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William Robertson

William Robertson was born in 1727 in Spieni, Morayshire (now New Spynie, Moray), Scotland which is in the northeast corner of the country.  William, a weaver by trade, was a Jacobite.  He fought in the Battle of Culloden in 1745, under the command of Lord Lewis Gordon, in the Scots battle against the British.  He was captured when the Scots were defeated by the British under the command of the Duke of Cumberland, the illegitimate son of King George.  William was held prisoner at Inverness and Tilbury before being transported from Liverpool, England for the Leeward islands on the Veteran, on May 5, 1747.  They were liberated by a French privateer and landed in Martinique in June 1747.  He with others later made their way to the Virginia Colony.  William is listed in the Directory of Scots Banished to American Plantations – 1650-1775, by David Dobson and “Lists of Scottish Rebel Prisoners”, North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal (May 1980), by Ransom McBride.

William lived and left land records in Fauquier and Culpeper Counties, Virginia.  A deed in Fauquier County lists William’s occupation as a tailor.  He also claimed lands in north west Virginia but lost it when the dividing line between Virginia and Pennsylvania (the Mason-Dixon Line) was established. The land is now in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

William married first to Elizabeth Latham about 1751 in Culpeper Co., VA.

Because of the number of William Robertson living at the time and the lack of records, there have been several women who have been identified as the first wife of William Robertson. No one has been proven but according to Charles Deusner in his book, Through the Gap, Elizabeth Latham is the most likely candidate. Charles does an excellent job in outlining the facts which I will not repeat here.

One person put forth by several researchers is Frances Ann Nelson based on an indenture and release recorded on 18 September 1767 and another indenture recorded on 28 September, both in Fauquier County, Virginia. However, this William Robertson died in Fredrick County, Virginia in 1797 or 1798, meaning Frances Ann Nelson could not be the first wife of our William Robertson. There was another William Robertson whose wife was Mary who owned land in Culpeper County, Virginia. This William, however, died and left his estate to his wife, Mary.

In 1785 he married second to Mary Hardin in Washington Co., KY.

William came to Kentucky, where he died in Nelson County, about July 1796.  He had some land holdings in Nelson County which he left to his two children, John Robertson and Elizabeth Robertson William died about July 1796 in Nelson Co., KY.  Elizabeth married a Mr. Garnet and then Joseph James on August 04, 1784, in Lincoln Co., KY.

Will of William Robertson

Nelson County, Kentucky, proved July 12th, 1796

In the name of God Amen.

I William Robertson of Nelson County in this State of Kentucky being of sound memory have thought proper to make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner following.  first, I recommend m Soul to Almighty God who gave it and my body to be buried in Christian like manner and as for my worldly Estates I leave as follows:

Item. I give to my Wife Mary Robertson Five pounds & full liberty to take that part of her Estate in my care with control consisting of five negroes (viz) Sarah & four of her children a Feather bed & furniture and a Sorrel mare saddle and bridle.

Item. I Devise to my son John Robertson Eight hundred acres of land to include the plantations whereupon he and I now lives also Two negroes (viz) Ben & George together with a wagon and team to him and his heirs forever Likewise sixty pounds to enable him to pay a debt due to William Reid of Scotland from me.

Item. I Devise to my Daughter Elizabeth James Two hundred acres of land whereon she and her husband Joseph James now lives, also three negroes (viz) Sam Leah & George that is now in her possession to her & hers forever.

All the rest and residue of my Estate I leave to be Equally divided between my two children John & Elizabeth.

Lastly my desire is that my son John Robertson & son in law Joseph James act a Executors in this my last will & Testament.  In Testimony whereof I have hereinto set my hand & Seal this fourteenth day of March 1796.

Signed Sealed & acknowledged Wm. Robertson [Seal]

In presence of

Thomas Wilkerson, Jn. Conway

Betsey Conway

At a County Court held for Nelson Court on Tuesday the 12th day of July 1796.

This Last will and Testament of William Robertson deceased was proved by the Oaths of John Conway and Betsey Conway subscribing witnesses thereto, and sworn to by John Robertson and Joseph James the Executors therein named and ordered to be recorded.

Teste Ben Grayson, C.C.

John Robertson, Son of William Robertson

John was born 22 May 1753 in Culpeper Co., Virginia, the son of William and Elizabeth (Latham) Robertson. He married first Elizabeth Williams. They had one daughter, Sarah Williams Robertson who married Martin Hardin Wickliffe.  Elizabeth died before 1787, and John married Mary Parker. John and Mary had ten children, one of whom was William Nelson Robertson.

According to tradition in the Robertson family, John served in the American Revolutionary War, losing an arm at the shoulder at the Battle of Brandywine. This has never been substantiated, however.

