattels Each to be Equel shares of all at their Mothers Death and said ... Ezekiel is to pay all the Above Mentioned Legacyes to the rest". From the Forsythe Book "Ezekiel Forsythe, the youngest son of Thomas and Nancy Parker Forsythe, was born June 2, 1794 in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He was raised on the Thomas Fosythe homestead."
The Tyrone Township tax lists show Ezekiel Forsythe in 1814 as "not of age" and 160 acres, in 1815-1817 as single, 160 acres valued at 960, in 1818 160 acres (no longer listed as single), and in 1821-1837 as farmer, 80 acres (from the division of land his father left him by will), plus horses and cattle. This would suggest, along with their first child being born May 5, 1819, Ezekiel was married in late 1817 or early 1818. Ezekiel Forsyth is found in the 1820 Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania census (page 144). The woman age 45 and above is presumed to be his mother Nancy. He is also found in the 1830 Tyrone Township census (page 268) and the 1840 Perry Township census (page 245). Ezekiel died on June 14, 1845, still living on his half of the original Forsythe homestead.
The Forsythe Book states, "In the 1790 Fayette County Federal census, a Samuel Burd is listed as head of a family. But he is not found on either the 1800 or 1810 census. We are not sure if Mary Ann Bird Forsythe was or was not part of the Samuel Burd family." While I did not find Samuel Burd in 1790, I did find Samuel Burd in 1800 Tyrone Township (page 604) and Samuel Bird in 1810 Tyrone Township (page 233). Samuel is not found in Fayette County in 1820, but Samuel Bird with children that seem to fit the right age categories is found in Lackawannock Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania (page 64). It is not known if this is Mary Ann's father, but the census enumerations certainly fit her birth date and location.
In the 1850 Perry Township census (page 262A) Mary Forsythe appears to be living on the 80 acres of the original Forsythe homestead with the census showing real estate with the value of $1,600. She is living next to brother-in-law David Forsythe and has three sons yet at home - Daniel, age 18, Ezkael, age 16, and John, age 10. In the 1860 Perry Township Mary A Forsyeth is shown with real estate valued at $2,000 and son Ezekel, age 22 and laborer, and son John, age 21 and Cropper. She is not found in the 1870 census and her will written August 22, 1872 was proved July 12, 1879 (Fayette County, Pennsylvania Wills Book 5, page 220). Mary Ann as included in the U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedule, 1880. She died June 14, 1879. She and Ezekiel had 5 girls and 6 sons.
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x.
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Sarah/Sally Forsythe, born Abt. 1797-1798 in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; died Unknown.
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Sarah is identified in Thomas' will as Sally - "I do also allow My Daughter Polly One Cow and a Bed and Bedding when she comes of Age and Ten Pounds to be paid in like Manner of the rest (at her Mothers Death)." In the 1800 Tyrone Township Thomas Forsith census (page 605) Sarah is one of the 2 females under the age of 10. In the 1810 Tyrone Township census (page 235) Nancy has one female age 16 to 26 (Mary) and 1 female age 10 to 16 (Sarah) at home yet. With the latter census, Sarah would have been born 1794 to 1800. Her birth date is simply an estimate based on approximate spacing of births of her siblings. No other information is known about this daughter.
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i.
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Mary R. Elder, born Abt. 1789 in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; died October 20, 1842 in Jackson County, Ohio; married Nicholas Anthony Abt. 1808 in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; born February 05, 1786 in Hopewell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey; died June 1864 in Rawles Township, Mills County, Iowa.
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ii.
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Anna D. Elder, born Abt. 1792 in East Buffaloe Township, Notthumberland Co., Pennsylvania; died April 04, 1874 in Milo Township, Delaware County, Iowa; married John Garret Shreck Aft. 1811; born Abt. 1789 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; died June 13, 1857 in Milo Township, Delaware County, Iowa.
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iii.
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Thomas Elder, born about 1794 in Buffaloe Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; died after 1870 in Illinois; married (1) Hannah Semans June 24, 1813 in Ross County, Ohio; born about 1796 in Kentucky; died before August 1859 in Illinois; (2) Catharine Showine August 15, 1859 in Schuyler County, Illinois; born about 1807 in Virginia; died before April 1867 in Schuyler County, Illinois; (3) Mary Elizabeth Daniels April 11, 1867 in Schuyler County, Illinois; born about 1812 in Pennsylvania; died Unknown.
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iv.
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Isabella Elder, born 1796 in Pennsylvania; died Aft. 1880 in Jackson County, Ohio; married Daniel Exline May 03, 1814 in Ross County, Ohio; born 1787 in Virginia; died August 27, 1851 in Jackson County, Ohio.
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v.
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Elizabeth Elder, born March 28, 1800 in Buffaloe Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; died June 16, 1887 in Carroll County, Iowa; married Eli Westfall before 1824 in Jackson County, Ohio; born about 1798 in Virginia; died between July 12, 1870 and 1873 in Stark County, Illinois.
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vi.
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Jane Elder, born about 1804 in Buffaloe Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; died Unknown; married Robert Phillips March 21, 1830 in Jackson County, Ohio; born Unknown; died Unknown.
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136
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vii.
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Robert Elder, Jr., born Abt. 1807 in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; died Aft. 1880; married Rachel McKinnis Bef. 1828 in Jackson County, Ohio.
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viii.
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Lydia Elder, born February 8, 1809 in Buffaloe Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; died January 16, 1885 in Elk Township, Vinton County, Ohio; married (1) Benjamin Stevens November 24, 1831 in Jackson County, Ohio; born May 10, 1810 in Ohio; died between July 30 and August 13, 1850 in Vinton County, Ohio; (2) Jeremiah Mikesell February 13, 1852 in Vinton County, Ohio; born about 1824 in Pennsylvania; died Unknown..
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ix.
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Margaret Elder, born about 1811 in Clinton Township, Jackson County, Ohio; died about 1840 in Jackson County, Ohio; married James Jefferson Anderson about 1828 in Milton Township, Jackson County, Ohio; born 1806 in Clinton Township, Jackson County, Ohio; died between 1845 and 1848 in Jackson County, Ohio.
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x.
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Nancy Ann Elder, born September 22, 1814 in Ohio; died 1891 in Knoxville, Knox County, Illinois; married Elkanah Moore April 18, 1844 in Knox County, Illinois; born January 18, 1812 in Kentucky; died March 24, 1890 in Knoxville, Knox County, Illinois.
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xi.
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Cornelius Dempsey Elder, Sr., born March 28, 1816 in Jackson County, Ohio; died February 11, 1887 in Leavenworth County, Kansas; married Sarah Hueston May 19, 1842 in Jackson County, Ohio; born January 02, 1824 in Ohio; died January 17, 1892 in Leavenworth County, Kansas.
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xii.
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Sarah Elder, born Abt. 1819 in Jackson County, Ohio; died 1858 in Knox County, Illinois; married Zachariah Stevens November 28, 1839 in Jackson County, Ohio; born December 21, 1815 in Ohio; died February 25, 1884 in Vinton County, Ohio.
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288. Stephen Robertson, born Abt. 1775 in Fincastle County, Virginia; died Abt. 1837 in Brown County, Indiana. He was the son of 576. James Robertson. He married (1) Sally Curtain October 4, 1797 in Knox County, Tennessee; born Unknown; died Unknown; (2) 289. Winnie Chitwood May 26, 1800 in Knox County, Tennessee.
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Notes for Stephen Robertson
With Stephen there is as much family oral/written history, if not more, than hard documented facts. Much of the family tradition I will be writing about was recorded by Fred Robertson (1899-1985) and published in December 1956. Those writings offer no sources, so it is assumed the information has come from family sources - stories handed down through the generations, family bibles, etc. This narrative will test the premises presented by Fred's writings and attempt to quote documentation that confirms them. When the British army burned buildings in Washington, D.C. during the War of 1812, Tennessee census records were among those that were lost. Later the East Tennessee counties census records for 1820 were lost. These losses complicate the search for documentation and force us to use other material where available.
