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m. 16 Dec 1853
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1860 census-Rhoda J; 4; born VA 1870 census-Rhoda J; 14 1880 census-VA-Carroll-Laurel Fork-pg 11-ED 18-5 Jun 1880-lines 19-21-dwelling/family 96-Rhoda J Robertson [sic]; 26; widowed; keeping house; cannot read or write; Lelitia J; 5; Wilber [sic]; 2; all are born VA 1883-LDS-FHC microfilm # 1939926 - Wednesday, April 18, 1883 (v4 #154-155) in Chancery Court, Carroll Co, VA Rhoda J Robinson v James M Robinson.....it appearing to the Court the proof in the case that the defendant has wilfully abandoned and deserted the complainant, it is adjudged, ordered and decreed that Complainant be and she is hereby divorced from the bed and board of the defendant and that she have the custoday of the children in the Bill.....Wednesday, Oct 10, 1883 (v4 #184-185).....and it is further adjudged, ordered and decreed that one of the commissioners of this court take an account ascertaining what portion of the purchase money in this cause should be paid to the complt. and what portion to said children.....Wednesday, April 23, 1884 (v4 #229-230).....that one half of the funds in this cause be paid to Rhoda J Robinson and the other one half of the funds be paid to the infant children in the Bill mentioned to be divided between them equally.....Saturday, October 17, 1885 (v4 #324-325).....And it is ordered that the receiver in this cause payout the funds in his hands to the Complt. and the parties who have the custody of said children.....Tuesday, April 20, 1886 (v4 #338).....it appearing that the land sold in this cause has been conveyed to the purchaser in accordance with the decree of this Court, said conveyance is approved and ratified. And the cause is stricken from the docket. 1883-Initial Complaint-There is no date for this document. “To the Honorable John H. Fulton Judge of the Circuit Court of Carroll County. Humbly complaining showeth (?) with your Honor your oratrix Rhoda J. Robinson that in the year 1873 she was lawfully married to James M. Robinson and lived with him until October 1st 1878 treating him in every respect as becomes a wife, when her said husband without any cause whatever willfully abandoned and deserted her and her infant children, removed from the state and since that time has had no communication with her and has contributed nothing to ____ the support of his family. That two children were born of this said marriage, Ruticia, who is about 7 years of age and William, who is about 5 years of age. The said James M. Robinson is the owner of a certain tract of land situated in Carroll County containing 20 acres more or less being the same land conveyed to him by John Robinson by deed of record in the Clerks office of said county Deed Book No. 11 Page 367, a copy of which said deed is herewith filed and part of this Bill number “A”. The said land is, however, subject to the life estate of John Robinson & wife. Therein now owned by Jeffrey Branscome & etc. Your Oratrix is advised and so charges that she is now entitled to have a decree of divorce from bed and board, for the custody of the said children and for alimony and that she is entitled to have the title to said land, subject to said life estate, diverted from the said James M. Robinson and a sale of the same ____ for the payment of his alimony and for the cost of this suit. That she is entitled to have all proper and reasonable Attorney fees allowed and taxed in the cost of the suit. That she is also entitled to have the cause retained on the docket and after the expiration of five years time from the time of the desertion, if the desertion so continues, to have a decree entered for a divorce from the bond of matrimony. Being (?) without remedy at how your Oratrix prays that James M. Robinson be made a party defendant to this bill and be required to fully answer the same or both, that your Honor will render a decree for a divorce from said bed and board and for alimony and all reasonable and proper attorney fees, decree a sale of the said land subject to said life estate, for the payment of alimony and cost of suit. After the expiration of the period of 5 years of desertion, if it so continues _____ the decree for divorce from the bond of matrimony, decree to your oratrix the custody of said children and grant all each other for the general and special relief as to equity may belong. And as is duty bound she will ___ pray. May she have the proper….” 1883-18 Apr-Newspaper notice-Hillsville Virginian-Virginia at ???? held in the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Court at Carroll County on the 1st day of Jan 1883. Rhoda J Robinson, Compl't; against; James M Robinson, Def't; In Chancery: The subject of this suit is to obtain a divorce on the grounds of desertion, is to obtain a decree for the support of the infant children in the bill mentioned and to obtain a decree for the sale of the land surveyed by James Robinson ???? the said James M Robinson for the expenses of this suit and ????. The defendant not having entered his appearance and is ???? by the affadavit of a witness that he is not a resident of the State of Virginia, an motion of the Complaintant by ???? is so ordered that the said defendnat do appear here within one month after the due publication of this order and do what is necessary to protect his interest in this suit. WH Sutherland, Clerk. Hale & Brown for Compl't. Hand written below the clipping - printers fee $5.00. Certify the above order was published in the Virginian for four successive weeks. The 18th of April 1883. DB Brown, Editor & Publisher. 