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Aug.27,2010Originally posted at http://sites.google.com/site/descendantsofcorneliusroberts/fsdbhdj
13 Aug 2010
Col. James Robert’s Tories were active on the NW side of the Blue Ridge in the Ashe Co., NC area according to Col. Richard Allen’s pension claims. By family associations it has been suggested that Cornelius Roberts (Neal Roberts) is the son or brother of this man, but this is far from proven. James is also likely to be the father of Happy Roberts who married William Riddle and William Roberts who also appeared on the William Herbert 1774 militia accounts. A James Roberts appears in the area northwest of today’s Martinsville, Henry Co., Virginia, by 1753 and in the late 1760s he is joined by a John and Cornelius. James Roberts may be the man who served at the Battle of Point Pleasant under William Campbell.
On 5 July 1776 the land of James Roberts in Montgomery Co., Virginia was confiscated and sold because he had taken up arms with the British. In 1779 his land in Surry Co., NC was also confiscated by act of the legislature in New Bern.
Benjamin Phipps pension app: ” about the year 1779 or 80 he [Phipps] was engaged in making a crop of corn, when Colonel Roberts, at the head of a company of Tories, came there [to Capt. John Cox’s] and made prisoners of him and William Craig and Beverly Watkins. The Tories carred him to the British Army commanded by Lord Rogers…”
David Cox pension app: “Sometime after this affair a certain Captain Roberts of the Tory party came into the neighborhood with a company of –, and this declarant with Major Love pursued them into — near the head of New River, determined to overtake them but Capt. Baker of North Carolina heard of them and his party overtook, wounded or killed the whole party except Roberts their captain who made good his escape…”
George Morris Esq. – an old Whig on New River: “When friends and neighbors collected and pursued them to one Capt. Patrick John – near where the town of Jefferson now stands where they overtook them committing outrages on the old Captain – they had but a bridel rein around his neck and were leading him out of his gate to hang him when the Whigs came up – fixed on them – killed two of the English – wounded the other – took him prisoner – and Capt. Roberts and the other Tory narrowly escaped.”
In the Draper manuscripts, “Roberts was on his route to Ninety-Six with about 20 men though he did not come with him. Col. Roberts was passing through [now] Ashe County and passed by Benj. Cuthbirth’s and robbed his 5 valuable horses. I think this was 1781. Some time after this Capt. James Roberts, son of Col. Roberts passed through Ashe on the same trail that had been traveled by Col. Roberts. The Captain had but 4 men besides himself, one Tory and 3 British soldiers.”
Capt. James Roberts (son of Col. Roberts) is thought to be the same man who later settles on the Clinch, in what is now Lee Co., Virginia and who raises some of William Riddle’s children. In the 1791 tax list for the lower district of Russell Co., VA (became Lee County) are Joseph and William Ingrahm (m. Happy Roberts [or Rogers] Riddle), James Fulkerson (who lived near James Roberts in Pittsylvania [now Henry] Co., VA and sold land to him in Surry Co., NC), Williamson Roberts, John Rice, George Roberts, Philip Roberts, James Roberts (the Capt.), Thomas Rogers, Aaron Roberts, Doswell Rogers, Thomas Rogers Sr., a second Doswell Rogers, William Tate, John Tate, and the Waller/Wallens: Lewis, Elisha, Thomas, John and William.
Source for much of the facts above: Rodney Veitschegger; replies to a question of mine of Roberts Genforum; Mary E.V. Hill (Riddle Newsletter)
Roberts, Neal
Time-line for Cornelius “Neal” Roberts:
Born before 1746 in Halifax Co., VA, possibly a son of the Tory leader, Col. James Roberts (speculative).
1767 Acquired 400 acres in what is now Henry Co., VA. By 1769 he had a survey of 798 acres along a fork of Reedy or Reed Creek called Grassy Fork or Solomons Branch or Glady fork. Listed as Neel Roberts a tithable to Peter Copland Gent. In Pittsylvania (now northern Henry) Co., VA. In 1769 he had another 398 acres or 798 acres total. Another 800 acres were surveyed off Beaver Creek. This land is northwest of Martinsville. John and James Roberts are in the same area and James’ name first appears in 1753. 1771 – on records of Botetourt Co., VA, living on Beaver Dam Fork of Elk Creek in what is now Grayson Co., VA 1772, 1773 – on records of Fincastle Co., VA after it was formed from Botetourt 1774 Served 29 days under Lieut. John Cox, Daniel Boone and Capt. David Looney in Lord Dunmore’s War: They were left behind to guard the frontier he did not make the march to Point Pleasant with Col. Herbert’s men. June 15 1776 “Roberts with Tories on Elk Creek” (Wm Preston to Edmund Pendleton referring to Col. Or Capt. James Roberts I presume.) 1780 Montgomery Co., VA court record: property confiscated for Tory activities ordered returned due to lack of evidence of participation in the Tory militias. He may have been a member of the Elk Creek militia, but I do not find him on the militia musters (there is a John and James Roberts on the Elk Creek militia muster rolls). 1782 owned 150 acres, Montgomery Co., VA (now Grayson) 1782 Montgomery Co., VA personal tax list: 1 tithe, 0 slaves, 6 horses, 8 cattle
1783 Moved to Russell Co., VA, owned 352 acres along a tributary of the Clinch River.
1787 Sells the 352 acres and buys 200 acres on the Clinch River, also in Russell County. 1788 Killed and scalped by Cherokees, possibly led by Robert Benge on Black Mountain along the border of Lee Co., VA and Harlan Co., KY while digging ginseng.