Fred writes, "George Robinson was known to have been in the stockade at Booneborough (Kentucky). Margaret Robinson married Alexander Robertson who arrived there in Dec. 1779. With him were James, James Jr., John, Matthew and Wm Robertson. This James Robertson is different from the ones previously mentioned (previously he had spoken of James and James Jr. who arrived in Augusta County in 1737 among others). Tradition implies we are descended from a James Robertson who was living in Fincastle Co. Va. where Stephen Robertson was born about 1775. He (Stephen) came through the Cumberland Gap in Dec. 1779 with the party of Alexander Robertson. Sometime before 1790 they moved to Mercer Co. Ky. near Harrodsburg." According to the book "Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, From 1726 to 1871" by Jos. A. Waddell, 1902; C. J. Carrier Co.; Harrisonburg, VA, reprint 1986; "James Robertson and his son, also named James, came to America from Coleraine, North Ireland, in 1737, and settled in Augusta county. James the younger, died in 1754, and his will is recorded in Will Book No. 2, page 72...The testator left his real estate to his sons George and Alexander...Alexander Robertson...was born November 22, 1748, about a mile from Staunton, it is said, but the distance was probably three or four miles. He married Margaret Robinson, August 18, 1773, in Bedford county...In 1779, Alexander Robertson removed with his family to Kentucky, and settled in Mercer county..." The birth date and location of Stephen is given without source, thus it is assumed this came down through the family or was recorded in some undocumented family bible. This article refutes Fred's document by stating that Alexander married Margaret 6 years earlier, and in Bedford County, Virginia rather than Boonesborough. Also, Margaret's father was William Robinson who drowned in New River in 1765, and not George Robinson. Additionally, the Augusta County article states Alexander moved with his family. Nothing was mentioned about other people, or were the other Robertsons of Fred's narrative extended family? It would have been very uncommon for only the immediate family to have migrated instead of using the protection of a larger group to travel.
It is unclear who the other Robertsons are in Fred's narrative. The narrative does not say that Stephen is related to any of these individuals but one would have to assume so since he would have been only 4 if his birth date of 1775 is correct. On the other hand there may have been a Stephen as a member of this party, but was it our Stephen? A Stephen Roberson was listed in the 1789 Mercer County, Kentucky tax list, but he would have been only 14 assuming he was our Stephen and born in 1775 - too young to be included on a tax list. This Stephen was also impaneled on two Mercer County juries in May 1789. In an August 1789 Mercer County Court John Brown is ordered to pay Stephen Robertson 50 pounds of tobacco for attending two days as a witness for him against Joseph Davis. In August 1793 Stephen was included in a group of men ordered by the court to assist Joseph Thomas with road repairs, on which he was overseer. And in 1795 Steph. Robertson was on the Mercer County tax list of Commissioner Wm. Gaines with property listed as 3 horses and 8 cattle. Stephen was obviously of majority age by 1789 to be on a tax list and be a member of two juries. While this is not our Stephen, could it be an uncle or cousin? The James and James, Jr. of the Augusta County article were both dead by 1779, so they were not the James and James, Jr. of Fred's narrative. Also, neither of the 1737 Jameses are known to have a Stephen in their descendancy. The only 1789 tax list available for Mercer County is incomplete, but the 1795 tax list is complete and contains the following additional Robertsons in the Wm. Gaines district - Alexr. (10 blacks, 7 horses, 29 cattle); Margt. (1 black, 7 cattle); Mich (no property); Sarah (1 horse, 3 cattle). The 1795 tax list for commissioner Gabriel Slaughter has these Robertsons - James (3 blacks, 7 horses, 26 cattle); John (4 horses, 9 cattle); Henry (2 horses, 9 cattle); William (4 blacks, 6 horses, 20 cattle); Alexr. (2 horses, 12 cattle); Joseph (4 horses, 6 cattle); Robert (1 horse); William (6 horses, 37 cattle); William (6 horses, 3 cattle); James (5 horses, 5 cattle). Could the two Jameses in the tax list be James Sr. and James Jr. of Fred's narrative? Could the John and one of the Williams in the tax list be those of Fred's narrative? With such common names there is no way to tell for certain. Where was the Matthew of Fred's narrative? (See James' narrative in the previous generation.) Son Joseph's narrative below references his biography which includes what may be another clue, "The paternal grandfather was during the Revolutionary War obliged to leave his Virginia home and with his wife and eleven children seek shelter from the enemy in a fort." But this statement does not indicate whether the sanctuary fort was in Virginia or Kentucky.
According to Fred, Stephen supposedly lived around the Harrodsburg, Kentucky area until the mid-1790s. Then William Blount, appointed by President George Washington as governor of the newly-created Territory South of the River Ohio, was forming the capitol of the territory at Knoxville, Tennessee, and Stephen went to this vicinity about that time according to family tradition. Knoxville became the capitol of Tennessee when it became a state in 1796. There is a marriage recorded in "Early East Tennessee Marriages", Byron Sistler; Byron Sistler & Associates; Nashville, TN, 1987 between a Stephen Robertson and Sally Curtain on October 4, 1797 in Knox County. It is not certain this is a first marriage for our Stephen, but it is not too likely there were very many Stephen Robertson's in this early wilderness. I include the marriage here, with the understanding it is unproven this is our Stephen. It is not known with certainty whether they had any children. On May 26, 1800 in Knox County, Tennessee Stephen Robertson married Winnie Chitwood (marriage bond between Stephen Roberson and Winney Chitwood with Lazarus Chitwood serving as security).
According to Fred, "In May 1802 they were living on Beaver Creek across the Clinch River east of Oak Ridge Tenn." "Early East Tennessee Taxpayers", Pollyanna Creekmore; Southern Historical Press; Easly, SC; 1980 has Stephen Roberson included on an Anderson County list of taxable property and polls in Captain McCamey's Company for 1802 as 1 free poll with 150 acres on Beaver Creek. According to "Incidents in the Early Settlement of East Tennessee and Knoxville" by Prof. G. H. Stueckrath as published in De Bow's Review, October, 1859, Vol XXVII, pages 407-419, "In February, 1792, Col. Charles McClung surveyed the lots and laid off the town of Knoxville. It excited no particular interest at the time. The whole town was then a thicket of brushwood and grape vines, except a small portion in front of the river, where all the business was done. There never was any regular public sale of lots; Gen. James White sold anybody a lot who would settle on it, and improve it, for eight dollars; and in this way, at this price, the lots were generally disposed of. Gov. Wm. Blount lived on Barbary [sic] Hill, a knoll below College Hill and between it and the river, and the principal settlements in the country were on Beaver creek". According to Goodspeed's "History of Tennessee", 1887, page 50,"...and beyond the ridge is Beaver Creek Valley, which is one of the richest in the country, and was one of the earliest settled. It is divided throughout the middle by Beaver Creek." It is interesting to note that Beaver Creek appears on a map to be just outside the boundary of Anderson County, yet Stephen is enumerated on the Anderson County tax list. Included on this same tax list for 1802 was Lazarus Chitwood (security on Stephen's marriage bond) and brother Pleasant Chitwood, each listed as 1 free poll. Also included on this tax list was William Roberson, 1 free poll, 1 black poll, and with 230 acres on East Fork. It is not known if there was any relationship between Stephen and William.
Fred Robertson wrote "About 1815 they (Stephen, Winnie and family) moved a few miles north to that fractional part of Claiborne Co. which was detached to form part of Campbell Co." Checking maps of that era and how the counties formed and reformed, it would appear they might have settled in an area near the Kentucky state line. It was there in 1817 that the northwest corner of Claiborn County was removed and became the northeast corner of Campbell County. Indeed, according to "Early East Tennessee Tax Lists", Mary Barnett Curtis; Arrow Printing Company; Fort Worth, TX; 1964, Stephen Robertson was on the 1823 Campbell County, Tennessee tax list. Included on this same tax list was Lazarus Robertson, Stephen and Winnie's oldest child. Also named on the same tax list were twelve Chitwoods, including Lazarus, Pleasant, Shadrach, and Daniel - all names used by Stephen and Winnie for some of their children. It is worth noting that Stephen was not listed in the 1818 Campbell County tax list, although according to Fred's narrative he should have been.
Here again it is important to understand the boundary line changes that occurred in the area where the ancestors lived. The current northern Tennessee state line was under dispute the first two decades of the 19th century. The latitude of 36 degrees and 30 minutes north was established by royal charters as the boundary line between the colonies of Virginia and North Carolina. By extension that latitude was to be the line dividing Kentucky (a Virginia possession) and Tennessee (a North Carolina possession). In 1779 a survey team was charged with running this line to the west to physically mark the boundary between Kentucky and Tennessee. The line that was extended to the Tennessee River was called the Walker Line after Dr. Thomas Walker, a survey team member from Virginia. It was found after the fact that due to improper corrections the Walker Line was actually about 12 miles north of the true 36 degree, 30 minutes latitude. Kentucky refused to release claim on this strip of land of 12 miles width, the very area in which Stephen and his family settled. Thus it was not surprising to find Stephen and family and the Chitwoods in Pulaski County, Kentucky during this time frame and not in Tennessee until after a compromise made February 4, 1820 fixed the Tennessee and Kentucky boundary line as we know it today, giving that 12 mile strip to the jurisdiction of Tennessee with the right to issue grants given to Kentucky.