1883-bef 18 Jun-Land Auction-“This cause comes on this day to be heard upon the due service of process upon the defendant by order of publication duly made published and printed for more than one month, the depositions of witnesses, the cause _____ motioned and set for hearing and arguments of counsel. And it offering to the court from the proof in the case that the defendant has willfully abandoned and deserted the complainant it is adjudged ordered and decreed that complainant be and she is hereby divorced from the bed and board of the defendant and that she have the custody of the children in the bill mentioned. And the court being of opinion that complainant is entitled to a decree for the sale of the interest of debt in the land of the bill mentioned for the maintenance of herself and children and for the payment of the cost of this suit it is adjudged ordered and decreed that R. M Brown who is appointed a commissioner for that purpose shall on some ___ at the front of the courthouse of this county at public auction to the highest bidder present to sell said land upon a credit of one and two years except cost of suit and expenses of sale which he shall require cash in hand. He shall administer the time place and terms of sale for at least 20 days by notice posted at the front of the said courthouse and at each other places as will give fair notice. He shall take bond with good security for the purchase money, the bond to bear interest from date. And he shall report his proceedings to court. And it offering that the desertion of the complainant by the defendant has continued for over four years. Complainant has leave to apply in this cause by motion for a divorce decree from the bond of matrimony if the defendant does not before the expiration of five years from the time of the desertion return to the bead and board of the complainant. And an atty fee of $20.00 is allowed brought to be taxed as a part of the cost of this suit. And this case is continued.” 1883-18 Jun-Sale of Land-“To the Honorable John H. Fulton Judge of the Circuit Court of Carroll. The undersigned appointed a commissioner in the chancery case of Rhoda J. Robinson VS James M. Robinson to sell the land in the Bill mentioned by the decree rendered in said cause at the April Term 1883 begs leave to report that pursuant to said decree he proceeded on Monday the 18th of June 1883 ____ at the front door of the courthouse of said county at public auction to the highest bidder to sell said land as directed by said decree subject to the life estate as mentioned in the bill and signed decree he having administered the time place and terms of sale as directed by said decree at which sale Juliet Harryman being the highest bidder becomes the purchaser at the price of $200.00 and having paid your comm. $52.93 cost of suit and expenses of sale executed with J. Sayer & W. H. Sutherland as her securities two bonds for $73.53 each due with interest from date respectively in 1 & 2 years from date which are here filed. All of which is submitted Jun 18 1883 R. M. Brown Comm.” 1884-17 Jan-Court Summons-“The Commonwealth of Virginia, To the Sheriff of Carroll County, Greeting: You are hereby commanded to summon R. Branscome, C. H. Hundley, and Andrew Bowman to appear before J. M. Brown, Commissioner in chancery of the Circuit Court of Carroll County at the courthouse of said County, on the 17th day of January, 1884, to testify and the truth to speak in behalf of the complainant in a certain account in the chancery cause pending in said Court between Rhoda J. Robinson, Complt, and J. M. Robinson, deft. And this they shall in no wise unit under the penalty of $20.00 and have then there this writ. Given under my hand as Commissioner of said Court the 17th day of January 1884, in the 108th year of the Commonwealth. J. M. Brown Commis in Chancery” 1884-17 Jan-“Depositions of Reuben Branscome & others taken before J. M. Brown, Commissioner in chancery of the Circuit Court of Carroll County at the office of said Commissioner in Hillsville, VA on the 17th day of January, 1884, to be used as evidence in taking the account now before said Commissioner directed by the decree of said Court at the October term, 1883, in the Chancery cause pending therein between Rhoda J. Robinson, Complt., and J. M. Robinson, deft. The said Reuben Branscome, a witness of legal age, introduced by complt’s atty, being first duly sworn, deposes and says: That Rhoda J. Robinson is about 32 years of age - that her health is bad, being subject to fits. That the oldest child of the said Rhoda J. Robinson in the bill mentioned is about eight years of age, and the other child about five years of age. That the said Rhoda J. Robinson has expended at least $75.00 for the support of said children, to the best of his judgment, since her then husband J. M. Robinson left her. That in the present state of health of the said Rhoda J. Robinson, if she does not get worse, it would require for her support over and above her own labor about $25.00 per year, and that for the support of her children until they arrive at the age of ten years respectively, about $20.00 each per year, and that after that age they ought to earn their own support. And further this deponent says not - R. Branscome Andrew Bowman and C. H. Hundley, two other witnesses being severally introduced, and each duly sworn, depose and say: That they have heard read the deposition of R. Branscome, and that they each adopt the same as his deposition. And further these deponents say not. Andrew Bowman C. H. Hundley I hereby certify that the forgoing depositions