Person:James Robertson (49)

James Robertson, Sr.
  1. James Robertson, Sr.1685 - Bef 1752
  2. Mary Robertson1689 -
  • HJames Robertson, Sr.1685 - Bef 1752
  • WRebeckah _____Est 1700 - 1784
m. 1719
  1. Matthew RobertsonAbt 1725 - 1808
  2. Rebekah RobertsonAbt 1726 -
  3. William Robertson1730 - 1812
  4. Esther RobertsonAbt 1732 -
  5. Thomas Robertson1733 - 1828
  6. Jean RobertsonAbt 1734 - Aft 1769
  7. James Robertson1735 - 1814
  8. Martha RobertsonAbt 1737 -
  9. Sarah Robertson1741 -
  10. Elizabeth 'Betsy' RobertsonBet 1741 & 1750 - 1832
  11. Mary Margaret Robertson1743 -
  12. Susannah RobertsonEst 1745 -
Facts and Events
Name James Robertson, Sr.
Alt Name James Robertson
Gender Male
Alt Birth? 1680 of Scotland or Coleraine, Northern Ireland
Birth? 1 Oct 1685 Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Marriage 1719 Coleraine, Northern Irelandto Rebeckah _____
Emigration? 1737 Came to America from Coleraine, Northern Ireland
Death? Bef Jun 1752 Albemarle County, Virginia

Contents

Advisory

Some researchers have stated that this James Robertson acquired a tract of 395 acres in Beverley Manor in Augusta County, Virginia in 1740, but there does not appear to be any evidence to support this notion either in Augusta County or Orange County, Virginia [the predecessor county of Augusta] records. This James Robertson was clearly living in the Rockfish River region of Albemarle County, Virginia, which became Amherst County in 1761. Beverley Manor was some 20-plus miles away from this area, and there are no records to indicate that a James Robertson of Albemarle acquired land anywhere in the Augusta County area.

Acquisition of Land in Virginia

Acquisition of Land in Virginia:

  • James Robertson acquired a tract of 265 acres of land "Lying in the County of Albemarle on Taylors Creek a branch of Rockfish River bounded Beginning at a Shrubby Black oak running North & East to a red oak North & East to pointers North & West. Adjoining "Matthew Robertson's corner tree thence South & West to a white oak, thence South thirty five degrees East two hundred and forty poles to the first station" from John Chiswell of Hanover County, Virginia, part of Chiswell's larger patent, (as listed in the disposition below):

Disposition of Land in Virginia:

Dec 27, 1760
This Indenture made the twenty seventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Sixty. Between James Robertson of the Parish of Saint Anns and County of Albemarle of one part and Rebecka Robertson Widow and Relict of James Jobertson deceased of the same Parish & County.
Witnesseth that James Robertson for the sum of Thirty eight pounds current money of Virginia to him paid doth sell unto Rebecka Robertson her heirs a certain parcel of land containing two hundred and sixty five acres of land (more or less). Lying in the County of Albemarle on Taylors Creek a branch of Rockfish River bounded Beginning at a Shrubby Black oak running North & East to a red oak North & East to pointers North & West. To Matthew Robertson's corner tree thence South & West to a white oak, thence South thirty five degrees East two hundred and forty poles to the first station being part of a larger tract granted to John Chiswell of Hanover County Gent by Patent and by the said Chiswell conveyed to James Robertson by a Deed of Sale in fee simple and the said Robertson by his last Will & Testament Willed and bequeathed the above mentioned tract of land as above bound unto his Son James Robertson and his heirs and assigns
Signed James X Robertson
Presence
Jno. Reid
James Barnet
James Small
Theobald Maghan
At a court held for Albemarle County the sixth day of April 1761 This indenture Memorandum and receipt were proved by the oath of John Reid, James Small and Thoebald Maghan three of the Witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
[Source: Albemarle County Deed Book 3, Pg 49-51]
[Note: this transaction between James Robertson, Jr. and his mother, Rebeckah Robertson, played a central role in the Chancery Suit Henderson vs. Robertson, Bill - Chancery Court Amherst County, Virginia 1809, between James Robertson's siblings, Elizabeth Robertson and her husband Robert Henderson and their brother, Thomas Robertson.

