I have researched the "John of Spots" line and have believed that my Hugh Roberts probably belonged to that family, but I have never found anything to prove it. My Hugh Roberts lived on the Conway River. His land was first located in Culpeper Co., then in Orange when it was created from Culpeper, then in Madison when it was created from Orange.
This is the same Hugh Roberts who was a witness to the will of his neighbor, William Sims. In the will, William Sims mentions his daughter, Susannah Roberts. Because of this, a lot of researchers have listed Hugh Roberts wife as Susannah Sims. I don't know which "Roberts" male was married to Susannah Sims, but I don't believe it was Hugh Roberts. As you will see in the records that I have found, Hugh Roberts' wife in 1769 was named "Mary" AND the name of his wife at the time of his death in 1794 was "Mary".
This is what I have found on Hugh Roberts:
Name: Hugh ROBERTS
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Birth: bef 1735
Death: 24 Sep 1794 Madison Co. VA.
Father: Unknown ROBERTS
Spouses:
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1: Mary [ROBERTS]
Marriage: bef 1759
Children: Sarah (~1761-)
Thomas (~1765-)
George (1765-)
Benjamin (1765-)
Molly (1765-)
Nancy (1771-)
Hugh (~1773-1826)
John (~1777-)
Elizabeth (~1777-)
Notes for Hugh ROBERTS
Hugh Roberts name appears in a book entitled "The Underwood Family from Madison Co. Virginia" by Ben H. Coke, 1986, McDowell Publications, on page 90, part 5, where it reads as follows: " Hugh Roberts died in 1794 and left wife Mary and 9 children, included George, Benjamin, John, Hugh. Sally Roberts, b. abt. 1761, dau. of Hugh, married a Mr. Furnace and moved to Harrison Co. KY.
A Madison Co VA Chancery suit "Clark vs. Collins" shows that Hugh Roberts and Reuben Underwood were once neighbors . This lawsuit indicates that a mountain tract joining Hugh Roberts had once been occupied by Reuben Underwood. This tract of land had passed from Francis Kirtley to James Collins who sold the land bond to John Offill in 1773. Offill then assigned it to Reuben Underwood in 1775. The record indicates that Underwood later sold the land to William Sims, who then sold it in 1778 to Reuben Clark.
Hugh Roberts name also appears in Culpeper Co. Va. deed records several times:
(1) On 19 Oct 1769, Deedbook F, pp. 3-5. The record shows an indenture between Hugh Roberts and Mary his wife sold to William Henry of Culpeper Co. VA 197 acres in the Fork of the Conway and Rappidann River bounded by Frances Conway line.
(2) A second record appears in Deedbook F, pp 324-325, dated 15 Jun 1771, showing an indenture between William Kirtley amd Sarah his wife of Culpeper sold to Joshua Jackson of Culpeper 176 acres on the Conway River. Witnesses were Hugh Roberts, Francis Kirtley Jr., and Jeremiah Kirtley.
(3) A third record in Deedbook G, pp 199-201, dated 16 May 1773, shows an indenture between James Collins and Mary his wife of Culpeper Co. VA sell to Thomas Fitsgeral of Culpeper Co. VA 100 acres in Culpeper joining Hugh Roberts line.
(4) Hugh's name is listed on the 1787 Culpeper Tax List "C", District of Goodrich Lightfoot, Commissioner. The listing shows that there were no males between 16-21 living in the household, 2 blacks over 16, 0 blacks under 16, 2 horses, and 11 cattle.
His names appears in Orange Co. VA in Marriage Book 3, page 12, dated 12 May 1792, showing "a contract of marriage between Benjamin Henry and my daughter Nancy Roberts (signed) Hugh Roberts. Witnesses were Benjamin Henry and Thomas Roberts.
Hugh Roberts will is recorded in Willbook 1, page 51-52, Madison Co. VA, dated 28 May 1794. It reads, "In the name of God Amen, I Hugh Roberts of Madison County being in low state of health but in perfect sense and memory do make and ordet this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows:
(1) I bequeath my soul to God that gave me and my body to be decently buried at the decision of my executors hearafter named.
(2) I leave to my wife Mary Roberts all my temporal estate while she remains a widow, but if she marries then all my estate to be equally devided to all my children my land and all my estate together, but if she remains a widow till the youngest comes of age, then all to have their part and she her thirds.
(3) I likewise desire my estate to be appraised as soon as my death, the widow giving account of all upon oath.
(4)My dear friends Thomas Roberts and George Roberts to be executors to this my last will and testament.
Given my hand this this 28th day May 1794. (signed) Hugh Roberts. Teste: John Roberts, Nancy Henry, John Young.
At a court held for Madison County on Thursday, the 25th day of September, 1794, this last will and testament of Hugh Roberts, deceased was exhibited into court and being established and proved by the witnesses to be signed by the said testator and wholly written by himself is ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Thomas Roberts and George Roberts executors therein named who made oath thereto and together with Benjamin Henry their security entered into and acknowledged their bond conditioned as the law directs,.certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate in due form. (signed) Teste John Walker, Probate Court.
Other references to the execution of the will of Hugh Roberts appear in later Madison Co. VA records.
(1) Recorded in that county's Deedbook 2, pp 222-224, dated 17 Sep 1798 is the following: "Indenture between James Powell and Molly his wife, Benamin Henry and Nancy his wife, John Roberts and Hugh Roberts sell to Thomas Roberts 230 acres of land given by Hugh Roberts in his will to his nine children after the decease of his wife...James Powell, Molly Powell, Benjamin Henry, Nancy Henry, John Roberts, Hugh Roberts."
(2) Also recorded in Willbook I, p. 206 of Madison Co. VA, dated 27 Dec 1798, is the following: "We John Jackson and Thomas Roberts pay and deliver or cause to be delivered unto John Roberts and Elizabeth Roberts, orphans of Hugh Roberts deceased... as they attain lawful age..."
(3) The final reference to the distribution of property of Hugh Roberts is recorded in Deedbook 3, pp. 105-106, Madison Co, VA, dated 26 Nov 1801. It reads: "Indenture between George Roberts and Lavina his wife and Elizabeth Roberts sell to Thomas Roberts of Orange Co. VA 217 acres of their right tract of Hugh Roberts deceased, possesses in Madison Co. on the Conway River..."
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roberts/6340.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.3.1/mb.ashx
