I don’t know who  the first Robertson was that came to the United States; when and where he originally settled.  I don’t know if he came alone or with his family – or whether he was a free man or indentured servant.  From the publication Heritage of the Hills from the Delaware County Historical Society in Oklahoma we learn that:  “The Robertson family’s ancestors were Highland Scots who come into this country between 1680 and 1720 and settled in Kentucky and Tennessee. During the 1800’s they emigrated into Indiana and Missouri, and from there to Oklahoma.”

I do know they were in Virginia in 1788 when Carter Robertson was born.

I am assuming that the first Robertson came from Scotland before the Revolutionary War.  However. I can’t find any records in the Revolutionary War Records or Bounty Land Warrants.  More research needs to be done.

Robertson CrestThe Clan Donnachaidh (Scottish Gaelic: Clann Dhònnchaidh), also known as Clan Robertson, is one of the oldest of all Scottish clans.  This is is the Robertson crest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Donnachaidh

The Robertsons claim to be descended from Crinan, Lord of Atholl, from whom sprang the royal house of Duncan I, the King of the Scots. The Robertson clan is more properly called ‘Clan Donnachaidh’ from their ancestor Duncan, who was a staunch supporter of Robert the Bruce, and who led the Clan at the Battle of Bannockburn.

The general surname of the clan Robertson was taken from Robert Riach (Grizzled Robert) the clan chief, who was known for his intense loyalty to the Stewarts. Riach was responsible for capturing the murderers of King James I, and was rewarded by the crown for this act by having his lands at Struan erected into a Barony.

The clan was also granted a symbolic memorial by additions to their coat of arms – subsequently the chief of clan Robertson bore as his crest a hand holding an imperial royal crown, and underneath a man in chains, representing the regicide. About a century later, the Robertson family lost the lands of Struan to the Earl of Atholl but the family regained them in 1606.

However in the seventeenth century, after the final defeat of James VII, all Robertson estates were forfeited and the chief of the Robertson clan joined the exiled court in France. To this day the chiefs of the clan Robertson still have the right and privilege of interment in the family burial ground at Struan.

 

The area around Pitlochry where the Robertson Clan lived.

GENERATION 1

William Robertson (?- 1819) and Unknown

From the publication Heritage of the Hills compiled by Leila Robertson Christensen from the Delaware County Historical Society in Oklahoma (this document is below in the Documents section) we learn that:  “The Robertson family’s ancestors were Highland Scots who come into this country between 1680 and 1720 and settled in Kentucky and Tennessee.  During the 1800’s they emigrated into Indiana and Missouri, and from there to Oklahoma.” I suspect they were Highland Scots (although I have no proof) and I am not sure where they lived before 1788.

From William’s son Carter T. Robertson’s 1850 census we know that they have lived in Virginia before moving to Kentucky because his son Carter T. puts his birth state as Virginia in 1788.  Plus if the Robertsons came to this county around 1700 they had to have lived on the east coast since Kentucky didn’t open up for settlement really until after the Revolutionary War.  Although I have no proof, I believe the Robertsons lived in Bedford County, Virginia before they first moved to I am assuming Green>Adair County, Kentucky from Virginia in the late 1700’s.  William’s daughter Francis and son Carter each  married someone from Bedford County and their families also  moved with the Robertsons to Green>Adair County sometime between 1780 and 1801.  Other options are Amelia County or Culpepper Counties.  There were Robertsons living in those counties with similar names (Carter, Nathaniel, Henry, and Drury). I am also assuming that since Carter was William’s second wife’s son, his first wife must have died before 1888 in Bedford County and William must have remarried Nancy Unknown in Bedford County before 1788 when Carter was  born.

Bedford County, Virginia 1790

From Virginia the Robertson family moved to Green County Kentucky probably around 1798.  I don’t think the Robertsons moved as much as the change in Counties would imply. There are documents that they lived in Green/Adair/Wayne/Hardin Counties. I think they basically lived in the same area and the county lines kept changing.  As you can see below all the counties they lived in came off of the original Green County.