From "The Kentucky Land Grants Vol. I - II"; Willard Rouse Jillson; Filson Club Publications; Louisville, Kentucky, 1925:
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1.
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Lazarus Chitwood
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200 acres
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Roaring Paunch Creek
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Pulaski
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Survey Date 8/13/1813
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Vol. 1, Part 1, page 444
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2.
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William Chitwood
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200 acres
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Roaring Paunch Creek
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Pulaski
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Survey Date 8/18/1813
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Vol. 1, Part 1, page 444
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3.
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James Chitwood
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200 acres
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Roaring Paunch Creek
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Pulaski
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Survey Date 8/18/1813
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Vol. 1, Part 1, page 444
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4.
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Pleasant Chitwood
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200 acres
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Ready Fork Roaring Paunch Creek
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Pulaski
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Survey Date 8/19/1813
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Vol. 1, Part 1, page 444
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5.
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Shadrack Chitwood
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200 acres
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Roaring Paunch Creek
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Pulaski
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Survey Date 11/22/1815
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Vol. 1, Part 1, page 444
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6.
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Pleasant Chitwood
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200 acres
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Roaring Paunch Creek
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Pulaski
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Survey Date 11/23/1815
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Vol. 1, Part 1, page 444
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7.
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Daniel Chitwood
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192 acres
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Roaring Paunch Creek
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Pulaski
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Survey Date 11/23/1815
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Vol. 1, Part 1, page 444
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8.
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James Chitwood
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50 acres
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So. Fork Cumberland River
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Pulaski
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Survey Date 12/5/1815
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Vol. 1, Part 1, page 509
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9.
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Stephen Robertson
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200 acres
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Roaring Pannel Creek *
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Pulaski
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Survey Date 11/23/1818
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Vol. 1, Part 1, page 448
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10.
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Shadrack Chitwood
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200 acres
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Roaring Paunch Creek
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Pulaski
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Survey Date 4/6/1819
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Vol. 1, Part 1, page 509
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11.
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James Chitwood
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50 acres
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Roaring Paunch Creek
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Pulaski
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Survey Date 5/1/1819
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Vol. 1, Part 1, page 509
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12.
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Shadrack Chitwood
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50 acres
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Roaring Paunch Creek
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Pulaski
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Survey Date 5/1/1819
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Vol. 1, Part 1, page 509
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*
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Likely a mistake in transcription. There is no such place as Roaring Pannel Creek and was likely a misinterpretation of Roaring Paunch Creek.
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Roaring Paunch Creek is located in southern Kentucky and into northern Tennessee near the state line and immediately north of Winfield (known as the village of Chitwood during the first 80 years of its existence) in modern day Scott County. During the timeframe of our research this was in Pulaski County, Kentucky until the compromise of 1820 after which it fell in Campbell County, Tennessee. Additionally, Pulaski County borders were different in this timeframe from its modern borders. During this period the county extended all the way south to the Kentucky state line. In addition to this area falling in the 12 mile wide "Walker tract", Stephen's grant was part of the Tellico Grants, (along with those Chitwood grants on the first 7 lines). They apply to lands ceded to the U.S. by the Cherokee Indians under the treaty of 1805. It is likely they worked the land for some time before the survey was done and receiving a grant. This understanding also helps us locate Stephen in an early census (enumerated as Steven), the 1820 Pulaski County, Kentucky census (no township listed) on page 63:
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3 males under 10
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1 male of 10 and under 16
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1 male of 16 and under 18
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2 males of 16 and under 26
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1 male of 26 and under 45
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1 female under 10
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2 females of 10 and under 16
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1 female of 26 and under 45
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This census gets close to putting some substance to another of Fred's statements, "They had thirteen children." This statement likely resulted from son Joseph's biography as noted in his narrative below. This 1820 census identifies 9 children, and there were 3 known sons born after this 1820 census (see comments on Stephen's will below). In this census Stephen's family is listed on line 10 with the following Chitwoods listed on the same page - Jas. Sr. line 6, Shadk Sr. line 8, Lazarus line 9, Danl line 17, Shadk line 18, Pleasant line 21, and Jas. line 22.
Fred Robertson then wrote "Stephen left here (Campbell County, Tennessee) for Indiana in 1828. The family stopped in Ky. (one year) and proceeded to Dubois Co. in Indiana and on to Brown Co. Ind. The earliest record they were in Brown Co. is Dec. 29, 1835 when Stephen and Shadrach patented land in adjoining sections in Jackson Township. Their land had a common boundary." Some of this likely is part of family tradition as there are no records that have been found of their travels. It is true there is a Stephen Robertson in Dubois County, Indiana in the 1830 census (Patoka Township, page 57):
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1 male under 5
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2 males of 20 and under 30
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1 female under 5
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1 female of 10 and under 15
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1 female of 15 and under 20
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1 female of 20 and under 30
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1 female of 50 and under 60
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Assuming one of the males in this household is Stephen, he is much too young to be our Stephen. Additionally, according to the will to follow, there should be three young boys less than 10 in this household. A possible explanation might also be that Stephen, Winnie and some of the family were an advance guard migration to Indiana and that at the time of the 1830 enumeration Winnie and some of her children were at home in Indiana while Stephen went back to Kentucky to fetch the smaller children who were left with the safety of relatives in Kentucky. The older female would be Winnie, but the age grouping of 50 to 60 does not seem right, and is not consistent with the 1840 census (see Winnie's narrative). No land records have been found for Stephen in Dubois County, so it is not known for certain if they settled there or not. There is also a Stephen and family found in 1830 Manchester Township, Dearborn County, Indiana, page 226:
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1 male under 5
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2 males of 5 and under 10
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1 male of 10 and under 15
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1 male of 50 and under 60
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1 female under 5
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1 female of 40 and under 50
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While this family seems to fit the family demographics of our Stephen as we know it from the 1820 census, it does not seem likely that is the case. This family is enumerated as the Stephen Robison family in this township and county in the 1820 census, and we know our Stephen was in Pulaski County, Kentucky at that time. It seems possibly that Stephen and family could have been in transition from Kentucky to Indiana and were not enumerated in the 1830 census.
According to "Federal Land Entries for Brown County, Indiana"; John W. Hamblen, Ph.D. and Sandy Seitz; Brown County Genealogical Society, Inc., 1994, Shadrach and Stephen Robertson each submitted entries for 40 acres of federal land in Township 10N and Range 2E on December 29, 1835 (Federal certificate issued March 20, 1837). This land was immediately east of the then east border of Monroe County, in an area not yet formed into a county. The modern boundaries of Monroe and Brown counties were formed when Brown County was formed April 1, 1836. Shadrach's farm was along the western border of section 25 and Stephen's along the eastern border of section 26, and this was the border their farms shared.
Stephen Robertson's will, dated January 9, 1833, is recorded in Brown County, Indiana Court Docket A. On page 686 of "Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana: Historical and Biographical" by Charles Blanchard;F. A. Battey & Co., Chicago; 1884, "At the November term, 1837, there being no business, court adjourned. During vacation, letters of administration were issued to Banner and Esther Brummet, of the estate of James Brummet, deceased. The will of Stephen Robertson was also filed for record. At the February term, 1838, ... The will of Stephen Robertson was read and admitted to probate. The court then adjourned." In the will he leaves all his property, real and personal, to his beloved wife (not named). Upon her death he named his sons Joseph, John and Daniel as heirs to "share and share alike the amount thus bequethed to my wife". He named his wife and Lazarus Robertson (without naming a relationship) as executors. The 1820 census above identified more than three children. These three were the ones yet at home who had not reached their majority. It is assumed the others had received their inheritance, or were not in need of further assistance as these three young ones would be. Along with the fact that Lazarus was listed along with Stephen in the 1823 Campbell County, Tennessee tax list it would appear that Lazarus was selected as executor because he is the oldest, or at least the oldest child living in Brown County, Indiana. According to Fred, "Stephen died here about 1837. His will was probated January 9, 1838."
Fred's narrative may have been lacking supporting documentation, but over all he was not too far off base on Stephen's Tennessee and Indiana history.
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289. Winnie Chitwood, born Bet. 1780 - 1784 in North Carolina; died likely Bet. 1840 - 1850 in Brown County, Indiana. She was the daughter of 578. James Chitwood and 579. Martha White.