William Nelson Robertson

William Nelson was born 17 Jun 1790 in Nelson Co., Kentucky and died 30 Jan 1865 in McLean Co., Kentucky.  He married Amelia Booker (Overton), the daughter of Samuel and Frances (Cosby) Overton, on 01 Jan 1811 in Washington Co. Kentucky. William and Frances had the following 13 children, including Samuel Booker Robertson.

• John Edward Robertson, born May 16, 1812; died October 16, 1882. He married Elizabeth M. Nalley October 08, 1934 in Daviess Co., KY (Now McLean).
  William Edwin Robertson, born May 10, 1814; died March 05, 1899 in McLean Co., KY. He married Cordelia Thomas November 17, 1844 in Nelson Co., KY.
• Fanny Mary Robertson, born November 18, 1815; died 1886. She married Soloman H. Bishop May 06, 1836 in Daviess Co., KY (Now McLean).
• Mary Jane Robertson, born May 17, 1817. She married George T. Moore April 26, 1834.
• Thomas O. Robertson, born February 24, 1819. He married Cinderella Bates.
• Elizabath M. Robertson, born April 27, 1822; died 1903 in Daviess Co., KY. She married (1) William Brashear December 02, 1842. She married (2) Charles Allen Owen January 10, 1847.
• Samuel Booker Robertson, born May 28, 1824 in Nelson Co., KY; died October 15, 1898 in McLean Co., KY. He married (1) Mary Elizabeth Jackson December 22, 1846 in Daviess Co., KY (Now McLean). He married (2) Francis Martha Morgan January 08, 1852 in McLean County, Kentucky.
• Robert Parker Robertson, born March 26, 1826 in Kentucky; died January 21, 1873. He married Mary Shackleford 1860 in McLean Co.
  Finlay Robertson, born September 19, 1827; died October 20, 1829.
• Susan Nelson Robertson, born December 21, 1828; died September 25, 1875. She married John Anderson Robertson September 07, 1848 in Daviess Co., KY.
• Amelia O. Robertson, born June 11, 1831; died March 31, 1858. She married Jefferson Baily.
• Rozella (Rosanna) Robertson, born April 09, 1833. She married Daniel Brown 1859.
• Dabney Carr Cosby Robertson, born April 19, 1842 in Daviess Co., KY; died May 06, 1917 in Daviess Co., KY. He married (1) Hannah Elizabeth Hendrix October 27, 1857. He married (2) Annie Arnold Aft. 1872. He married (3) Belle Lamb Aft. 1872.

Will of William Nelson Robertson

McLean County, Kentucky, proved February 6, 1865

In the name of God Amen.

I William N. Robertson of Daviess County and State of Kentucky being of sound mind but in a weak state of health do make and ordain this my last will and testament to wit.

My desire is that my cash notes be kept at interest until one year after the death of my wife Amelia B. Robertson’s death, renew them every year, and as for debts I owe none at which time to be collected.  My horse and buggy to remain in my wife’s possession until her death, then to be sold and proceeds together with the amount from the notes divided as follows to wit.

I give to my oldest son J. E. Robertson fifty dollars, to my second son W. E. Robertson twenty five dollars he having received advantages that the others have not in  the purchase of his land, to the rest to be equally divided among my nine remaining children & two grand sons heirs of A. O. Baily decd. namely Fanny M. Bishop, Mary Jane Hemell, Thos. O Robertson, Elizabeth M. Owen, S. B. Robertson, Robert P. Robertson, Susan N. Robertson, Rogella M. Brown, & D. C. Robertson, grand children Wm. A. Baily & D. J. Baily, theirs to be kept at interest until they arrive to the age of 21 years.

As to my other property it will be but trifling, what I have heretofore given belongs to the persons having it in possession also my desk and book case I have given to my son in law Chas. A. & and my daughter his wife Elizabeth M. Owen they to have the same at my death this I have mentioned in several places.  The above is my desire and if I am not taken away before I feel able to do more writing a list of the debts will accompany this.

In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal this second day of Dec. 1864.

Witness W. N. Robertson (Seal)

W. Robertson

and

H. Bryan

State of Kentucky

McLean County Court

February term 1865

The foregoing will of W. N. Robertson decd. was this day introduced in open Court and proven by oath of A. H. Bryan one of the subscribing witnesses thereto, as required by law and the same is ordered by the Court to be entered of record.

Witness my hand this 6th day of February, 1865.