Cornelius married Mary Benton about 1767 (perhaps a daughter of Sam Benton, her second husband was Rev. Frost. See also William Vaughan below who may have married a sister of hers). Their children: Mary 1768 m. Shadrack Monk (daughter Rhoda married Joseph Riddle), Elizabeth 1770 (d. 1833 Letcher Co., KY m. Abraham Childress, son of John Childress and Rachel Perkins), James 1772 (d. 1858 Pike Co., KY m. Nancy Damron — daughter of Moses Damron and Aggie Owl), Nathan 1774 (m. Abigail Bishop in Knox Co., TN), Amelia 1775 (d. Walker Co., AL m. Edward Frost), Jesse about 1776 (d. 1857 Taylor Co., KY m. Mary Ann Simpson Skaggs), Daniel 1777 (d. 1846 Winston Co., MS m. Elizabeth Kiser), Susanna about 1779 (m. Lot Litteral), Sinai 1781 (d. 1874 Marion Co., TN m. Peter Anderson), Archibald 1784 (d. 1860, Wabash Co., IL, m. (1) Mary Thorpe, (2) Sarah Pennington in Cumberland Co., KY); Isaac 1786 (d. 1839 Caldwell, TX m. (1) Ann Enyart, (2) Rhoda); Mourning 1788 (d. 1866 Jackson Co., AL, m. Jacob Tally 1808). All children were born in Virginia.
Source: Derek Gilbert (Worldconnect); http://mkhgenealogy.com/Roberts/ (Mary K. Harris); New River Notes tax lists and militia musters; Jodie Necaise, Roberts Genforum #14436, Teresa Carlson # 14355, Mary E.V. Hill, Riddle Newsletter Vol 4, Issue 1, December 1997.
Roberts, William
William is probably a brother of Cornelius Roberts and more doubtfully a son of the notorious Capt. James Roberts (Tory leader). He shared an 1780 court venue with Cornelius
He is the William Roberts born about 1744 in old Lunenburg Co., VA who married Elizabeth “Betsy” Walling, daughter of Elisha Wallen and Mary Blevins.
1774: William was among those diverted to Capt. Looney’s company on the Clinch and did not fight at Point Pleasant. Instead he was with Capt Looney, Lieut. Daniel Boone and Lieut. John Cox guarding the Clinch frontier.
1780 Montgomery Co., VA court session: George Reeves, James Howell, William Roberts, Neal Roberts, Moses Johnson, Richard Green, Richard Wright, Clem Lee and George Herd were restored their property for lack of evidence that they actively fought against the government.
1782 Montgomery Co., VA personal tax list: 1 tithe, 0 slaves, 12 horses, 13 cattle
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Some more information on this from http://www.vaughanpioneers.freeservers.com/Ancestry.htm
DOSWELL ROGERS, who in 1812 gave deposition concerning the deaths of the
Benton brothers, had been a Smith River neighbor back in Pittsylvania
(now Henry) County, Virginia. His account definitely ties the Bentons
to the 1761 Long Hunt when he states: “The Wallens, Bentons, William
Roberts and others named these streams as they went through hunting
lands.” It has been documented that these streams were named back in
1761.
Doswell Rogers also names William Roberts as a member of the hunting
party. William Roberts, from the old Smith River neighborhood, was the
brother of CORNELIUS ROBERTS (b. ca. 1749) who married MARY BENTON abt.
1766-1767. Mary Benton was a daughter of one of the Dan River Bentons
and could have been a half-sister or half-cousin of our Fereby Benton.
Cornelius Roberts lived near WILLIAM and FEREBY (BENTON) VAUGHAN in
Russell County, Virginia. He was killed by Indians on Black Mountain,
in June of 1788. For an account of his death, see
http://www.rootsweb.com/~varussel/indian/77.html
CORNELIUS (NEIL) ROBERTS was a person of particular interest to our
search. He married MARY “POLLY” BENTON, a possible daughter of one of
the Dan River, North Carolina, Bentons. They settled in the same
general area as our WILLIAM VAUGHAN and FEREBY BENTON in Russell County,
Virginia. Eddie Davis acquired the Roberts family records of Eleanor
Sue Holmes, and I wanted to see what comes up if we glean from those and
merge with a few land records.