GREEN COUNTY

01 Jan 1793 GREEN created from LINCOLN and NELSON. (Ky. Acts 1792, 1st assy., 1st sess., ch. 44, sec. 1/pp. 46-47)
10 May 1799 GREEN lost to creation of BARREN. (Ky. Acts 1798-1799, 7th assy., ch. 43, secs. 1, 4/pp. 53-55)
01 Jun 1799 GREEN lost to creation of PULASKI. (Ky. Acts 1798-1799, 7th assy., ch. 1, sec. 1/pp. 3-5)
01 Jul 1799 GREEN lost to creation of CUMBERLAND. (Ky. Acts 1798-1799, 7th assy., ch. 54, sec. 1/pp. 69-71)
01 Mar 1801 GREEN gained small areas along the Cumberland River from CUMBERLAND, lost to creation of WAYNE. (Ky. Acts 1800, 9th assy., ch. 46, sec. 1/pp. 66-68)
01 Apr 1802 GREEN lost to creation of ADAIR. (Ky. Acts 1801, 10th assy., ch. 43, sec. 1/pp. 68-71)
15 Dec 1804 GREEN gained from HARDIN. (Ky. Acts 1804, 13th assy., ch. 88, sec. 1/pp. 124-125)

Kentucky Counties in 1819

In 1815 William Robertson sold 150 Acres on Wolf Creek in Adair County.  As you can see from the map below Wolf Creek is just on the north side of Lake Cumberland and Monticello where the Shrewsbury’s had their church.  I think William Robertson lived in this area the entire time he lived in Kentucky even though the county he lived in changed.

View Larger Map

There is a misconception by researchers on the internet that William has four children by each of his two wives based on his will.  I must admit I also bought into that misconception.  In carefully re-reading his will and looking at the timeline for the marriages of his children and where he lived, it is clear he had eight children by his first wife and no children by his second wife Nancy who had at least a daughter by her first marriage.

William Robertson’s Children Named in his will

“I given & bequeathed to my eldest son Henry ROBERTSON, the sum of 190 dollars.

I have also given & bequeathed to my eldest daughter Nancy KEY a negro girl named Mariah.

I have also given & bequeathed to my son Joshua ROBERTSON one negro boy named Daniel.

I do also give & bequeath to my son Carter ROBERTSON a negro child to keep him or his heirs on or before the 1st day of December 1822 if I have the negro child at that time to give him if not I give him 150 dollars to be paid at the a foresaid.”

1. Henry – I can find no information on Henry.

2. Nancy –  married Abner Key in Lincoln County, Kentucky in 1798.  I cannot find Abner or Nancy in any census records, so I have no idea what happened to them.

3. Joshua – based on the census information I estimate Joshua was born about 1794 and married Nancy Wilson in 1814 in Adair County, Kentucky.  Please go to their page under generation 2 to get more information about them.

*4. Carter Terrance – Carter T. was my fourth great grandfather and was born in 1788 in Virginia.  He married Mary “Polly” Shrewsbury on March 4, 1812 in Wayne County, Kentucky. Please go to their page under generation 2 to get more information about the and to the Shrewsbury page to get more information about the Shrewsbury family.  Until recently I didn’t know what the T. stood for.  Luckily I have connected with Patsy Griffin a Shrewsbury researcher and she shared with Carter’s middle name was along with lots of great information about the Shrewsbury family.

William’s Will goes on to state “I give & bequeath to each of the rest of my first wife’s children a negro child if I have the child to give if not I give 150 dollars three years between each payment 1st in the 1825 in the year 1828 in the year 1831 & in 1834 each payment to be paid on the 1st of December each child to come in as they stand in the Will, 1st Fanny HILTON next Stephen ROBERTSON next Cayren SMITH then Bethenia ROBERTSON.”

5. Francis – 1780 – ?  In 1801 she married Rodrick Helton (Hilton, Hylton) in Green County, Kentucky. In 1810 they are living in Floyd>Lawrence County.  Roderick died in 1859 in Carter County, Kentucky.  I don’t know where Francis died.