Louis L. Moore, Clk

Samuel Booker Robertson

Samuel Booker was born 28 May 1824 in Nelson Co., Kentucky and died 15 Oct 1898 in McLean Co., Kentucky. He was married first to Mary Jane Jackson. Samuel and Mary had two children. After Mary’s death in 1949, he married Frances Martha Morgan. Samuel and Frances had ten children, including their youngest, Edward Garland Robertson.

Article from Kentucky Genealogy and Biographies, Vol. III

Samuel B. Robertson, a leading farmer in McLean County, KY., was born May 28, 1824, in Nelson County, KY., and is the seventh of twelve children, seven of whom are now living, born to William N. and Amelia (Overton) Robertson, natives of Nelson and Washington Counties, respectively.  His grandparents (Robertson) came from Virginia to Nelson County in a very early day.  His grandfather, Overton, was born in Virginia and was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was in the battle of New Orleans.  Samuel B., (the subject) was reared on a farm.  He came with his parents to Daviess County, now McLean, in 1827, and lived with his parents until his marriage on December 24, 1846, to Mary J. Jackson, of McLean County; she was born in Ohio County, and is a daughter of George C. and Sarah (Landrum) Jackson.  The fruit of this union is two children: George W., living, and James R., deceased.  His wife died November 27, 1849, and he next married, January 8, 1852, Frances M. Morgan, of Daviess County, a daughter of Thomas T. and Margaret (Phegly) Morgan, natives of Virginia and Nelson County, Ky.  Thomas T. Morgan was a son of John Morgan who came from Virginia to Ohio County, KY., in a very early day, as was killed by Indians about two years after his settlement in the county.  Mr. Robertson has had born ten children, Mary T. (Bohannan), Horace L., Charles R., Virginia E., and Warren K., Albert B. Margaret F. (Short), Susan E., Mizelia M., and Edward G. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson are members of the Baptist Church.  After his marriage, Mr. Robertson located where he now resides (in 1846), on 113 acres of land; he at present owns 216 acres in good condition, and with a fine residence on it.  He was a justice of the peace for ten years; he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Democrat in politics.

An article from “A History of Daviess-McLean Baptist Association in Kentucky, 1844-1943”, by Wendell H. Rone

DEACON SAMUEL BOOKER ROBERTSON:  The subject of this sketch was born in McLean County, Kentucky, on May 28, 1824, and was educated in the county schools of the day.  He followed the occupation of farming all of his life.  On December 24, 1846, he was marred to Miss Mary E. Jackson.  Two children blessed this marriage.  Her death occurred in 1849, and on January 8, 1852, he married Miss Frances M. Morgan, who bore him ten children.  Of this number one became a doctor and two others became deacons in the Baptist Churches.  One of these two deacon sons is Brother E. G. Robertson, a life-long member of Mount Liberty Church.  Of the five daughters in this group, one became the wife of Rev. John W. B. Givens.

In the winter of 1848, he professed faith in Christ and was baptized into the fellowship of Mount Liberty Baptist Church.  At the time of his death, which occurred on September 14, 1898 he had been a faithful member and deacon of this Church for almost fifty years, and in that time he failed in attending the meetings of his Church only on four occasions.  During many of those years he served his Church faithfully as a messenger to the Association.

He was a reader of the Western Recorder from 1846 until his death.  His love for the old Gospel doctrines was unique and he informed himself upon all the work of the denomination and actively supported the same.  He was always prominent in his county and his Church and left a good record of his faithfulness to the cause of Christ.  He live victoriously and died triumphantly.

Edward Garland Robertson

Edward Garland was married first to Lydia Brown. They had two children, Horace Leslie (died young) and Festus Garland. He married second to Aurelia Bell Springfield, daughter of William J. and Palestine Overton (Burns) Robertson. Edward and Aurelia had eight children. Seven of Edward’s 10 children are pictured below.

William J. Springfield, Father of Aurelia Bell (Springfield) Robertson

[Adapted From the History of Daviess County, page 240]

Dr. William J. Springfield, Vanover Precinct, was born in Webster (then Hopkins) County, Jan. 22, 1843, and is a son of John Springfield, a native of Virginia, who came to Kentucky in 1839. The Doctor was brought up on a farm and educated in the common schools. He graduated from Cincinnati Medical College in June 1874 and located for the practice of medicine in West Louisville, the same year. In 1875 he removed to his farm in this precinct, where he still lives, and has built up a large practice. He also carries on farming and stock-raising. He married in 1875, to Palestine Overton Burns (married first to Merrit Rafferty,) daughter of the late Lewis I. Burns, of this county. They had two children, Louis Iverson Springfield (died young) Aurelia Bell (married Edward Garland Roberton.) Palestine died June 20, 1880, and March 10, 1881, the William married Brittanice Belle Aull, daughter of Robert P. Aull, deceased. They had one child – Ansel. William owns 106-1/2 acres in his farm, and an undivided one third of seventy-two acres in another tract.