CORNELIUS (NEIL) ROBERTS
Born: abt. 1749, Virginia – probable son of James Roberts of
Snow Creek, present Franklin County, Virginia
Brothers of Cornelius: WILLIAM ROBERTS, Long Hunter;
Abner Roberts, and Isaac Roberts
Died: June 1788 (Killed by Indians on Black Mountain)
Married: MARY “POLLY” BENTON – abt. 1766-1767, Pittsylvania (now Henry) County, Virginia, or North Carolina
Born: abt. 1750, North Carolina
Died: abt. 1830, Green County, Kentucky
Married 2nd: Rev. John Frost – bet. 1789-1793
Washington County, VA
Jeff-just a note to tell you we have proven that Cornelius Roberts is kin to our William Roberts 1744 who married Elizabeth Betsy Walling. Think it’s a breakthru for proof anyway. We also connect via DNA to John Roberts b. 1750 of Buncombe co. NC (Kenneth C. Wilde’s line if you know him), also John Roberts b. 1730/35 of Surry Co. NC. His descend’s were the “Roberts Cove” Roberts of Grayson Co. Also to Jesse Roberts b.1763 of Clay Co. Ky.
Take care,
Phillip Roberts
(desc. of Wm. 1765 son Joseph who married Margaret Peggy Anderson)
‘William Roberts born about 1744 in old Lunenburg Co., VA who married Elizabeth “Betsy” Walling, daughter of Elisha Wallen and Mary Blevins”. I am an ancestor of William Roberts…GG Grandfather was Robert Roberts, who married Almeady Collins.
Do you know the names of William Roberts children and wife?
Thanks Rhonda
Glenna is one of my distant relatives. My Bledsoes are connected to the Roberts by marriage at least 3 times that I can count. I am also related to William Roberts who married Elizabeth ‘Betsey’ Walling/Wallen/Wallin. They are my 6th GGranparents and William Roberts who wed Catherine Rogers (and William Wallin who married Mary Rogers) are my 5th GGrandparents. It’s tangled. It’s very, very difficult to follow my Roberts and Bledsoe lines b/c so many men (and women) have the same name. Directly, Happy Riddle (whose mother was Happy Roberts) who was married to Henry Fisher/Fischer is also my 5th GGrandmother. Her daughter Celia (Thely) Fisher married my William Bledsoe and she was mother to Campbell Bledsoe, my 3rd GGrandfather and my connection to the Lawsons, and hence the Collins’. (Shew!)
Jennifer mohr,my ggg grandparents are thely and William Bledsoe. their daughter
nancy ann Bledsoe b 1855 was mother of lilly Victoria Bledsoe ramey, her daughter maudella ramey falin’s daughter edith falin Williams is my mother. do you have any pics of the bledsoes, fishers, or Roberts????
your cousin Rebecca. I do have pic of lilly Victoria Bledsoe ramey if you would
like me to send it to you.
I would love to know how the Roberts of VA and the Roberts of NC connect. I am related through John Wesley Roberts of Wayne Co. Tennessee whom married Jemima Blevins 1814.I noticed that several Roberts men married Blevins women at this time period (1803-1814). I also found a William Roberts who was killed by Indians along with Elisha Blevins.If anyone can point me in the right direction i would appreciate it.
HI I have found the land of Cornelius 400a and William 600a Roberts in elk creek VA
1300 block of comers rock Rd elk creek VA I have some pictures e-mail mtnfiddler@Hotmail.com or google satellite view. I have also traced the Roberts to Kent England in the 1200s William Rookehurst came from Annandale
Scotland, a descendant of William De Bruce his second son Stephen change his name to Roberts. William Rookehurst built The Manor of Glassenbury which is still standing the Roberts lived their until 1940 when the last heir died. Clarence Roberts
Hi Clarence. I would like to connect about this. My brother Cliff and I have a DNA connection to brothers William and Cornelius Roberts and to Jesse Roberts and to John Roberts of Surry County. Am very interested in your ancestor trail back further to Kent. I’m also interested to know how Tory Colonel James Roberts relates. Many thanks., Chuck
Charles Stewart Roberts
Author, Selected Roberts Papers from Seven Generations
Feel free to call. 843-725-9847
Please copy me on the ancestry of Wm Roberts X Eliz Walling ancestry. I have only his (probable) father James Roberts the Loyalist and no mother. Can you fill in the blanks? My link goes clear down to Gma Ada Roberts.
Thanks,
Charlene jandiks@att.net
Hello everyone, this is a fantastic adventure we all seem to be on. My name is Woodrow Roberts III, and I am a direct descendant from Richard Roberts 1692-1747 from Kent England.
Richard Roberts / Captin James Roberts /Cornelius A Roberts / James Roberts / Cornelius Roberts II / Jesse Roberts / Cornelius Neil Roberts / John Roberts (Great Grandfather) / Woodrow Roberts SR (Grandfather) / Woodrow Roberts Jr (Father)
I have just started my voyage into understanding where I am from and the vast generations that have come before me. Thank you for having this little blog, please let me know if there is land that my ancestors could have had that I may be able to hike one day and possibly take it all in with my children.
Regards,
Woodrow Roberts III
Hi Woodrow. How do you connect the Richard Roberts of Kent with the Virginia Roberts—-Cornelius, William, and John of Surry co., NC? And where does Tory Colonel James Roberts fit?
Charles Stewart Roberts
Like to know how my father law William Mae Roberts and his wife Ophillie Greer from crumpler North Carolina ash county how much land did her father earnest Greer left her