Analysis:Parents of Robert (4)

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Source:Summers, 1929:1260 reports that a Robert Edmiston married Mary Glenn on the 4th of March 1793. There are several Robert Edmiston's in the area this time, and different authors have assigned him to different places in the family tree. Howard Jones provides the following analysis that shows the best match up to be with person:Robert Edmiston (4)

By Howard V Jones fide Dlbradley1 17:40, 23 March 2009 (EDT)

This Robert Edmondson is, I believe, correctly placed here, although none of the earlier researchers did so.

R. S. Cole left this Robert in limbo, not knowing where to place him. He was probably misled by Dr. S. Cameron Edmiston, A Branch of the Edmiston Family, published in the 1930's. ^[1] Dr. Edmiston, on no cited evidence at all, identified the son of Col. William as the Robert Edmiston who allegedly came to Lincoln Co. TN c. 1811, with wife Susan Hanna and 5 children: William, John, David, Alexander and Mary (Polly). Evidence is now known which proves conclusively that this Robert was the son of William Edmiston of Rockbridge Co., d. 1781, and further, that he died before arriving in Lincoln Co. c. 1813. Col. William's son Robert was clearly alive later than that.

Therefore, some other Robert must be Col. William's son, and we turn to the family account of Hetty McEwen, who presumably was better able to identify her Uncle Robert than later researchers. She says of Robert: that Robert Campbell Edmiston was born in Augusta Co. VA (one version says 28 Aug. 1761, which contradicts Col. William's Bible), and was brought by his father to Washington Co. He was a successful farmer and politician. He entered the army at an early age, under his cousin, Col. William Campbell, who commanded at the Battle of King's Mountain. He was frequently sent as a representative to the Virginia legislature. He died in Richmond, Virginia, in the path of duty. His bust in marble now stands in the State Capitol. He left nine children, five sons and four daughters. He had a good home.

Unfortunately, there are difficulties with this account. First, there is no indication in the records that any Robert was called Robert Campbell Edmiston. However, Mrs. McEwen seems to have had Campbell on her mind a good deal and this is not the only place where she gratuitously adds it to names of the Edmiston family. Second, William Campbell died in the 1780's, so it is impossible for Robert to have served under him. Mrs. McEwen may have confused him with his uncle Robert (E-2-1-3) or his cousin, Robert "Jr." (E-1-1-1-1). Finally, although this Robert has 9 children, there are 5 daughters and 4 sons, the reverse of Mrs. McEwen's distribution.

On the other hand, Mrs. McEwen is right about the legislative service. The Virginia Legislature Database at the Va. State Library shows that Robert Edmondson was a member of the House in the 1822 legislature, serving only one year.

The following is the obituary of Captain Robert Edmondson from "The Richmond Enquirer" February 15, 1823. [Communicated]

DIED--At his residence on the 28th, ultimo, Captain ROBERT EDMONDSON, late a member of the General Assembly from the County of Washington. Capt. E. was a respectable citizen and an honest man; he has left a large family and (undecipherable) to lament his loss. fide Jack Ott, personal communication

[The undecipherable part looks like ( numerous connections)].
  

Unless Robert was living in Richmond at the time of his death, he died in Washington Co., where he is buried. Whether there is a bust of him in Richmond is not known. It is also not known why he was called "Captain."

This Robert is of the right generation and in the right area [to be Col. Edmiston's son]. Per his tombstone, his age at death gives him a birth date that matches the Bible record for Col. William's son Robert. He did have 9 children.^[2]

A paper in the Blanche Bentley Mss. in the TN State Library says, "Jane Glenn Edmondson, niece of Aunt Betsy Smith, m. Samuel, son of Matthew Buchanan." Betsy Smith, of course, would be a daughter of Col. William, and so Robert's daughter Jane Glenn would be her niece if Robert was Col. William's son. Mrs. Bentley had many family contacts a generation or more back, and this sounds like a solid family tradition picked up.