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Notes for Winnie Chitwood
Winnie Chitwood married Stephen Robertson on May 26, 1800 in Knox County, Tennessee. The marriage bond between Stephen Roberson and Winney Chitwood identified Lazarus Chitwood as security. No primary source document has been located that identifies her parentage, but Lazarus serving as the marriage bond security and the proximity of all the Chitwoods and the Stephen Robertson family mentioned in Stephen's narrative lend some credence to James and Martha White Chitwood being her parents. An additional consideration is that Winnie is named after James Chitwood's mother - i.e. her maternal grandmother. Son Joseph's narrative below references his biography which confirms the above relationship by stating his mother was a daughter of James Chitwood. Joseph's biography also identified his mother as Winnie (Webb) Robertson. This notation is typically used to identify maiden names, yet the biography goes ahead to identify her as the daughter of James Chitwood. It can also be used to identify a previous married name, yet no previous marriage has been found yet for Winnie. While some researchers have published her name as Winnie Webb Chitwood, I have chosen not to do so until I find an independent source that confirms or explains this.
Winnie is included in the 1820 Pulaski County, Kentucky census above. She is head of household, and listed as Winna Roberson, in the 1840 Jackson Township, Brown County, Indiana census, page 189:
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1 male of 10 and under 15
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2 males of 15 and under 20
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1 female of 20 and under 30
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1 female of 50 and under 60
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Using the 1820 and 1840 censuses containing Winnie allow us to identify her birth date as sometime between June 2, 1780 and June 1, 1790. Given her marriage to Stephen in 1800 it is most probable she was born around 1780 to 1784. After the 1840 census Winnie is not found in any subsequent censuses. She likely died in Brown County sometime between 1840 and 1850.
Son Joseph's biography below states, "Stephen and Winnie (Webb) Robertson, were the parents of thirteen sons and daughters." The census entries above help us to place most of these children, but leave a couple of questions (see the individual narratives below to see why the named individuals are thought to be their children). According to the 1820 census there are 2 sons in the 16 to 26 age group, one of which is 16 to 18:
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Lazarus born about 1801 (age 19); Robert born about 1803 (age 17).
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There are one male and two females in the 10 to 16 age group, namely:
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Martha born about 1805 (age 15); Shadrach born about 1807 (age 13); Elizabeth born about 1809 (age 11).
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And there are 3 males and 1 female in the under 10 age group, namely:
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Pleasant born about 1814 (age 6); Isaac born about 1817 (age 3); one unknown male; one unknown female.
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In the 1840 Brown County census there are 2 males in the 15 to 20 age group:
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Joseph born about 1822 (age 18); John born about 1825 (age 15).
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There was 1 male in the under 10 to 15 age group:
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Daniel born about 1828 (age 12).
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These latter three sons are the underage sons listed in Stephen's will. The 1840 census for Winney shows a female in an age group consistent with the unknown female in the 1820 census.
The above listings account for 12 children. Review of the 1810 to 1820 timespan shows three spans where a child would fit. There is a good possibility there was a third unknown child in that age group that did not live to be enumerated in the 1820 census. At this time I am uncertain who the 3 unknown children are. Some people have identified the James D. Robertson who married Mary Hardesty in Monroe County, Indiana October 26, 1827 as a son, yet the marriage date would have placed him as age 17 or less at marriage. Additionally, his census entries identify him as born about 1801, which does not fit the census entries for Stephen's family. Some have identified sons Cornelius and Alexander, with no proof other than an article found in "History of Brown County Families" found at the Brown County Historical Society. At this time I have not been able to locate a Cornelius or Alexander that would fit this family and its travels. The book "Descendants of Matthias Chitwood" compiled by I. O. Chitwood, 1986 offers 2 sons Stephen and Thomas, again with no proof. This book offers 3 unnamed daughters among the 6 unnamed childred, the only material I have seen to indicate 3 daughters, but also shows only 10 children. To this point, I have not found a Stephen or Thomas who fit Stephen and Winnie's family profile.
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Children of Stephen Robertson and Winnie Chitwood are:
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144
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i.
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Lazarus Robertson, born Abt. 1801 in likely Anderson County, Tennessee; died March 02, 1847 in Agua Nueva, Mexico; married Jane Leeper Abt. 1821 in Tennessee.
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ii.
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Robert Robertson, born Abt. 1803 in likely Anderson County, Tennessee; died Bet. 1870 - 1880 in Brown County, Indiana; married (1) Susanna Hood Bef. 1825 in likely Campbell County, Tennessee; born Bet. 1805 - 1806 in South Carolina; died Bet. 1860 - 1868 in Brown County, Indiana; married (2) Rebecca Lawler November 26, 1868 in Bartholomew County, Indiana; born March 1811 in South Carolina; died Abt. 1903 in likely Brown County, Indiana.
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Robert was an early inhabitant of Brown County, Indiana. According to "Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana: historical and biographical", Weston A. Goodspeed, Chicago: F.A. Battey & Co., 1884, Robert was seated as a grand juror for the October 1836 session (page 685). At the first meeting of the County Board, in 1836, Robert along with Shadrach and Pleasant were among the inhabitants living along or near the Jackson's Licks & Martinsville road ordered to report to William Davidson to help extend the road northward to Bear Creek (page 735), and in 1839 Robert was one of two appointed Fence Viewers (page 735). Robert purchased 26.39 acres of Federal land in Jackson Township on August 28, 1837, receiving the patent August 1, 1839. On February 9, 1843 Robert purchased 40 acres of Federal land in neighboring Washington Township, receiving the patent May 1, 1845.
In the previous paragraph Robert, Shadrach and Pleasant were identified among a group of men living along or near a certain road and ordered to work on the road. Included among that group were William Robertson and William Robertson, Jr. There were other Robertsons in Jackson Township, Brown County at the same time as Stephen's family. In fact, there was a Susannah Robertson in the 1840 and 1850 Jackson Township censuses and the 1850 census indentifies children born in Tennessee and in the same timeframe as Stephen and Winnie's children. How do I know that Robert is a son of Stephen and Winnie? That is the problem, I don't know for certain. Robert's approximate birth year fits with the other children, most of whom are more confidently identified as their children. There is an amount of uncertainty associated with each child since there are no birth records or similar documents to clearly identify the children. What exists is an article in "Brown County, Indiana: history and families, 1836-1990", Dorothy Birney Bailey; Brown County Historical Society, Turner Publishing Company, Paducah, Kentucky, 1991 (page 205) which names all 13 children but does not point to any source documentation. Likewise, the "Robert Robertson Family Study No. 192", Kenneth J. Reeve and Helen H. Reeve, Brown County Genealogical Society, Inc., Nashville, Indiana, 1998 identifies Robert as son of Stephen and Winnie, but does not state how they know that.
Several of the other children cause the same dilemma, although they often named their children after siblings or Stephen or Winnie. With the uniqueness of a couple of the names (Winnie and Lazarus, for example), the likelihood of parent child relationship is easier to accept. With Robert this does not occur either. I leave Robert as a child for now, largely because the birth year seems to fit and his close proximity in Brown County to Shadrach and Pleasant. In addition to being close to Shadrach and Pleasant, Robert's first land purchase in Brown County, NW of NW of Section 5, Township 9-N, Range 2-E, was adjacent to three plots of land Lazarus purchased and separated by 40 acres from a plot purchased by Isaac. But I leave it open to removing Robert if different evidence should present itself.
Robert and family are found in the 1840 Jackson Township, Brown County census listed as Robert Roberson (page 189). In 1850 they are found in Washington Township, page 201B, and in 1860 (page 58) and again in 1870 (page 376B). Robert and Susannah's children are named Harriet, John, Adelaine, Aaron, Margaret, Perry and Robert, giving no evidence of Stephen, Winnie or sibling names. Perhaps, like Stephen and Winnie did, they named many of their children after Susannah's side. The 1860 census shows Robert with Susannah but the 1870 census shows Robert with Rebecca. According to the "Robert Robertson Family Study No. 192" a crude fieldstone found in Duncan Cemetery engraved "SUSAN ROBINSON" and next to a one with only initials, that could be taken for Robert's. The study goes ahead to say, "As these two stones are positioned close to grave of son Robert E. Robertson and wife, it seems likely these are graves of Robert and Susannah." Robert and wife are not found in the 1880 census. It may be that Robert died prior to 1880. He definitely died before 1900 where Rebecca is identified as mother in the Washington Township, Brown County household of Benjamin F. Sibert (page 90A) and is listed as a widow. Rebecca was first married to Peter Sibert.
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iii.
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Martha Robertson, born July 15, 1805 in likely Anderson County, Tennessee; died December 14, 1868 in Greene County, Indiana; married William Ellis Abt. 1823 - 1824 in likely Campbell County, Tennessee; born September 02, 1803 in Knox County or Campbell County, Tennessee; died September 20, 1878 in Greene County, Indiana.