John S. Springfield, Father of William J. Springfield

John S. Springfield was born about 1797 in North Carolina, the son of Moses and Elizabeth (Rush) Springfield and the grandson of Thomas H. and Martha (Upham) Springfield. He died 31 Jan 1863 in Webster Co., Kentucky. He married Mary Ann Mitchell, daughter of Edward H. and Rebecca (Davey) Mitchell. Edward and Rebecca had the following nine children.

• EDWARD MARSHALL SPRINGFIELD was born in Jul 1834 in North Carolina. He died in 1900. He married (1) MARY ISABELL TOMPKINS (daughter of Thomas Tompkins and Emily Mansareth Hicks) on 20 Dec 1860 in Webster Co., Kentucky. She was born on 22 Oct 1839 in Webster Co., Kentucky. He married (2) MRS. ELIZABETH C. WINTERS on 25 Oct 1894 in Webster Co., Kentucky. She was born in Nov 1842 in Kentucky.
• JOHN COMER SPRINGFIELD was born on 29 Jan 1836 in North Carolina. He died on 14 Aug 1912. He married Mary Jane Bailey on 17 Jun 1858 in Hopkins Co., Kentucky. She was born on 29 Jul 1842 in Kentucky. She died on 19 Oct 1888.
• LEANDER SPRINGFIELD was born on 02 Feb 1838 in Webster Co., Kentucky. He died on 31 Mar 1916 in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana. He married Martha A. Harralson on 03 Jan 1858 in Hopkins Co., Kentucky. She was born on 21 Nov 1841 in Kentucky. She died on 03 Aug 1923 in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.
• BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SPRINGFIELD was born on 02 May 1838 in Person Co., North Carolina. He died on 24 Sep 1900 in Hopkins Co., Kentucky. He married HENRIETTA JANE STEEN. She was born on 01 Aug 1838 in Hopkins Co., Kentucky. She died on 12 Dec 1917 in Little Rock, Pulaski Co., Arkansas.
• MARTHA SPRINGFIELD was born about 1841.
• MOSES SPRINGFIELD was born on 17 Jan 1841 in Hopkins Co., Kentucky. He died on 08 Oct 1912 in Hopkins Co., Kentucky. He married (1) SARAH J. BAILEY (daughter of Richard Bailey and Eliza A. Cox) on 13 Sep 1866 in Hopkins Co., Kentucky. She was born on 18 Oct 1846 in Kentucky. She died on 22 Aug 1902 in Kentucky. He married (2) HARRIET CATHERINE BROWN on 11 Apr 1905 in Hopkins Co., Kentucky. She was born on 24 Nov 1848 in Webster Co., Kentucky. She died on 03 Jun 1927 in Webster Co., Kentucky.
• GARLAND COSBY SPRINGFIELD was born on 10 Nov 1846 in Hopkins Co., Kentucky (now Webster Co., KY). He died on 27 Jan 1925 in Webster Co., Kentucky. He married Sarah Jane Eakins (daughter of Andrew Jackson Eakins and Nancy Wade Hicks) on 09 Feb 1870 in Webster Co., Kentucky. She was born on 09 Aug 1847 in Henderson Co., Kentucky. She died on 04 Apr 1926 in Webster Co., Kentucky.
• REBECCA JANE SPRINGFIELD was born on 05 Jun 1860. She died on 27 Jan 1897 in Webster Co., Kentucky. She married Bartlett Roby Townsend on 16 Jan 1878 in Webster Co., Kentucky. He was born in Jan 1854 in Hopkins Co., Kentucky. He died on 29 Nov 1937 in Webster Co., Kentucky.

Moses Springfield, Father of John S. Springfield

Moses Springfield was about 1764 in Franklin Co., North Carolina and died in Sep 1834 in Person Co., North Carolina. He married Elizabeth Rush, daughter of Crawford and (Mary Broyles) Rush. Moses and Elizabeth had five children.

Moses fought in the Revolutionary War and entered the service of the United States under Captain Harding. He was marched to Ramsey’s Mills in the county of Chatham and that he was stationed at Ramsey Mills for three months. General Butler was the first to command. That from Ramsey’s Mills he was marched to Hillsborough in the county of Orange in which town and the neighborhood of it he remained with his company for five months. Afterwards he was drafted for what was commonly called in the militia “the eighteen months service” and under Captain Dickerson marched down into the southeastern part of this state and at some point, on the Cape Fear he was discharged. In his Pension declaration he stated that he engaged in no battle.