Will of James Robertson

Will of James Robertson, Sr., Parish of St. Ann, County of Albemarle, Virginia October 24, 1751
In the name of God Amen, the twenty fourth Day of October in the year of our Lord God one thousand Seven Hundred Fifty & one I James Robertson of the Parish of St. Anns in the County of Albemarle Being very Sick & weak in the Body but of Perfect mind & memory Thanks begiven unto God, therefore Calling to mind the mortality of my Body & knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die, Do make & Ordain this my last Will & Testament, That is to Say principally & first of all, I give & recommend my Soul into the hands of God that Gave it & my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a Christian Like & Decint manner at the Discretion of my Executor. nothing Doubting but at the General resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God just ouching such worldly estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to bless me In this Life, I give Bequeath Dispose of the same in the following manner & form Imprimis,
I give & Bequeath to Rebeckah my Dearly Beloved Wife whom I Constitute make & ordain my only & Sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament my house & Plantation with two hundred & forty acres of land her Lifetime provided she remains a Widow & her choice of two of the best bed & furniture thereof & my own Saddle Horse & her Choice of two of the best of the Cows & all of my Sheep together with all the putter Pots and other vessalls no belonging to my house.
Item I give & Bequeath to my well beloved Son William Robertson one hundred & ------- acres of Land which he now Lives upon to be laid off as followeth (Viz) Beginning at my Scrubby Black Oak Corner runing from thence a Streight Course so as to Include his fields & making a Corner against the middle of his fields runing from thence across the next branch & up the next fork to my field of Said Branch extending so far as to include the aforesaid quantity of Land but I do hereby Order and allow that if my son William Dies without male issue before they coming to the years of maturity that then the above said Land shall relaps to my Son Thomas Robertson & his heirs ^ or assigns also his horse & Saddle & one young Stallon Colt of a roan colour one year old.
Item I give & Bequeath to my Well beloved Son James Robertson my mention house & Plantation of --- hundred & forty acres of Land at his mother's Death or when her right is out by Virtue of this my Will & Testament but I hereby do provide order & allow that when my son James comes to Enjoy sd Plantation that he shall pay or cause to be paid unto my son Thomas Robertson the just and full sum of Twenty Pounds current money out of the said Plantation as his part & patrimoney of my Estate.
Item I give & Bequeath to my well beloved Children (Viz) Martha Robertson, Jean Robertson, Rebeckah Robertson, Mary Robertson, Sarah Robertson, Esther Robertson, Elizabeth Robertson, Susanna Robertson all the remainder of my Goods & Chattles, Cows hogs horses mares waggon Beds & furnitures together with the rest of my household furniture not heretofore yet bequeathed & the same to be given & Devised to these my above said female children at the Discretion of my Executor always & provided that funeral charges & other Debts be first paid.
Item I allow & order that my son Matthew Robertson have my Loom & Tacklings & his Rifle Gun & my Son James Robertson my own Smooth honed Gun & I do hereby utterly disallow revoke & Disanul all & every other former Testament Wills _____________ & Legacies Requests & Executors by me in any ways before this time named Willed & Bequeathed, Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my last Will & Testament
(Signed) James Robertson (Seal)
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the Day & year above written Signed Sealed Published Pronounced & Declared by the said James Robertson as his Last Will & Testatment in the Presence of us the Subscribers Viz: Jna Reid, Thomas Bell, Samuel Bell
At a Court held for Albermarle County this 11th Day of June 1752 This last Will & Testament of James Robertson decd. was presented to Court by Rebecca Robertson Widow Executrix therein named & proved by the Oath of John Reid & Samuel Bell two of the witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded & on the motion of the said Executors who made oath according to Law Certificate is granted her for obtaining a Probate thereof in Due form giving Security on which she with John Small and Michael Montgomery her Securities entered into and acknowledged this Bond for the said Rebecca's due & faithful performance of the said Will.
Test: John Nicholas


Page 21
Rebecca Robertson widow, executrix therein named, & proved by the oaths of John Reid & Samuel Bell, two of the witnesses thereto, & ordered to be recorded & on motion of the said Exr. Who made oath according to Law a Certificate is granted her for obtaining a probat thereof in due form giving security on which she with John Small and Michael Montgomery her securities entered into and acknowledged their bond for the said Rebecca's due & faithful performance of the said Will.


Estate Records

Henderson vs. Robertson, Amherst County, VA:

In February 1809, a suit was brought in Chancery Court, Amherst County, Virginia by Robert Henderson and his wife Elizabeth (Robertson) Henderson against Elizabeth's brother, Thomas Robertson to recover her legacy willed to her by her father James Robertson and her mother Rebeckah Robertson. This suit, Henderson vs. Robertson, Bill - Chancery Court Amherst County, Virginia 1809, (which includes several accompanying depositions), and provides a key piece of evidence in proving several of the children of James and Rebeckah Robertson of Albemarle and Amherst County, Virginia.