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Martha is identified as a child of Stephen and Winnie Robertson by way of a biography of one of their children in "History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana"; Goodspeed Bros. and Co., Chicago, 1884. The biography of George W. Ellis, page 375, states in part, "William Ellis, father of the subject of this sketch, was born October 14, 1803, in Tennessee; was married to Martha Robertson, who was born in Georgia (sic), July 13, 1805, a daughter of Stephen and Winnie Robertson, and three years after his marriage emigrated to Brown county, Ind." Additionally, William and Martha had seventeen children, and among their names were son Stephen and daughter Winnie. Their children, as named in the biography, were Elizabeth, James, Winnie, John, Margaret, Sarah, William, Joel, Robert, Martha, Mary, George W., Stephen, Lucy, Rebecca, Nancy and Rhoda.
William's father was Robert Ellis, and Robert's extensive affidavit for a Revolutionary War pension gives a clue as to William's birthplace. "He again volunteered for a seventh and last time to range the frontiers for 12 months, entered the service about the first day of March (1782) or there about...and after serving out 12 months, had a written discharge from said Captain John Norwood early in the spring of 1783. The applicant continued to live in Abbeville District South Carolina a little
upwards of one year after the last period of his service aforesaid and moved to
the state of Georgia Elbert County lived at different places in Georgia about
thirteen years, thence to Knox County Tennessee staid there about six years,
thence to Campbell County Tennessee, staid there thirty years, thence to Morgan
County Tennessee, staid there five years, thence to Greene County Indiana..." Born in 1803, places William's birth late in Robert's stay in Knox County or early in his stay in Campbell County. This also identifies how William and Martha could have met with both living in Campbell County in the early 1820's.
William and Mary likely married about 1823 - 1824 and likely in Campbell County, Tennessee. According to the biography William and Martha emigrated to Brown County, Indiana about 1826 - 1827. Except that Brown County was not created until 1836. The 1830 Monroe County, Indiana shows the William Ellis family on page 169. It is possible that William and Martha led the Robertson migration to Indiana.
The biography states further that William and family settled in Greene County about 1833. William took patents on several tracks - 40 acres with patent issued November 17, 1837; 40 acres with patent issued September 7, 1838; 40 acres with patent issued October 1, 1840; and another 40 acres with patent issued October 1, 1840. The family is listed in the 1840 Greene County census, page 105, the 1850 Stockton Township, Greene County census, page 360B, and the 1860 Stockton Township, Greene County census, page 522. They lived out their lives in Greene County, with Martha dying 10 years prior to William. William then married Arnilla Hester Bays January 1, 1838. Arnilla was 31 years old when they married. William and Martha are buried in Samaria Cemetery near Linton, Greene County, Indiana.
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iv.
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Shadrach Robertson, born May 8, 1807 in likely Anderson County, Tennessee; died March 9, 1869 in Bethany Township, Harrison County, Missouri; married Ferriby/Ferraby Wilson Bef. 1830; born Abt. 1806 in Kentucky; died likely Bet. 1870 - 1880.
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Shadrach first appears in the 1820 census of Stephen's narrative as the male of age 10 and under the age of 16. This would place Shadrach's birth date between August 8, 1804 and August 7, 1810. Shadrach appears to be the second child named after Winnie's siblings, Lazarus being the first. The next appearance of Shadrach is when he and father Stephen purchase government land in what was to become Brown County, Indiana. According to "Federal Land Entries for Brown County, Indiana"; John W. Hamblen, Ph.D. and Sandy Seitz; Brown County Genealogical Society, Inc., 1994, Shadrach and Stephen Robertson each submitted entries for 40 acres of federal land in Township 10N and Range 2E on December 29, 1835 (Federal certificate issued March 20, 1837). This land was immediately east of the then east border of Monroe County, in an area not yet formed into a county. The modern boundaries of Monroe and Brown counties were formed when Brown County was formed April 1, 1836. Shadrach's farm was along the western border of section 25 and Stephen's along the eastern border of section 26, and this was the border their farms shared. In the 1840 census Shadrach is enumerated as Shadrick Roberson (Jackson Township, Brown County, Indiana, page 191) on line 3, between Winna Robertson on line 2 and Isaac Roberson on line 4:
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2 males under 5
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1 male of 5 and under 10
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1 male of 30 and under 40
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2 females under 5
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1 female of 30 and under 40
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Shadrach does not appear in the 1850 Indiana census, but instead is found in 1850 Harrison County, Missouri (27th District, page 441A). In each of the 1850, 1860 and 1870 censuses this family is enumerated as Robinson. Additionally an October 2, 1854 land patent for 83.31 acres in the east half of Lot 2 and the west half of Lot 1 of the NW 1/4 of Section 5 in Township 62 of Range 28 in Harrison County is issued in the name of Shadrach Robinson. Why do I feel this is Stephen's son Shadrach? The 1850 census is as follows:
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Shadrach Robinson |
43 |
M |
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Farmer 100 ---- |
Tennessee |
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Pheriby Robinson |
43 |
F |
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Kentucky |
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Solomon Robinson |
20 |
M |
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Farmer |
Indiana |
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William Robinson |
18 |
M |
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Farmer |
Indiana |
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Millia Robinson |
12 |
F |
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Indiana |
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Stephen Robinson |
10 |
M |
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Indiana |
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Hugh Robinson |
8 |
M |
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Indiana |
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Winny Robinson |
6 |
F |
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Missouri |
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Jeremiah Robinson |
4 |
M |
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Missouri |
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Joseph Robinson |
1 |
M |
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Missouri |
Shadrach is age 43, born approximately 1807, and born in Tennessee, which fits the previous census profiles. Children Stephen and Winny make a stronger case for this being the son on Stephen. Finally, the headstones of Shadrach, Elizabeth and Solomon in Harrison County identify them as Robertson. Son Stephen, who is found in Poweshiek County in 1880, 1900 and 1910, is enumerated at Robertson. Shadrach's situation seems to be another where Robinson and Robertson were used interchangeably.
As seen by son Hugh's birth in Indiana and daughter Winnie's birth in Missouri, the family migrated west circa 1843. The 1850 census shows an age gap between William and Millia. A headstone in Oakland Cemetery (Wheeler Cemetery) in Jefferson Township, Harrison County for Elizabeth Robertson, died July 6, 1847 at age 14, and identified as daughter of Shadrach & F. Robertson explains some of that gap. Son Solomon is buried in the same cemetery with a death date of January 29, 1862, age 30, and also identified as son of Shadrach & F. Robertson. Daughter Winnie married Lyman Sparks and continued to make her home in Harrison County, dying sometime after 1920. Joseph married Mary Elizabeth Holland July 30, 1868 in Harrison County and they moved along with her parents to Chase County, Kansas. Stephen was enumerated in the 1860 Bloomington Township, Buchanan County, Missouri (page 60) where he is listed as Robinson and is single and a farmhand. In this same census brother Solomon is found in the same county enumerated as Robison and is married and a farmhand. Fred Robertson, in his book on the Stephen Robertson family, stated that Moses, Charles and mother Jane Robertson (wife of Lazarus Robertson) went to Missouri about 1873, with the place being possibly St. Joseph (Buchanan County), and returned to Iowa about 1885. The census entries for Jane do not support this statement, but they may have indeed visited there and drawn Stephen north to Iowa with them. Stephen is shown in Sugar Creek Township, Poweshiek County censuses as follows - 1870 as Stephen Robinson on page 397A, 1880 as Stephn Robertson on page 638B, 1900 as Steven H. Robertson on page 178A. In 1910 he is widowed and living in the household of his daughter Hattie in Union Township, page 205A.
Shadrach died March 9, 1869 in Harrison County, Missouri and his headstone in Oakland Cemetery (Wheeler Cemetery), Jefferson Township says he was 61 years, 10 months, 1 day old and the husband of F. Ferriby/Ferraby is found in the 1870 Bethany Township, Harrison County, Missouri census, page 21A, with 2 children living with her - Millie, age 31, and Jeremiah, age 23. After this census Ferriby/Ferraby is not found in any census nor is she shown as buried with Shadrach. She likely went to live with a child and is buried in that location, which is unknown at this time. Fellow Robertson researcher Jeffrey Pierce, put me on to son Stephen located in the 1925 Iowa State census in Oskaloosa City Ward 2, Mahaska County in the home of daughter and son-in-law James and Rose Oliverson. That census entry identifies his father as Chadric Roberts and mother as Pheoba Wilson. Based on the number of instances in Harrison County, Missouri where Shadrach's wife is identified as Ferriby/Ferraby, including the headstones where she is shown as F., I have continued to use that as her given name. With the given name in the 1925 census ending in an "a" and with the lazy way he spelled Shadrach Robertson, I am doubtful he meant Phoebe. I tend to believe he intended something on the order of Ferriby/Ferraby. At least that is the assumption I am going with.