The absolute proof of this might be extant. In his will, Col. William left Robert land according to a division previously registered with the county officials. If this division still exists, the lands which Robert inherited could be compared with the lands held by this Robert. I'm sure that there will be a match.

Robert also inherited the land of his uncle, Lt. Robert Edmiston Sr., who was killed at King's Mountain. It should be possible to trace this land and see whether it comes into the hands of the Robert who m. Mary Glenn.

Steve Deitz sent this:

Washington Co. VA Survey records (1781-96).Page 37 - Robert Edmonson...400 ac...Commissioners Certificate...between the middle and south fork of Holston River...June 12, 1782 - Robert Edmonson, Legatee of Robert Edmonson, decd...400 ac by settlement made in 1763...adjoining George Masonrie, Robert Montgomery, Samuel Houston & Edward Houston...August 10, 1781

The origin of Robert's first land has not been discovered:

Washington Co. VA, DB II, 390. 5 Jan. 1801. Robert/Mary Edmonson to Moses McSpadden, $1025, 205 acres, forks of the Holston, where Robert lives. Signed Edmiston. Rec. 17 Feb. 1801. Dedimus, 16 Feb. 1801.

DB IV, 200. 1 Aug. 1809. John/Nancy McCord to Robert Edmiston, $500, 120 acres where he lives, corner to Robert. Rec. 15 Aug. 1809.

Washington Co. VA, Census 1810, p. 7. Robert Edmondson: 1 m 0-10, 1 10-16, 1 16-26, 1 26-45; 3 f 0-10, 2 10-16, 1 26-45. 5 slaves

DB VI, 69. 16 May 1815. Robert/Mary Edmondson to son James, 130 acres, William E. Buchanan line. Rec. 16 May 1815

Ibid., 210. 20 Dec. 1815. Samuel Edmiston to Robert Edmiston, $1000, 210 acres, Middle Fork, adj. Jonathan Smith. Wits: Jonathan Smith, Andrew Edmiston, G.W.C. Edmiston. Rec. 20 Feb. 1816 [The Samuel here is not Robert's brother, but his cousin, E-1-2-2-5]

Ibid., 237. 19 March 1816. Robert/Betty Lowry to Robert Edmondson. $23, 22 1/2 acres, where Lowry lives. Rec. 20 March 1816.

Ibid., 312. a J.P.

DB VII, 203. 16 May 1820. Robert/Mary Edmondson to Congregation of Rock Springs Church, 55 poles, where Robert lives.

DB VII, 321. 20 March 1821. Robert\Mary (x) Edmondson to James Austin, $1000, 210 acres, Middle Fork, corner to Jonathan Smith. Rec. 20 March 1821 [apparently the land from Samuel Edmiston, 1815]

DB VIII, 25. 18 Nov. 1822. Robert/Polly Edmondson to Thomas McSpadden, $10, one half of tract of 22 acres, South Fork, corner McSpadden. Rec. 19 Nov. 1822.^[3]

Ibid., 26. 16 Nov. 1822. Robert/Polly Edmondson to Benjamin and Peggy Sharp, $100, 107 acres, William Buchanan's line. Rec. 19 Nov. 1822.