6.  Stephen – I can find no information on Stephen.

7. Cayren married Allen Smith on Sept 25, 1815 in Adair County, Kentucky.  In 1820 and 1830  they are still living in Adair County, Kentucky after that I can find no record of them.

8.  Bethania married Stephen Hopper also in Adair County, Kentucky in 1811 also in Adair County, Kentucky.  I find it interesting that she was married in 1811 but her Father still referred to her as Bethania Robertson in 1819.   Bethania and Stephen had at least one daughter Isaphena in 1818 and later migrated to Taney  County, Missouri.  What is interesting is that Carter T.’s son James also lived in the Barry County/Tansey County area of southern Missouri.  I wonder if they knew each other or knew they were related.

WILLIAM ROBERTSON’S WILL

WILLIAM ROBERTSON LAND RECORDS

GENERATION 2

Carter Terrance Robertson (1788 – 1860) and Mary (Polly) Shrewsbury (1794 – abt 1866)

Carter T. was born (probably in  Bedford County, Virginia) in 1788. I wonder if Carter was named after his Mother’s family and/or the Carter family who also lived in Bedford County, Virginia.  I have no idea where the Terrance came from.  Both his first and middle names are really unusual names for the late 1700’s.   Polly was probably also born in Bedford County, Virginia in 1794.  Her grandfather – Nathaniel and great uncle – Samuel were well-know Baptists ministers in Bedford County and that area of Virginia.  I think although I don’t have proof her father was Benjamin Shrewsbury, Nathaniel’s son and her Mother was Nancy Richardson.  There is a DAR application that approves the connection between Polly and Benjamin and I am trying to get a copy of that analysis.  I believe, but have no proof, that the Shrewsbury family (not including her  Mother who had died and her Father who had remarried) moved together to Green/Adair/Wayne County Kentucky right before the turn of the century with the Robertson family.  Please go to the Shrewsbury family page to read more about her family.

Carter and Mary (as she is referred too in all the censuses) were married in Wayne County on March 4, 1812. Over the next 20 years they lived in that area of Kentucky on the Tennessee boarder and had 10 children:

1. Sarah Jane – 1814 – abt 1850.  She married Benedict Lucas and they had 10 children:  Ralph, Lavina, Benedict, George, Susan, and Sally.  They later moved to Mercer County,  Missouri with Carter and Polly.

2. Leticia – 1816 – 1880.   She married Robert LaFollette and they had 7 children:  Francis, John, Mary, George, Ellen, Leticia, and Rhoda.  They also moved to Harrison County, Missouri with Carter and Polly.

*3. William Henry – 1818-1873.  William Henry is my third great grandfather.  He was born in Kentucky and died in Barry County, Missouri.  He married Nancy Wilson on May 22, 1844 in Polk County, Missouri while the family was moving from Wayne County, Kentucky to Mercer County, Missouri.  Supposedly he  was in the Civil War with his sons and moved to Barry County, Missouri on the Arkansas boarder with his brothers after the war.  Nancy died during the war and William remarried after the War.  To learn more about William Henry and Nancy please look at their expanded section under Generation 3.

4.  George W. was born about 1820 in Kentucky.  In 1840 George was living in Pulaski County, Missouri and owned land in Harrison County, Missouri before 1850 and was married to Mary Unknown.  Nothing is known about him after 1850.  He also moved to Missouri with his parents.

5. Oliver H. Perry – 1823 – 1891.  Perry married Marsha Clemmonds in 1849 in Mercer County, Missouri.   They had three children: M. H., Simeon, and F.A.  Between 1857 when Simeon and F.A. were born and the 1860 Census Marsha died.  In 1860 Perry and his three children were living with Lucy Robertson and her husband Robertson Clemmonds (Marsha’s brother) in Mercer County.  Then in 1861 Perry married Margaret Ray. Perry and Margaret had 6 more children:  Nancy, Elizabeth, William J. H., Commodore, Sarah and Edyebert.  In 1870 Perry and family were living in Saline County, Missouri and in 1880 they were back in Mercer County, Missouri.