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v.
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Elizabeth Robertson, born January 15, 1809 in likely Anderson County, Tennessee; died December 22, 1867 in Mahaska County, Iowa; married Michael Fleener, Sr. June 07, 1829 in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana; born July 15, 1805 in Sullivan County, Tennessee; died January 1851 in Johnson County, Indiana.
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Elizabeth is one of the females of age 10 and under age 16 in the 1820 Pulaski County, Kentucky census. She was born January 15, 1809 in Tennessee. According to the narrative for her father Stephen, it is likely she was born in Anderson County, Tennessee. She is recorded as having married Michael Fleener June 7, 1829 in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana. Because the Stephen Robertson family started the migration from Tennessee circa 1828 and were in Indiana by 1830, it is possible Elizabeth migrated with them and met Michael after they arrived in Indiana. However, they did not settle in Monroe County upon arrival according to Fred Robertson's narrative. On the other hand sister Martha and husband William were in Monroe County circa 1825, and it is likely Elizabeth went with them.
The Fleener family took a path somewhat similar to the Robertsons, starting in Washington County, Virginia, then migrating to Tennessee, then Kentucky and finally Monroe and Brown Counties, Indiana. "Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana: Historical and Biographical" by Charles Blanchard;F. A. Battey & Co., Chicago; 1884 states on page 735 in the Jackson Township, Brown County section "At the first meeting of the County Board, in 1836, a district was established on the 'Jackson's Licks & Martinsville road,' to extend from the Licks northward to Bear Creek, and William Davidson was appointed Superintendent, and the following 'hands' living along or near the road were ordered to report to him for work: ... Robert Robertson, Shadrach Robertson, Pleasant Robertson, ... Michael Fleener, Aaron Fleener ..." Later on the same page, "The Youngs and the Fleeners were among the very first in the township." It is likely the Fleeners settled in easternmost Monroe County, which fell within the Brown County boundaries when it was formed in 1836.
It is possible the Michael Fleener family in 1830 Monroe County, Indiana census, page 154 is Michael, Elizabeth with their first born child Catherine. Michael and family can not be found in the 1840 census, however it likely is this Michael Fleener who was dealing in land in Harrison County, Missouri in the mid-1840s. He had land grant certificates issued April 1, 1846 for 152.6 acres, June 1, 1846 for 79.69 acres, and June 10, 1848 for 72.12 acres, 80 acres and another for 80 acres. There is a good likelihood this is Michael and Elizabeth for several reasons. Brothers Simon and Samuel Fleener and sister Ary, wife of Allen Hubbard, are all found in Harrison County. We know that Elizabeth's brother, Shadrach, and his family migrated to Harrison County circa 1843. It is possible Michael's family preceded Shadrach's family to Harrison County and may be one of the reasons for Shadrach's family moving there. The 1850 census for Michael and family, found in Hensley Township, Johnson County, Indiana, page 129B shows the following:
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Michael Flenor |
45 |
M |
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Farmer 1000 |
Virginia |
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Elizabeth Flenor |
40 |
F |
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Unknown |
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Samuel Flenor |
18 |
M |
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Laborer |
Indiana |
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John Flenor |
19 |
M |
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Laborer |
Indiana |
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Joseph Flenor |
16 |
M |
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Laborer |
Indiana |
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Hannah Flenor |
14 |
F |
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Indiana |
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Clarinda Flenor |
12 |
F |
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Indiana |
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Mary Ann Flenor |
10 |
F |
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Missouri |
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Winney Flenor |
7 |
F |
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Missouri |
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Jane Flenor |
6 |
F |
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Missouri |
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Michael Flenor |
4 |
M |
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Missouri |
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Pleasant Flenor |
1 |
F |
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Indiana |
The birth of Mary Ann in Missouri circa 1840 seems to indicate the Fleener family arrived in Missouri before Shadrach's family and helps to explain how they were missed in the 1840 census. According to "History of Poweshiek County Iowa, Vol 1" by Prof. L. F. Parker; S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago; 1911, page 280, "Samuel Fleener was one of a large family of children who came to Sugar Creek township in 1851. The brothers coming here at that time were, John, Joseph, Michael, Pleasant, and Samuel. Their father, Michael Fleener, came through the county prior to 1850, and entered land here. Going from here to Missouri he died soon after. In 1851 the widow and her family, consisting of five sons and six daughters, came and occupied the land."
As evidenced by the birth of Pleasant circa 1849 in Indiana, Michael's family were back in Johnson County, Indiana by 1850. Michael's will, dated August 1, 1850, and recorded in Book A, page 200, Will Record of Johnson County, Indiana shows him to be in poor health. The will had several conditions placed on his widow related to use/sale of the property in Johnson County. The clause that ended up being invoked reads "...or if the family should remove to the West, that the money be laid out for land for the benefit of my children with the exception of six hundred dollars of which shall be laid out for a farm for the benefit of my wife as provided for in item the first of this my will." Johnson County probate states that Michael died testate in 1851 and on February 3, 1851 Comma R. Ragsdale was appointed executor. He sold the Johnson County land and purchased land in Poweshiek County and Mahaska County, Iowa for use of the widow and the children.
A couple of the children ran afoul of the law during the stay in Poweshiek County. Again according to "History of Poweshiek County Iowa, Vol 1", page 190-192, "The year 1864 was the most anxious period of the Civil war after its first year closed. It was the year when Clement L. Vallandingham made his most desperate effort to multiply the members of that many named society often call 'The Knights of the Golden Circle,' and the year of its greatest success. Its plan was to enroll as many as possible, to dissuade from enlistments in the Union army, to resist a draft and to be ready when the opportune time should come, and they were thoroughly prepared to attack the prisons in which Confederates were confined in the north, to set the prisoners at liberty, to place arms in their hands, and begin a war in the north with such a force that a peace would soon be conquered. When the public mind was most fevered in this county in 1864, a draft was ordered here. Captain Mathews was made provost marshal and put in charge of the draft for this district and Grinnell was his headquarters...Some who were drafted from Sugar Creek township and vicinity failed to report. Captain Mathews sent out two deputies - Captain John L. Bashore of Appanoose county, and Josiah M. Woodruff of Marion county, to notify them that they were desired to report at the marshal's office a few days later..." After some inquiries in the area and the deputy marshals had competed their mission as far as possible they started for home. They encountered some of the draft evaders and "some conversation occurred between the two parties. Satisfied that they were in no friendly mood and that trouble was brewing, Bashore sprang out of the buggy to explain their errand, a simple invitation to those drafted to report at Grinnell in three days. Soon the Fleeners (John and Joseph) and Gleason began to fire upon them. Woodruff was shot through the head and died immediateloy. Bashore was shot in the back and was able to give his account of the fray before he died. The Fleeners fled quickly, leaving Gleason on the ground with a broken hip...Gleason sometimes confessed and sometimes denied having a part in the attack. The Fleeners fled from the state to Missouri and returned only somewhat recently (1911)...The Fleeners left property in Sugar Creek. After a time some of the heirs of John Fleener insisted that he was dead and secured the appointment of Joel G. Hambleton as administrator. The other heirs furnished evidence before the property was divided that he was living, and nothing further was done as to the property."
Elizabeth appears in the 1860 Sugar Creek Township, Poweshiek County census page 485. This show the last child of she and Michael who was born after the 1850 census was taken. Shown two pages away is nephew William Riley Robertson living next to son Samuel Fleener. Elizabeth died December 22, 1867 and is buried in Stewart Cemetery, Prairie Township, Mahaska County, Iowa.
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vi.
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Unknown Robertson, born Bet. 1809 - 1814 in Tennessee; died Unknown.
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According to the 1820 Pulaski County, Kentucky census Stephen and Winnie had 3 males and 1 female in the under 10 age group. Two males were accounted for in the names of Pleasant and Isaac. That leaves one male and one female that at this time are unknown. This "placeholder" is meant to account for one of these unknown children. Because Joseph's narrative below states there were 13 children of Stephen and Winnie I have included 3 placeholders in what appear to be gaps in the somewhat natural progression of births.
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vii.
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Pleasant Emanuel Robertson, born April 30, 1814 in Anderson County, Tennessee; died November 20, 1873 in Monroe County, Indiana; married Mary McCoy June 26, 1834 in Monroe County, Indiana; born April 21, 1808 in Tennessee; died November 15, 1873 in Monroe County, Indiana.