Records in Albemarle County, VA

pg. 13 14 Feb. 1748 Jno Chiswell, St. Martin's parish, Hanover, to Lawrence Small for b110, 200 acres on branches of Corbin creek branch of Rockfish near Blue Mountain, adj. Jas. Barnett, Jno Reid, part of Pat. of 11 and 140 acres of 26 Mar 1739.
Wit: Jos. Barnett,
Francis Wright,
Jas. Robertson.
[Source: Albemarle County Wills & Deeds No. 1 1748-1752]
Pg. 39 14 Feb. 1748 - This Indenture made the 14th day of Febry. And in year of our Lord Christ One thousand seven hundred & Forty eight between John Chiswell Gent. In Parish of St. Martin in County of Hanover and Colony of Virginia of one part & Lawrence Small of Parish of Saint Anns in County of Albemarle in Colony aforesaid of other part witnesseth that John Chiswell for sum of Ten pounds current money of Virginia to him paid do sell unto Lawrence Small his heirs one certain parcel of land containing Two hundred acres being in County of Albemarle on the Branches of Corbins Creek of Rockfish near the Blue Mountains and bounded beginning at James Barnets corner dogwood runing thence North East to an Oak saplin between pointers, thence South East to a Spanish Oak saplin in John Reids line, thence South West to a chestnut tree, thence North West to the first station, being part of Eleven thousand One hundred & forth acres granted to John Chiswell by Patent bearing date the twenty sixth day of March 1739, to have and to hold said tract of land containing two hundred acres as above bounded with all houses, buildings, waters belonging to the only proper use and behoof of him said Lawrence Small his heirs and assigns forever. In Witness whereof John Chiswell hath set his hand and seal in presence of Jno. Chiswell
Jas. Robertson
Joseph Barnet
Francis Wright
Albemarle Sct. March Court 1748/49
This Deed with Livery of Seizin & Receipt from John Chiswell to Lawrence Small was proved to be the act and deed of said Chiswell by the oaths of James Robertson, Joseph Barnet & Francis Wright the witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded.
[Albemarle County Wills & Deeds No. 1 1748-1752]
1 Feb 1751 John Thomson to Samuel Mann for 23 pounds, 172 acres both sides Taylor Creek adjoining Archibald Woods, spur of a mountain. Witness: John Reid, James Barnett, Thomas Man, James Robertson.
11 Feb 1752 John McWhorter to Alexander Patton for 90 pounds, 120 acres bought from James McCanne 10 Sep 1747. Patented 10 Jul 1745, save 1 acre sold to John Reid, James Robertson, and Samuel Bell for Presbyterian Church of Rockfish – schoolhouse and cemetery.
27 Dec 1760 James Robertson to Rebecca Robertson, widow of James Robertson, deceased for 38 pounds, 265 acres Taylor’s Creek, branch of Rockfish. Adjoining Matthew Robertson. Part of patent of John Chiswell, Hanover, and by him deeded to James Robertson. Gave by will to son, James. Witness: John Reid, James Barnett, James Small, Theobald Maghan.

Information on James Robertson

A brief account of this family is listed in "Francois Benin & his descendants & Allied Families", by Benning, 1981 (deceased), edited by Neblock. An account of this family is on page 139.

References
  1.   Woods, Rev. Edgar. Albemarle County in Virginia: giving some account of what it was by nature, of what it was made by man, and of some of the men who made it. (Charlottesville VA: The Mickie Company, Printers, 1901)
    pg. 129.

    Presbyterians were settled in the county while it was yet a part of Goochland. The colony of Scotch Irish who came over the Blue Ridge in 1734 under the auspices of Michael Woods, brought with them the faith of their fathers. Among these were the families of Wallace, Kinkead, Stockton, McCord and Jameson. Further to the south along the base of the Ridge were the Morrisons, McCues, Montgomerys, Reids and Robertsons. These last were the founders of Rockfish Church, located in teh forks of Rockfish River. About 1746 James McCann, who had patented the land in 1745, conveyed to John Reid, James Robertson and Samuel Bell one acre and thirty-five poles, for the Rockfish Church, and for a school for the inhabitants of that vicinity.