Joseph Robertson  was born 2 May 1826 in Kentucky.  He first married Sarah Booth probably in Mercer County, Missouri.  They had 3 children before she died between 1856 and 1860:  Sarah Zelerda, Charlotte, W.T.  W.T. is listed in the census as being born in the Kansas Territory.  So Joseph must have move to the Kansas Territory before moving to Barry County, Missouri where he is married to Amy Templeton Rutherford.  They had 9 more children of which 4 – Calvin, Margaret, Sarah Ellen, and Mary were born in Barry County, Missouri.  The family then moved to Benton County, Arkansas where  Elizabeth, George, John,  Alice and Mary Lou were born.  Joseph died in 1898 in Benton County, Arkansas.  As a side note, I wonder if my Grandmother was named after Sarah Ellen since her name was Saryellen which would have been the colloquial name for Sarah Ellen.

Lucy Robertson – 1828 – 1910.  Lucy was born in Tennessee and died in Mercer County, Missouri. In 1849 when she was 22 she married Robertson T. Clemmons brother to Martha Clemmons who married her brother Perry.  Robertson was a physician and married Lucy who was 17 years younger than him after his first wife died sometime between 1841 and 1849.  He and his first wife had four children:  Jane, William, Mary, Thomas.   In 1860 all his children are out of the house and living with them are Lucy’s parents – Carter and Mary, Perry and his three children:  M. H., Simeon, and Flora  A.  Also living with them was Sarah Lucas 11 who must have been Lucy’s sister Susan’s daughter.  After Robertson died, Lucy married John Woodward in 1893 and died in 1910 in Cainsville, Harrison County, Missouri.

Jefferson Robertson  was born around 1829 in Kentucky.  He married Mary Ann Wilson in Mercer County, Missouri in 1854.  Jefferson was a blacksmith.  They had 8 children and moved around a lot between 1855 and 1873.  Sarah and John were born in Mercer County.  Louisa was born in Carroll County, Arkansas.  Samuel was born in Grayson County, Texas.  Then  Edgar was born in Harrison County, Missouri.  Charles and Joseph were born in Saline County, Missouri and finally their last child who died shortly after birth was born in Douglas County, Missouri in 1873.  In 1880 they are living in Greene County, Missouri. Mary Ann must have died in the 1880’s because by 1889 Jefferson married Evaline Unknown and they had two children:  Bettie and Henry.  In 1900 and 1910 Jefferson and Evy were living in Taney County, Missouri.  Jefferson died between 1910 and 1920 in his 80’s.

Mary Ann Robertson – 1831 – 1903. Mary Ann married Anderson Booth in Harrison County, Missouri.  They had 15 children:  George, Lucy, Celia, Thomas, David, James, Nancy, Martha, Leander, Sarah, Emma, William, Rhoda, Zerilda, and Alice.  Nothing else is known about them.

Samuel Robertson – was born around 1833.  He married Lucinda (Lucy) unknown and they had at least 3 daughters A.J., Lydia Ann, and Mary Frances.  They are living in Barton Co. Missouri in 1880.

Move to Missourimissouri-county-map

In the late 1830’s when Carter and Mary where about 50 and 45 they decided to move to Missouri.  Like so many pioneer families the entire family moved.  What an adventure at their age. Their oldest child Sarah Jane was married with children of her own and Carter and Mary’s youngest Samuel was just a toddler. Since this was before the railroad so they had to have gone by wagon. The move must have taken over 5 years.  They eventually ended up in the Indian Territory just north of Missouri which  eventually became Mercer/Harrison Counties, Missouri on the northern boarder of Missouri and slightly to the  west of the center of the state.  I wonder if this was their destination when they started out or was it where they ended up.  It must have been quite a journey.

They must have spent time in Pulaski County on the way because Carter and his family were in Pulaski County (in the south-center of the state) in the 1840 Census and William H. married Nancy J. Wilson in Polk County, Missouri May 22, 1844.  Polk County is two counties southwest of Pulaski County.  Why they stopped there is unknown, but they must have spent time there for William to meet and marry someone.

