The Robertson Family
I don't know a lot my my Robertson Family. My great great grandmother on my Father's maternal side was Eliza Adaline Robertson. She married Monterville Priest August 21, 1886 in Golden, Missouri.
William Robertson
For now, the first Robertson I know about is from Barb Roberts a great Robertson Family researcher is William Robertson who died in Hardin County, Kentucky.
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." However, from William's son Carter T. Robertson's 1950 census we know that they must 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.
From his will we know that William is Carter's father because he leaves Carter a negro child or $150.
William had four children by his first wife. They were Francis who married Rodrick Hilton in Green County, Kentucky, Stephen, Caren who married Allen Smith in Adair County, Kentucky and Bethanie who married Stephen Hopper also in Adair County, Kentucky. I know nothing about these children.
William must have moved two counties away to Wayne County after his first wife died and remarried a woman named Nancy. He also had four children by her. They were Nancy who married Abner Key in Lincoln County, Kentucky, Henry, Joshua, and Carter T. who was born in 1788 in Virginia and married Mary Shrewsbury on March 4, 1812 in Wayne County, Kentucky. The only child I know anything about is Carter.
Mary and Carter had 10 children: Sarah Jane, Leticia, William Henry ( my third great grandfather), George W., Oliver H. Perry, Joseph, Lucy, Jefferson, Mary Ann, and Samuel.
Move to Missouri
Mary and Carter and their family moved to Harrison County Missouri shortly before 1850. Harrison and Mercer Counties are on the northern boarder of Missouri and slightly to the west of the center of the state. However, they must have spent time in Pulaski County on the way because Carter and his family are 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.
Since they are in Harrison County in the 1850 census they must have arrived there between 1844 and 1850. They are living in the unclaimed Territory attached to Harrison County. (They are listed under the name Robinson). Carter and his three sons Joseph, Jefferson and Samuel are all farmers.
My 2nd Great Grandparents were James Madison Robertson and Mary Jane Craig. 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 Mercer 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. Hi 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. 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.
Southern Missouri had Confederate leanings but we have to remember that James and his brother Thomas grew up in northern Missouri which was Union. Why he went all the way to Iowa to enlist is a mystery. And why he waited until 1864 to enlist is also a mystery.
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: Mary Elizabeth, Eliza Adeline (my great grandmother), Martha Jane, William Henry, Joseph, Julia Ann, James Thomas, Eli, Minnie, Carrie Caldonia, and George Washington.
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 stayed in Green Forest, Arkansas and you can go to the Priest Family to read more about Eliza Adeline Robertson and her husband Monterville Priest.
James Robertson died in 1915 shortly after moving to Oklahoma. He is buried in the Mose Ridge Cemetery. Mary Jane moved back to Missouri and lived with some of her children until her death in 1944 at 97.