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Pleasant appears to be yet another child named after one of Winnie's siblings. Gene Robertson, a direct descendant of Pleasant, confirms Pleasant as a son of Stephen and Winnie and also confirms his birth date as April 30, 1814 and his birth location as Anderson County, Tennessee. Applying this to Fred's Robertson narrative, this would likely place Pleasant as the last child born in Anderson County before the family moved to Campbell County. When Stephen's family moved from Tennessee in 1828 Pleasant would have been just 14 years old. As the family began settlement in Brown County, Indiana circa 1835 Pleasant would have been 21 years old and among the Robertsons recognized as an early settler. "Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana: Historical and Biographical" by Charles Blanchard;F. A. Battey & Co., Chicago; 1884 states on page 735 in the Jackson Township, Brown County section "At the first meeting of the County Board, in 1836, a district was established on the 'Jackson's Licks & Martinsville road,' to extend from the Licks northward to Bear Creek, and William Davidson was appointed Superintendent, and the following 'hands' living along or near the road were ordered to report to him for work: ... Robert Robertson, Shadrach Robertson, Pleasant Robertson, ... Michael Fleener, Aaron Fleener ..."
Pleasant married Mary McCoy in 1834 in neighboring Monroe County and their first child, William A., was born in Monroe County on November 4, 1834. But it appears from the above quote they spent some of the first couple of years of married life in Brown County. By early 1837 (delivery of federal certificate August 2, 1838) Pleasant had patented 40 acres of land in the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 9 of Range 1-E Township 9-N (Monroe County, Benton Township). On May 10, 1848 a federal patent certificate was issued to Pleasant for the adjacent 40 acres to the west of the first purchase (SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 9). On December 1, 1849 a federal patent certificate was issued to Pleasant Roberson for the adjacent 40 acres to the east of the first purchase (SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 10). The last federal patent certificate shown for Pleasant Robertson was issued January 3, 1855 for the 40 acres of the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 10.
Pleasant and Mary spent the rest of their lives in Benton Township, birthing 9 children in the process. They are buried in Unionville Cemetery in Benton Township.
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viii.
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Unknown Robertson, born Bet. 1814 - 1817 in Tennessee; died Unknown.
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According to the 1820 Pulaski County, Kentucky census Stephen and Winnie had 3 males and 1 female in the under 10 age group. Two males were accounted for in the names of Pleasant and Isaac. That leaves one male and one female that at this time are unknown. This "placeholder" is meant to account for one of these unknown children. Because Joseph's narrative below states there were 13 children of Stephen and Winnie I have included 3 placeholders in what appear to be gaps in the somewhat natural progression of births.
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ix.
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Isaac Robertson, born March 17, 1817 in likely Campbell County, Tennessee; died December 18, 1876 in Pike County, Illinois; married Lucy Robertson April 11, 1836 in Brown County, Indiana; born January 15, 1805 in Tennessee; died October 15, 1870 in Pike County, Illinois.
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Isaac appears to be one of the males in the 1820 Pulaski County, Kentucky census who is under the age of 10. Isaac next appears in the 1840 Jackson Township, Brown County, Indiana census on page 191. He is shown on line 4, enumerated as Isaac Roberson, with Winna Roberson on line 2 and Shadrick Roberson on line 3. Isaac married Lucy Robertson (no known relation) in Brown County, Indiana April 11, 1836. A December 14, 1857 Brown County Circuit court case helps to identify Lucy's parentage - Box 35, file 36 summary "Eliza G. Parsley vs. Shadrack Chandler and Ursuly Chandler and others being: Daniel, Isaac, Lucy, and Louisa Robertson, Lewis Brummett and Levina Brummett, all heirs of Mitchell Robertson. Land left to him and his brother, Joseph Robertson, by Joseph Robertson, deceased, others mentioned were James Shelton and wife Olly, and Robert Robertson." Thanks to Chandler researcher Gregory Nutt for providing this summary. Joseph (listed as Joseph Roberson) patented 40 acres in section 24 of Jackson township on August 1, 1835 (federal certificate delivered March 20, 1837) and patented another 40 acres in section 24 on May 16, 1837 (federal certificate delivered August 1, 1839). Mitchell's widow, Susannah, is shown on the last line of page 190 of the 1840 Jackson Township census, 2 lines away from Winna Roberson. In 1850 Susannah is shown on page 209B of Jackson Township and among the children living with her is Vina (Lavina), the future wife of Lewis Brummett. Gregory states that Ursuly's (Ursula) maiden name was Robertson.
Isaac Robertson patented 40 acres in the NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 32 of Jackson Township on March 6, 1841 (federal certificate delivered August 1, 1842) and another 40 acres in the SW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 33 of Jackson Township on May 11, 1850 (federal certificate delivered December 10, 1850). Isaac and family are shown in the 1850 Jackson Township census, page 208B and included among the 6 children are James, Winney and Pleasant. By 1860 Isaac and his family are found in Hadley Township, Pike County, Illinois (census page 927). Again the census identifies 6 children - Mary, James, Joseph, Cynthia, Winny, and Pleasant. But the 1870 census, while showing Isaac and Lucy yet in Pike County (Barry Township, page 269B), also shows two new children who were not shown in the 1860 census - John, age 19, born in Indiana and Susan, age 18, born in Illinois.&nbps; Why were they not enumerated in the 1860 census? With John born in Indiana and Susan born in Illinois, this seems to identify their migration to Illinois as late 1851 to early 1852. This seems to be corrobated by a notation in "Historical Sketches of Cass County, Illinois, Vol. 1" by J. N. Gridley; Virginia Enquirer Publisher; Virginia, Illinois, 1907, "Between the years 1851 and 1855 the subject of this sketch (Logan Proctor) knocked about, ... , and, with Joseph and Isaac Robertson, run a threshing machine." Cass County is just a little north and east of Pike County. If this is the same Isaac, then it seems to corroborate the timing of their arrival in Illinois.
Lucy died October 15, 1870 and is buried in Old Kinderhook Cemetery, Kinderhook Township, Pike County, Illinois. Isaac married widow Isabelle (Layne) Hixson on March 1, 1874 in Pike County. Isaac was nearly 57 years old while Isabelle was just 34 years old. Isaac and Isabelle had twin sons, Fred and Frank, born in 1875. Isaac died December 18, 1876 and is buried beside Lucy.
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x.
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Unknown Robertson, born Bet. 1817 - 1822 in Tennessee; died Unknown.
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According to the 1820 Pulaski County, Kentucky census Stephen and Winnie had 3 males and 1 female in the under 10 age group. Two males were accounted for in the names of Pleasant and Isaac. That leaves one male and one female that at this time are unknown. This "placeholder" is meant to account for one of these unknown children. Because Joseph's narrative below states there were 13 children of Stephen and Winnie I have included 3 placeholders in what appear to be gaps in the somewhat natural progression of births.
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xi.
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Joseph Robertson, born May 28, 1822 in Campbell County, Tennessee; died April 12, 1901 in at home in Sugar Creek Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa; married Eliza Ann Whitney April 23, 1848 in Brown County, Indiana; born October 01, 1827 in Brown County, Ohio; died August 24, 1865 in Sugar Creek Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa.
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Joseph is clearly a child of Stephen and Winnie based on his name being included in Stephen's will. Joseph was under age when his father died, thus Stephen's desire to make sure he was taken care of. According to "Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson, Poweshiek and Iowa Counties Iowa"; Chapman Bros., Chicago; 1893, "Our subject is a native of Campbell County, Tenn., where he was born in 1822...The father and mother, Stephen and Winnie (Webb) Robertson, were the parents of thirteen sons and daughters. Stephen Robertson was a native of Virginia, and was born about 1775. The paternal grandfather was during the Revolutionary War obliged to leave his Virginia home and with his wife and eleven children seek shelter from the enemy in a fort. The mother of our subject was a daughter of James Chitwood, a native of North Carolina, and the son of Irish parents."
Joseph came of age in Brown County, and when the Mexican War broke out he joined his brother Lazarus in volunteering as one of the Brown County Blues. According to "History of Poweshiek County"; Union Historical Co., Des Moines; 1880, page 690, "His regiment was made up at New Albany, Indiana, from which place it went to New Orleans, and from there to Santiago. He participated in the battle of Buena Vista, where he received a shot under the left arm from a spent-ball which, however, had not force enought to penetrate. At the close of the Mexican War he returned to his home, where he continued to live until 1850, when he removed with his young family and settled on the land where he now resides on the 18th of May, which land Uncle Samuel gave him for the services rendered in Mexico, and which is now a splendid farm in the valley of the Skunk River." After returning to Brown County he married April 23, 1848 to Eliza Whitney and this union produced 10 children. Joseph went to Poweshiek County shortly after the marriage in the company of Charles G. Adams, his captain during the war, to locate their land warrants which they received as bounty upon enlistment. "On October 27, 1848, Joseph Robertson entered forty acres in section 25, forty acres in section 35, and the southeast quarter of section 36 (Sugar Creek Township)." as reported in "History of Poweshiek County Iowa, Vol 1" by Prof. L. F. Parker; S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago; 1911, page 273. With his warrant thus committed he and his wife left Brown County and went in 1849 to Wapello County, Iowa, and in 1850 went on to Poweshiek County. When they settled in Sugar Creek Township there were only three families living in the township, namely John and James McDowell and William English. The first marriage within the present limits of Sugar Creek Township was that of Andrew Haffin and Elizabeth Bird, Jospeh Robertson, justice of the peace, performing the ceremony, October 3, 1851.