Since they were in Harrison County in the 1850 census they must have arrived there between 1844 and 1850.  They were living in the unclaimed Territory attached to Harrison County.  (They were  listed under the name Robinson).  Carter and his three sons Joseph, Jefferson and Samuel were all farmers.

JOSHUA ROBERTSON AND NANCY WILSON

 

GENERATION 3

William Henry Robertson (1818-1873) and Nancy J. Wilson (1819-1863)

William Henry Robertson is my third great grandfather.  William Henry was Carter T. and Mary’s oldest son and was probably named after his Grandfather.  He was born in Tennessee in 1818 and died in Barry County, Missouri in 1873.  Wayne County is right on the Kentucky-Tennessee boarder so he easily could have been born across the boarder in Tennessee.  His parents moved from Wayne County, Kentucky to Missouri in the late 1830’s.  They first moved to Pulaski County, Missouri because the family turns up there in 1840.  They then moved to Polk County for a couple of years because William married Nancy J. Wilson there in 1844.  Then a year later their first son James Madison was born also in Polk County.  Sometime between 1844 and 1850 the entire family moved again to Indian territory just north of Missouri which would eventually become Harrison and Mercer Counties.

In 1850 the family is living in Harrison County, Missouri listed under the name Robinson

Then in June 1854, William Henry Robertson & Nancy Robertson started selling their property in Harrison County to his brother Joseph Robertson also of Harrison County. “Harrison County Missouri Courthouse Deed Book Q, page 678 7 April 1864 William Henry Robeson & Eliza Robeson, his wife to Joseph Robeson Section 36, Twp 66, Range 26 15 acres or less.” Then in 1856 they sold some more property to Joseph “Nevada Corner Section 36, Range 26, Twp. 66.”  So right before the Civil Way the family moved to Barry County, one of the most southern counties of Missouri on the Arkansas boarder.

WILLIAM HENRY ROBERTSON LAND GRANTS-MERCER COUNTY, MISSOURI 1859

They sell the last property in 1859.   I am not sure why he got the land grants and then sold them.  Anyway, William and Nancy moved to Barry County at the other end of the state before the Civil War.  In the 1860 census they are living in Barry County.  It is not known why they moved to Barry County which had southern leanings.  I think northern Missouri had Union leanings and southern Missouri had Confederate so the Robertson family maintained their Union sympathies.

He  was in the Civil War  with his sons after he had moved to Barry County, Missouri on the Arkansas boarder with his brothers and sons right before the war.  Nancy died during the war and William supposedly remarried after the War.  He is buried in the Browning-Robertson Cemetery in Barry County, Missouri next to Nancy.  William and his two sons all enlisted in the Union Army.  William in Barry County, James in Iowa and Thomas in Harrison County on the other side of the state where they used to live.

Barry County was hard hit by the Civil War.  From the June 2013 Carroll County Historical Quarterly “The Civil Way brought devastation to the region along the Arkansas-Missouri Border.  After the major battle in the vicinity at Pea Ridge in March 1862, the hills became a no-man’s land.  According to numerous official communications the area of the upper White River watershed was practically depopulated near the end of hostilities.   The people of both Union and confederate sympathies were either killed of had to move out, going north or south depending upon where their loyalties lay.  The guerrilla forces of both sides had to limit their activities because there was little left to subsist on.  The fields and the farms were deserted.  There were but few ones left standing to return to should anyone thought of returning.”  It must have been very hard to live in this area during the war.

According to stories told by Lucy Jane (Robertson) Oder, while living in Barry County her mother died while her father and older brothers were off fighting in the Civil War. At the time her Father was in his 40’s.  She and her younger siblings buried their mother on the farm. Lucy was age 13, and was in charge until her father came home from the war. Shortly after he returned, he remarried, Lucy thought her new stepmother was mistreating the baby, she then returned to Mercer County Missouri to live with Dr. Robertson & and her aunt Lucy (Robertson) Clamands.  I have not found out what regiment he was in yet, but he is listed in the Barry County, MO, Federal Soldiers in the 1888 Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Newton, Lawrence, Barry and McDonald Counties, Pages 646- 653, W.H. Robertson.