Washington Co. VA, DB VIII, p. 26

This Indenture made and entered into this sixteenth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty between Robert Edmondson and Polly his wife in the county of Washington of the State of Virginia of the one part and Benjamin Sharp and Peggy his wife of the county and State aforesaid of the other part Witnessed that the said Robert Edmondson and Polly his wife for and in consideration of the sum of One hundred dollars to them in hand paid the receipt thereof is hereby acknowledged hath bargained and sold and do by these presents grant, bargain and sell unto the above named Benjamin Sharp and Peggy his wife one certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the county aforesaid containing one hundred and seven acres and a half amd bounded as followeth Viz. Beginning at a stake on William E. Buchanan's patent line N 37 W 68 poles to a large white oak and hickory sapling N 86 W 4 poles to a hickory N 52 W 68 poles to two oaks and white oak corner to John Keys's land S 50 W 40 poles to a white oak sapling West 20 poles to a white oak and Spanish oak S 75 W 79 poles to between two small white oak saplings on the original line S 40 E 98 poles to a maple N 43½ E 31 poles to two white oaks S 42 E 78 poles to a stake in the great road N 53 E 37 poles to two white oaks in William E. Buchanan's patent line N 58½ W 26 poles to a black oak corner to the said Buchanan's land and with his line N 64 E 86 poles to the Beginning with its appurtenances To Have and To Hold the said tract or parcel of land with its appurtenances to the said Benjamin Sharp and Peggy his wife and their heirs forever and the said Robert Edmondson and Polly his wife doth covenant for themselves and their heirs to Warrant and defend the said tract or parcel of land unto the said Benjamin Sharp and Peggy his wife and their heirs from all claims whatsoever in Witness whereof the said Robert Edmondson and Polly his wife have subscribed their names and affixed their seals the day and year first above written.
Signed Robert Edmondson

At a Court held for Washington County the 19th day of November 1822 This Indenture of Bargain & Sale between Robert Edmondsons of the one part and Benjamin Sharp and Peggy his wife of the other part was acknowledged in Court by the said Edmondson as his act and deed and ordered to be recorded.

DB VI, 79. 16 May 1815, Robert Edmondson/Mary to James Edmondson, their son, "for natural love and affection", 130 acres. [Slightly different description but same land.]

DB VI, 347. 3 Feb. 1817. James Edmondson June/Jane to Robert Edmondson, $1200. 136 acres. same land. Rec. 18 Feb. 1817

Robert shared in his father's lands in Lincoln Co. TN, but is not known ever to have gone there:

Lincoln Co. TN, DB E-1, 25. 28 April 1809. William Edmiston. WCV, to Saml Edmiston, Robt Edmiston Thomas Edmiston William Edmiston Jr Andrew Edmiston General William Campbell Edmiston, Margaret Harrald Esther Kennedy Mary McCorwn Patsy Gillespie Elizabeth Edmiston Sally Edmiston Catsy Moffett Edmiston all children of William Edmiston. for and in consideration of the love and affection which he has to his said children and in consideration of the sum of one Dollar.....as tenants in common all his lands to which he has any title or rights in which I have any Interests lying on Elk River or any of its waters in the State of Tennessee....upon conditions nevertheless that the ______ persons of the second part shall pay all costs charges and fees in finding and Surveying or obtaining titles to the said land and upon this further condition to [?] the will satisfy the claim or claims which Joseph Lapp & Joesph Cunningham ___ on the said William Edmiston .....Wits: Saml Edmiston, William E. Craig, John Keely Jr., Richard Dean. Rec. WCV 17 <au 1809

DB E-1, 26, 18 May 1816. Robert Edmiston, Thomas Edmiston, Jonathan Smith, all WCV, to William Edmiston, LCT. $ 10.00. "all and each of them their rites [sic] titles and interests to an undivided moiety of land conveyed to us by William Edmiston...by indenture bearing date the twenty-eight day of April one thousand eight hundred and nine It being understood by the contracting parties that the land we are about to vonvey is disputed and that William Edmiston is perfecxtly acuqainted with the Situation of the titles of these lands which we are about for to convey .... Wits: Saml Edmiston, Andrew Edmiston, Genl Wm Campbell Edmiston. Rec. 20 May 1816

Washington Co. WB V, 105. 19 Feb. 1823. Inventory, Robert Edmondson, James Edmondson Admr. Rec. 17 June 1823

Ibid., 130. Will, William Edmondson Buchanan, 8 Sept. 1823, pr. 16 Sept. 1823. Bequests to Mary Edmondson ($400), Polly, Dorcas, Elizabeth and Jane Edmondson ($50 each). Excrs. William Buchanan and James Edmondson Jr. [What connection Robert might have had with William Edmondson Buchanan is not known, except that they apparently lived next door to each other. William E. Buchanan was the son of John Buchanan, grandson of Samuel Buchanan, the Buchanan family who had lived next door to John and Robert Edmiston in Augusta Co. William Edmondson Buchanan was also the "adopted" son of Thomas Edmondson, d. 1799, whose relationship to the other Edmondsons is not known. William E. was unmarried, and the remainder of his estate went to his brothers and sisters.]