According to Joseph's sworn deposition in support of his Mexican War pension request, Eliza died August 24, 1865 in Mount Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa and is buried in Mill Grove Cemetery, Sugar Creek Township, Poweshiek County. Joseph lived out his life on the land he settled in Poweshiek County and was buried April 14, 1901 in the same Mill Grove Cemetery next to Eliza. One of the ministers officiating at his funeral was William Parker Robertson (Quaker minister), grandson of Joseph's brother Lazarus.
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xii.
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John Robertson, born Abt. January 1825 in likely Campbell County, Tennessee; died Aft. 1900; married Malinda McCoy December 21, 1848 in Brown County, Indiana; born Abt. 1829 in Tennessee; died Bet. 1880 - 1900.
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We know of John as a son of Stephen and Winnie because he is listed in Stephen's will. He is one of the sons at home with Winna Roberson in the 1840 Jackson Township, Brown County, Indiana census. John is not to be found in the 1850 Brown County census, yet we know he was in the area for a couple of reasons. John enlisted for service in the Mexican War along with brothers Lazarus and Joseph. John was mustered in June 18, 1846 at New Albany, Indiana by Colonel Samuel Churchill as a private in Company E, 3rd regiment from Brown County - the Brown County Blues. He was mustered out June 24, 1847 at New Orleans, Louisiana by Colonel Samuel Churchill. Also, John patented some plots in Brown County after returning from the war. John patented 40 acres in the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 34 of Township 10 in Range 2E on December 8, 1847 (federal certificate issued on March 20, 1849). This may be land that was issued by warrant for his service in the war. Another plot of 40 acres in the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 24 of Township 24 in Range 1E was patented January 7, 1853 (federal certificate issued August 1, 1853). And lastly, John married Malinda McCoy in Brown County on December 21, 1848.
John and family are found in the 1860 Jackson Township, Brown County census on page 148, enumerated as John Roberson. He is shown as age 31 and born in Tennessee. This age does not match his approximate birth date, but his wife is Malinda, also age 31 and born in Tennessee and they are located 3 households away from her parents, Cornelius and Elsa (Ailcy, Aisley) McCoy who are found on page 149. Later census entries show his age consistent with an 1825 birthdate. They are shown with son Cornelius, age 11 and named after Malinda's father, Winna, age 8 and named after John's mother, Joseph, age 5 and likely named after his brother, and Pleasant, age 5 months and also likely named after his brother. By 1870 the family is found in Greene County, Indiana where sister Martha (Mrs. William Ellis) is located. The family is enumerated on page 492B and now includes son Lewis, named after a brother of Malinda, duaghter Ailsie, named after Malinda's mother, and son Simson (Simpson?, Sampson?). In this census John is now shown as 45 years old and Malinda is age 42. By 1880 John and Malina are found in Duck Creek Township, Stoddard County, Missouri, page 677A, with Lewis, Alsa I., and Sanson still at home. By 1900 John is found in neighboring Butler County, Missouri (Beaver Dam Township, page 41A). He is listed as a widower, age 75, born January 1825, and living in the home of his daughter Elsie Parker, a widow. He was not found in the 1910 census.
The death locations and cemetery locations for John and Malinda have not yet been found.
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xiii.
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Daniel Robertson, born Abt. July 1828 in likely Campbell County, Tennessee; died Aft. 1900; married (1) Margaret Keith November 19, 1847 in Brown County, Indiana; born Bef. 1830 in Ohio; died Unknown; married (2) Margaret ?; born Abt. December 1837 in Tennessee; died Aft. 1900.
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Daniel was the youngest child of Stephen and Winnie. Placing his birth as July 1828 would suggest that Stephen and Winnie waited until their crops were harvested before setting out for Kentucky on their way to Indiana. He was the third son named in Stephen's will and was one of the children in the Winna Roberson family in 1840 Jackson Township, Brown County. It is possible he is named after another of Winnie's brothers. Daniel married in November 1847 and on December 8, 1847 he patented 2 - 40 acre plots at the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 and the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 33 of Township 10 of Range 2E (federal certificate delivered March 20, 1849). These two tracts of land were adjoining the west boundary of the plot brother John also patented on December 8, 1847. However, by 1850 Daniel, Margaret and their two children, Lazarus and John (named after two of his brothers), were in Hensley Township of neighboring Johnson County, page 129B, next to his sister and brother-in-law, Michael and Elizabeth Robertson Flenor:
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Daniel Robison |
22 |
M |
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Laborer |
Tennessee |
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Margaret Robison |
23 |
F |
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Ohio |
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Lazarus Robison |
2 |
M |
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Indiana |
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John Robison |
1 |
M |
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Indiana |
What happened to the land he patented in Brown County? This seems to start a string of census entries where Daniel appears to be an iterant laborer. Also note that Margaret is born in Ohio and is one year older than Daniel in this census. The following census entries for this family do not seem to agree with this entry. Either there was some really sloppy census taking, or Daniel married a second time and to another Margaret. I have gone with the second supposition, knowing that I have not been able to prove this yet. Daniel and his family next appear in Bethany Township, Harrison County, Missouri, page 641, where brother Shadrach is located:
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Daniel Robertson |
31 |
M |
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Day laborer |
Tennessee |
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Margaret Robertson |
23 |
F |
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Tennessee |
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Nancy Robertson |
7 |
F |
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Indiana |
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Isaac Robertson |
5 |
M |
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Missouri |
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James Robertson |
2 |
M |
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Missouri |
Daniel's entry looks very consistent with the 1850 census entry, however his wife's entry is considerably different. Margaret is the same age in this census as she was in the 1850 census, but that would not be possible. That would mean she was 11 years old when they married in 1847. Also, her birth state is now Tennessee whereas it was Ohio in the 1850 census. Where are sons Lazarus and John? At first appearance these would not appear to be the same family, and indeed they are likely not, except for the common factor of Daniel. They are not to be found in the 1870 census, but appear again in the 1880 census of Harrison Township, Daviess County, Missouri, page 119A (next county south of Harrison County) and enumerated as Daniel Robinson.
In the 1880 census, some sloppy census enumeration does appear in the form of ages that do not agree with the previous census entries. Daniel should be 51/52, but is shown as 54. Margaret should be about 43, but is shown as 48. Nancy is still in the household and should be about 27, but is listed as 24. James should be about 22 and is listed as 20. New children with this census include Steven, age 18, William, age 15, Caroline, age 13, Eliza J., age 11, Daniel, age 8, and George, age 5. It is possible Steven and James, along with the Isaac of the 1860 census, are names from Daniel's lineage. It is still not clear what has transpired with this family, but the 1900 census of Shoal Township, Clinton County, Missouri, page 164A (Clinton County being slightly southwest of Daviess County) provides some additional information:
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Daniel Robertson |
M |
July 1828 |
71 |
47 |
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9 7 |
No occupation |
Tennessee |
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Margaret Robertson |
F |
Dec 1837 |
62 |
47 |
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Tennessee |
This latter census is more consistent with the 1860 census regarding age and birth locations. Interestingly the 47 years identifies how long they have been married, which seems consistent with Nancy's birth about 1853 in Indiana. Also, the number of children in the 1880 census is 8, with Isaac from the 1860 census making 9 children. Margaret's entry shows she had 9 children with 7 still living in 1900. My supposition is that Daniel's first marriage to Margaret Keith ended with the death of wife and his two children, or a divorce where Margaret ended up taking the two sons. I have not been able to locate Margaret, Lazarus or John after the 1850 census entry, which is why I am leaning toward death at this time. Daniel and the second Margaret married circa 1852-1853, had a child in 1853, and moved to Missouri sometime shortly after. This would be consistent with Michael Fleener dying in 1851 and then Elizabeth moving to Iowa shortly after. Sometime shortly after that Daniel and his new family moved to join up with Shadrach in Missouri. This seems to be a plausible explanation to me, albeit unproven.
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