Some researchers have that William H. Robertson married Eliza T. Sullivan Lewis the widow of William Lewis sometime between 1863 and 1873 when William died.  I had bought into this, but I have reconsidered. Eliza shows up in the 1870 and 1880 Censuses as a widow living with her children and no William Robertson.  In addition I can find no proof that she and William were married.  Plus I cannot find William in the 1870 Census even though he supposedly didn’t die until 1873.  More research needs to be done on William.

He must have always had strong feelings for Nancy because when he died 10 years later in 1873 he was buried in the Browning-Robertson Cemetery at Golden, Missouri next to Nancy.

William and Nancy had seven children:

* 1. James Madison Robertson 1845-1915 is my 2nd great grandfather.  He was born in Polk County, Missouri and died in Mose Ridge, Oklahoma.  He enlisted in the Union Army in Iowa shortly after his 19th birthday.  He served in the war for the last 100 days.  After the war he married his childhood friend and next door neighbor Mary Jane Craig. To learn more about James and Mary Jane please go to their expanded section under Generation 4.

2. Mary Elizabeth Robertson was born in 1848.  She married Isaac Myers.  Nothing is known about them.

3. Thomas Jefferson Robertson 1848-1936.  He enlisted in the Union Army at Eagleville, Harrison County Missouri on Aug 13, 1864 Company E., 43rd Missouri Vol Inf. right after his 18th birthday.  He was discharged at Benton Barracks, St. Louis Missouri, June 30, 1865. His Commander was Capt Sutton and he received a pension (Pension File XC-2-57 3-918).

He married childhood friend Mary Rebecca Burk in 1866 in Harrison County, Missouri.  He and Rebecca had 12 children:  William Henry, Amos Marion, George S., Jacob Edward, John V. Parlee, Florence Mae, Charley, Albert M., James Thomas, Arthur Cornel, and Amy V.  Rebecca’s brother William also married Thomas’ sister Eliza.

In 1890, he homesteaded land 7 or so miles south of Eureka Springs, Carroll, AR. and in 1899, he homesteaded land on what is now part of Holiday Island, Carroll, AR.

He and Rebecca both died in Seligman, Barry County, Missouri.

4. Lucy Jane Robertson 1850 – 1932.  Lucy Jane married John Grandison Oder in 1868 in Mercer County, Missouri.

According to stories told by Lucy Jane (Robertson) Oder, while living in Barry County her mother died while her father and older brothers were off fighting in the Civil War. She and her younger siblings buried their mother on the farm. Lucy was age 13, and was in charge until her father came home from the war. Shortly after he returned, he remarried, Lucy thought her new stepmother was mistreating the baby, she then returned to Mercer County Missouri to live with Dr. Robertson & and her aunt Lucy (Robertson) Clamands.  Her story has some holes in it.

Her Mother died September 4, 1863 in Barry County, Missouri.  In 1863 her Father was 45 at the time.   Her two older brothers were James and Thomas.  My great-great grandfather James didn’t enlist in the Union Army until June 5 or 19, 1864 (which was the last 100 days of the war) – he had turned 19 in February.  He went back north to enlist and actually enlisted at Davenport Iowa, (remember Mercer County is on the Iowa  boarder) in Company C, 48th IA Regiment of Infantry Volunteers.  He was discharged October 20,1864.  There was no William Robertson in the 48th.  Thomas also went back to Harrison County where they used to live and enlisted in the war on August 13, 1864 – when he was 17 at Eagleville, Harrison County, Missouri with Company E., 43rd Missouri Vol Inf.  The entire unit was then discharged

Mercer County  Missouri

June 30, 1865.  There was no William Robertson in the 43rd.  In 1864 her Father was 46, her brothers were 17 and 19 and only enlisted for the last 80 to 100 days of the war. So I really have to question Lucy Robertson Oder’s story.  Her brothers didn’t enter the war until a year after their Mother died and were only gone for four months.  I can find no record of her Father being in the Union Army. I doubt that he was in the Confederate Army (although his Grandfather had slaves), but his two sons, who he seemed close too, both joined the Union Army.