DB IX, 322. 15 Jan. 1827. Thomas McSpadden and the heirs of Robert Edmondson dec'd to John Collins, $40, 53 acres South Fork, adj. Patrick Collins, Robert Campbell. Signed: Thomas McSpadden, Polly G. Edmondson, Dorcas L. Edmondson. Wits: Paterson Sharp, Benjamin Sharp, James Edmonson Jr. Rec. 16 Jan. 1827

Washington Co. VA, Census 1820, p. 244. Mary Edmondson: 1 m 10-15, 1 15-20, 1 20-30; 1 f 50-60

WB VI, 163. Settlement, Robert Edmondson. James Edmondson Jr., Admr. Rec. 18 Jan. 1831.

WB VII, 65. 17 Feb. 1839. Dower in slaves (Jacob and Elen) assigned to Mary, widow of Robert Edmondson. Rec. 23 Apr. 1839.

Washington Co. Minute Book IV, 8. 23 Apr. 1839. James Grant vs. Robert Edmondson heirs. Slaves to be sold from estate.

DB XV, 204. 25 June 1840. James Edmondson Jr., David/Mary Duff, Dorcas L. Berry, Robert Edmondson, James/Elizabeth K. Grant, Jane G. Buchanan (of Lincoln Co. TN), John L. G. Edmondson, heirs of Robert Edmondson dec'd, to John Preston, $100.80, 2 tracts, South Fork, 167 acres, part of survey of 200 acres made for Robert and James Jr., adj. Robert Houston, Hugh Mahaffey; 169 acres, part of 500 surveyed for Hugh Mahaffey, Moses McSpadden and Robert Edmondson jointly, adj. Moses McSpadden heirs. Wits: Andrew Buchanan, David R. Smyth.

WB VIII, 295. Rec. 27 Feb. 1844. Account, Robert Edmondson, James Edmondson Jr., Admr. 7 heirs and the widow: David D./Polly Duff, Robert Edmondson, Dorcas Berry, James/Elizabeth Grant, Jane G. Buchanan, John L.G. Edmondson, Benjamin/Mary Sharp. Also, to all 1/9th from Benjamin G. Edmondson, dec'd.

He was a county justice (1806--Summers, History, 825).

Washington Co. VA, Death Register. Mary Edmondson d. 20 Apr. 1859, age 86, widow of Robert Edmondson, daughter of James Glenn. Reported by son John L.G. Edmondson

Footnotes

1. ↑ Source:Edmiston and Edmiston, 1933
2. ↑ Presumably the age at death is from the original gravestone. The current stone was replaced in recent years, and the age at death not included as such on the replacement stone. It would be useful to get a photograph of the original showing dates, etc, or a transcription of what the original stone said.
3. ↑ This is a little curious. a Thomas McSpadden indicates in his Rev. War pension application in Rutherford/Davidson Co TN, that he served under Col Edmiston, and that he lived at the Edmiston Settlement. A Thomas McSpadden is said to have married Dorothy, daughter of person:William Edmiston (5). In anycase, McSpadden apparently moved to Rutherford/Davidson County with William, Robert, and John Edmiston about 1787. If its the same Thomas one wonders why he was acquiring land in Washington County in 1822. Perhaps the Thomas who moved to Davidson County is the son of Thomas who married Dorothy. Need to check the pension statement for the exact dates, and also need to look at the McSpadden's who settled in this area to see what the connection is.