were duly taken, subscribed and sworn to before at the time and place mentioned in the caption. J. M. Brown Commis in Chancery” 1884-12 Apr-Divorce & Payment Decree-“To the Honorable Circuit Court of Carroll County: In obedience to the decree of said Court at the October term, 1883, in the chancery cause pending therein between Rhoda J. Robinson, complainant, and James M. Robinson, defendant, having given due notice, your Commissioner proceeded at his office, on the 17th day of January, 1884, to take the account directed by said decree, said account being to ascertain what portion of the purchase money in the cause should be paid to the complainant, and what portion to the children in the bill of said cause mentioned. Your commissioner reports that for the support of Mrs. Rhoda J. Robinson it will require over and above her own labor, $25.00 per year; that it will require for the support of Ruticia Robinson, one of the said children, $20.00 per year for two years; and that it will require for the support of William Robinson, the other infant child, the sum of $20.00 per year for five years. The proof shows that after the age of 10 years respectively, the said children can earn their own support. As to how much of the fund in this cause should be paid for the support of Mrs. Robinson and how much for the support of each of the said children, your Commissioner would state that the amount of the said fund is not sufficient for the support of all of the said parties, the balance after payment of costs & taxes being about $138.00 with interest from Jun 18, 1883. The fund will support all three said parties for two years at which time according to the proof, the oldest child will have arrived at the age of 10 years, and there will then remain a balance which will support Mrs. Robinson and the youngest child about one-third of a year. If the fund should be distributed for the support of all three said parties as far as it will go, (leaving out the oldest child at the end of two years) the $25.00 per year should be paid for the support of Mrs. Robinson for two years and $20.00 each per year for the support of the children for two years, and the balance of the fund then remaining to be paid for the support of Mrs. Robinson and the youngest child on the third year, 5/9 of such balance for the support of Mrs. Robinson, and 4/9 of said balance for the support of the said youngest child. If the Court should be of the opinion that the fund should be divided into pro rata shares, taking as a basis $40.00 to the oldest child, $100.00 to the younger child, and $25.00 per year to Mrs. Robinson for the number of years which is her expectancy of life according to the tables of longevity and dividing the fund into pro rata shares accordingly, then your Commissioner if desired, will furnish the Court such a statement, or a statement dividing the fund into pro rata shares between Mrs. Robinson and the two children, giving to Mrs. Robinson one share and the two children taken together another share. Testimony is taken to show that Mrs. Robinson has heretofore expended $75.00 for the support of said children - your Commissioner does not think that the amount of such expenditure should now be taken into account - in the distribution of the fund in the cause as between Mrs. Robinson and the said children. Given under my hand as Commissioner of said Court the 12th day of April 1884 J. M. Brown Commis in Chancery.” 1884-Apr 23-Alimony-“This cause comes on this day again to be heard upon the paper formally ready and the report of J. M. Brown ___ and was argued by counsel. On consideration of all which this court is of opinion that under the circumstances of this case, that after payment by the receiver of all cost which have accrued in the case that one half of the fund in this cause be paid to Rhoda J. Robinson and the other one-half of the fund be paid to the infant children in the bill mentioned to be divided between them equally. The payment to said infants to be paid to their guardian when such guardian qualifies. But if no guardian qualifies before the first payment of the purchase money of the land sold in this cause falls due the receiver is authorized to pay to their mother for their support such portions of the money going to them as may _______ necessary for such purpose and report to the court. And this cause is continued” 1900 census-VA-Carroll-Pine Creek-18 Jun 1900-ED 4-sheet 10B-lines 79-80-dwelling 186-family 202-Roda Robison; born Jun 1857; 42; widowed; mother of 4, 3 living; laundress; cannot read or write; rents house; Calvin; born May 1885; 15; day laborer; all born VA 1992 - Robinson, Alan Scott, The Robinson-Farmer Family Trail, pg 55, born Jun 1857; was a laundress; was illiterate; rumored that Calvin (son) shot and killed her; also rumored that she died in a house fire; Scott has correspondence that the shooting actually took place. 2007-www.ancestry.com: OneWorld Tree: Rhoda Jane Midkiff b. 1856; m. 1874 in Surry, NC to James M Robinson; d. 4 Jan 1955. Children: Letitia Jane, b. 17 Oct 1870; Wilburn, b. 15 Apr 1879; Calvin, b. May 1883 2007-www.ancestry.com: North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004: James M Robertson [sic], male, Rhoda Jane Midkiff; female, 16 Dec 1874, Mount Airy, Surry, NC 2009-a contact for this family line contacted me via e-mail. Nancy Cifers lives in Amelia Co., VA. Some of her research: Rhoda Midkiff had a son after her divorce and he accidentlally shot and killed her. There is more to the story if you are interested in family tales. References
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