5. George W. Robertson 1851 – 1933.  He married Martha Harp in 1879 in Barry County, Missouri.  He moved to Adams County, Idaho between 1890 and 1900.  He and Martha had six children:  Albert, Peter, Oliver, Milly, Sarah, and Lena (a baby who died in a fire when she was a year old.  They spent the rest of their life in Idaho.

Adams County, Idaho

6. W.H Robertson was born in 1854.  He shows up in 1880 in Logan County, Arkansas with his wife Nancy Unknown and 2 children James S. and Columbus. In the 1900 census  they are living in Carroll County, Arkansas just across the boarder from Barry County, Missouri and Columbus is listed as Christopher C. and Mary is “Rova” which I am assuming is a nickname.  A foster son Webster or Eldin McCauley is also living with them.  In the 12900 census they reported that had 6 children of which 5 were alive.  In the 1910 census Nancy has died and he is married to Cora Unknown.  Her children William and Gladys Jackson are living with them as is his foster son.  William doesn’t show up in the 1920 census so I am assuming he died. before 1920.

Carroll County Arkansas

7. Eliza A. Robertson was born in 1855. In 1873 she married William Sank Burk probably in Barry County, Missouri.  The Burk family had also lived in Mercer County, Missouri with the Robertson’s before the war.  The Burks and Robertsons intermarry for several generations.  Eliza and William have 3 children:  James, Nancy and Mary.  In 1882 William married Julia Cotner.  She and William went on to have at least 2 more children Marion and Columbus “Oliver”.  Right around 1910 the extended Burk family moved to  Pontotoc County, Oklahoma.

Pontotoc County, Oklahoma

 GENERATION 4

James Madison Robertson (1845 – 1915) and Mary Jane Craig (1847-1944)

James and Mary Jane Craig Robertson

My 2nd Great Grandparents were James Madison Robertson and Mary Jane Craig. To learn more about the Craig Family go to the Craig family page.  I know that they met in Harrison/Mercer County, Missouri which is on the Missouri – Ohio boarder.   By 1850 the Carter Robertson family was living in the Indian Territory adjacent to Harrison County, Missouri.  The family consisted of wife Mary Shrewsbury and ten children:  Sarah Jane, Leticia, William Henry, George W., Oliver H. Perry, Joseph, Lucy R., Jefferson J., Mary Ann, and Samuel. On the way north William H. must have spent time in Polk County, Missouri because he met and married Nancy J. Wilson there on May 22, 1844.

William H and Nancy’s oldest son James Madison was born in Polk County on Feb. 22, 1845.  They were farmers.    The Craig family was their next door neighbors so James must have know Mary Jane Craig growing up.  She was two years younger.

The W. H. Robertson family moved to Barry County at the other end of the state on the Arkansas boarder in the late 1850’s because they were living in Barry County during the 1860 census.  It is not known why they moved.

This is about the time of the Civil War.  There is some about confusion about family stories.  The verbal history is that James served in the Confederacy.  This is incorrect.  He enlisted in the Union Army June 19 or 5, 1864. He enlisted at Davenport IA and was discharged at Rock Island IL, October 20,1864, He was a member of Company C, 48th IA Regiment of Infantry Volunteers, under Captain James H. Summers. This was the last volunteer group formed in Iowa and was only in the War for 100 day before it was over.  This regiment was among scores of regiments that were raised in the summer of 1864 as Hundred Days Men, an effort to augment existing manpower for an all-out push to end the war within 100 days. These men were mustered in for one-hundred days federal service on July 13, 1864 as part of a plan to raise short term regiments for service as rear area garrison duty to release veteran troops for Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign. As there were not enough recruits to complete an entire regiment in the time allotted, the unit was redesignated a battalion. The battalion spent its entire service guarding prisoners of war at the Rock Island Barracks, Illinois.  After the war James applied for a State of Missouri pension and received one due to disability.  In his Pension Application he stated that he was 5 feet 7 inches, had a complexion light with gray eyes and light colored hair.  His occupation was a farmer.  His disability was disease of spine resulting in lameness of his back and left leg with heart and lung disease, along with general disability.  When he died his $54 a month check was returned to the government. After he died Mary Jane applied for a Widows pension and received $40 a month until she died.

