Person:David Robe (1)

David Robe was apparently twice married. His first wife's name is unknown. His daughter Sarah Robe Howland reported in the 1880 census that her mother (David's unknown first wife) was born in Ireland. Of his second wife Sarah Shell Robe says: "Our Grandfather David Robe son of William and Sarah Robe married Elizabeth Baldwin. Unto them were born eight children."

David owned a lot in Morgantown, (West) Virginia which is now the site of the First Baptist Church. He also farmed land in the Clinton District southwest of town on or near the land owned by his father, William Robe, Sr. John Ferguson was one of the Robe family neighbors in that area.

I speculate that David acquired the slave, Milley, after his first wife died, to do housekeeping and to take care of his little daughter Sarah and his mentally incapacitated elder brother William Robe, Jr. Milley was in the household for up to eight years (1790 to 1798). For whatever reason, Milley grew angry--murderously angry--with both David and William Jr.

David Robe's descendants in Adams County, Ohio traditionally celebrate at family reunions with a cake marked "1796," for the year David first came to Adams/Brown County. David, however, seems to have returned from time to time to Monongalia County, Virginia because his name continues to appear in the county records there.

With the death of William Robe, Jr., the father, William Sr., transferred William Jr.'s land to David Robe and his brother Robert. Rick Toothman, Monongalia County (West) Virginia Deedbook p. 94. 13 Apr 1801. William and Sarah ROBE to David ROBE. 112 acres on Booths Creek, inherited by William as heir at law of his son William ROBE deceased. Adjoining William Robe Sr., Capel Holland, Bartholomew Jenkins. Consideration: $10. Signed: William Robe, Sarah Robe. Witnesses: none. Acknowledged in court, 13 Apr 1801. Del: to D. Robe, February 1802. Recorded: OS 2:102.

He purchased land in Adams County in 1803: Adams Co., Ohio Deeds, 1797-1806, compiled by TLC Genealogy, PO Box 403368, Miami Beach, FL 33140-1369, p. 66 "p.75 Nov 21, 1803 from Nathaniel MASSIE and Susan, his wife, of Ross Co, to David ROBE of Adams Co., $137, A land on east fork of Eagle Cr., bounded by Thomas HILLS survey, John MAHAFFEY, MCGOVENEY, 68.67 acres being part of a tract of 2800 acres patented by the United States to MASSIE on Sep 7, 1800. Signed - Nathl MASSIE, Susan MASSIE. Wit - Joseph TAYLOR, DC MASSIE. Ack. in Ross Co, Nov 21, 1803 by Nathl MASSIE; Susan relinquished dower. Recorded at Adams Co. Jan 9, 1804"

David Robe paid $4 in flour in subscription to the construction of West Union Presbyterian Church in 1810. http://westunionpresbyterian.homestead.com/files/pledges.html

Benjamin Sutton, David's brother-in-law, leased a ferry across the Ohio river to him, according to "The Sutton-Beasley Families of Brown County, Ohio." This ferry connected Maysville (formerly Limestone), Kentucky with Aberdeen, Ohio.

David's estate was recorded in Brown County, Ohio, 8 January 1819, according to a family group sheet from Carey Ross Alexander of Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Alexander compiled "The Descendants of Mary Elizabeth Currey Barker and John Baldwin."

1.   LDS film #1035723, item 3. "Descendants of Mary Elizabeth Currey Barker and John Baldwin".

   Of David, his granddaughter Sarah Shell Robe says: "I will now speak of David. He lived in Adams Co. Ohio. He had a family but was not a Christian. He died in the year 1818 of rheumatism."

2.   Monongalia County (West) Virginia Deedbook Records 1784-1810, compiled by Rick Toothman
   14.

   12 Dec 1796. David ROBE to John FOURGUSSON [the name is variously spelled in the instrument]. Lot [number omitted] in Morgantown, adjoining lots of Thomas Wilson and William Petty John. Consideration, $100, VA. Signed: David Robe. Witnesses: none. Acknowledged in court. No delivery shown. Recorded: OS 1:108. (OS stands for Old Series, vol. 1, p. 108)

3.   Adams County, Ohio Deeds 1797-1806.

   Nov 21, 1803 from Nathaniel Massie and Susan, his wife, of Ross Co, to David Robe of Adams Co., $137