Person:Robert Tevis (2)

From Robert Tevis (Tivis), His Parents, His Siblings, and His Progeny by Nancy Pearrer Lesure

The third son of Robert and Margaret Tevis was born 9 Mar 1752, probably in Baltimore County. By the time he was 25, the Revolutionary War was well underway. From August 1777 to 1778 Robert Jr. served as an Ensign in Capt. Phillip's Co., of the Soldiers Delight Battalion, and he is said to have spent that winter at Valley Forge. He continued an Ensign in 1779 after his brother Benjamin succeeded to Captaincy of the company.

It was not until after the war, 23 Jun 1783, that Robert Jr. received from his father his third of Tevis' Chance. His next move was matrimony: 25 Mar 1784 he maried Martha Crow, daughter of Edward and Priscilla Crow of Montgomery County, Md. In June of the same year he was able to lend money to his brother Peter.

In 1792 and 1793, while his two older brothers were setting up homes in Kentucky, Robert Jr. was acquiring small tracts of land in Baltimore County: Ben's Location of 3 acres and Stoney Point of 7 acres, both by patent, and 9 acres of Costly by purchase from his father. The monetary arrangement when he and his father sold these and other tracts 3 Sept 1796 strongly suggests that he was then ready to head westward and that he had his father's blessing. His wife Martha waived her dower rights.

In December of 1796 he obtained the right to two tracts in Allegany Co., Md., Kent's Trouble and Speer or Spur, and these were patented to him in 1797 and 1798. In 1798 he obtained two additional western Maryland tracts, Saw Mill Seat and Raccoon Pasture in Washington County, from his brothers-in-law Edward and Joshua Crow, and he patented both in May of 1799. The 1800 census found him living in Allegany County.

In 1807 Robert Jr. and his family left western Maryland for Kentucky by way of the Ohio River, his wife Martha dying en route. He settled in Shelby County and the following year married his sister-in-law Lucy Crow. He had many years thereafter to enjoy his Kentucky home. His will was not written until 8 June 1842. It names five sons, one of whom predeceased him. Family records tend to confirm that these were his only children, a single daughter Matilda having died in infancy. He alone among the sons of Robert Sr. and Margaret Tevis did not name children for his parents.

Death did not claim Robert Tevis Jr. until 25 Aug 1846, at the age of 94 years, 5 months. his grandson claimed that he was "to the last, wonderfully hale and active," in his nienties still able to read a newspaper without spectacles.

From John Carnan Tevis, 1816

... and he would not allow anyone in his family to apply for pension or his pay for his Revolutionary services.

1. ↑ Maryland Genealogical Society. Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin. (Quarterly magazine)
   Vol. 14, No. 3, August 1973, Talbot County Maryland 1800 Census, Page 34.
2. ↑ Maryland Genealogical Society. Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin. (Quarterly magazine)
   Vol. 35, No. 2 Spring 1994, A Record of Tevis Births, p. 242.
3. ↑ Maryland and Delaware Revolutionary Patriots
   p. 269-270.