His brother Thomas also served in the Union Army.  He was a Private with the 43 Missouri. Infantry Company E from 1864-1865.  He enlisted at Eagleville, Harrison County, Missouri on Aug 13, 1864. He was discharged at Benton Barracks, St. Louis Missouri, June 30, 1865. His Commander was Capt Sutton.

What is known is that after the war James and his brother Thomas Jefferson went back to Mercer County and married Mary Jane Craig and Rebecca Burk and brought them back to Barry County.

They lived in Barry County where they had 11 children:

1.  Mary Elizabeth born in 1866 and died at 15.

*2. Eliza Adeline, my great grandmother, was born in 1869. She married Monterville Priest.

3. Martha Jane born in 1870 and married Monterville’s brother Robert.

4. William Henry born in 1872 and married Ona Haggard.

5. Joseph born in 1876 and married Ollie Faulkner.

6. Julia Ann born in 1877 and married John Ryan.

7. James Thomas born in 1880 and married Cora Haggard.

8. Eli born in 1883 and married Jeannie Mae Walker.

9. Minnie born in 1885 and died in 1887.

10. Carrie Caladonia born in 1887 and married Marion Burk

11. George Washington born in 1890 and married Rose Unknown, Effie Vanover, and Grace Velta Wheeler.

In the 1900 Census James owns his own farm free and clear and can read and write. Also, he and Mary Jane live next door to William H Robertson.

In the Barry County 1909 Patrons’ Reference Directory he is listed as a Farmer and Stockraiser, S.13, T. 21, R. 26, P.O. Golden 1853.

“About 1914, Uncle Yearl (Eli) and Uncle Georgie (George) along with their mom and dad (James and Mary Jane Robertson) moved to Oklahoma. They lived down below Asley Hollow. The place is now covered by Spavinaw Lake.” (from Heritage of the Hills)

While in Oklahoma he applied for and received an Invalid Pension – disease of spine, resulting in lameness of back and left leg; also heart disease, also lung disease, also general disability

Mose Ridge CemeteryJames died July 217, 1915 and is buried at the Mose Ridge Cemetery is located in Section 33 Township 23 R22 on Highway 20 about 8 miles west of Jay at Choleta or Topsy. This cemetery wa s patented by the Cherokee Nation, leased from the allotment of Nanni e Walker, wife of James B. Walker. The cemetery has been in use since 1900.

After James died Mary Jane moved back to Barry County and lived there until she died in 1944 att he age of 97.  She is also buried at the Mose Ridge Cemetery.

According to Ellen Priest Grandma Robertson smoked a corn cob pipe and according to Paulene Priest Spencer, her Great Grandmother had a great sense of humor and loved to read movie magazines.

Between 1910 and 1915 much of the extended Robertson Family moved to Delaware County, Oklahoma.  At that time it was part of the Indian Territory so I am assuming free land was an important part of the decision to move there.  My Great Grandparents Monteville Priest and Adeline Robertson stayed in Green Forest, Arkansas and you can go to the Priest Family to read more about them.  The Robertsons have lived in Delaware County for many generations and continue to live there today.  I have been very fortunate to connect with them and get a copy of Heritage of the Hills which is below. See the link below for pictures and more information about the Robertsons in Oklahoma.

OTHER DOCUMENTS

 ROBERTSON FAMILY SIGNATURES
HERITAGE OF THE HILLS, DELAWARE COUNTY, OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ROBERTSON’S IN OKLAHOMA

10 GENERATIONS OF THE WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON FAMILY