Birth: Jul. 1, 1705, Wales
Death: Jul. 1, 1773
Philadelphia
Philadelphia County
Pennsylvania, USA
This Thomas Roberds is the earliest known Roberds. He married a Sarah Gilbert and they had three sons, Freeman (1730), Walter (1734) and John (1740). Thomas married and died in Philadelphia.
Thomas evidently was not a Quaker, although he signed the marriage certificates of some of his children. He may be the Thomas Roberds named on the first plat of survey for Milford Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1734-Sep or Oct. (reference: "Bucks County Pioneers of the 18th Century", pg. 106, by William H. Davis, 1903.)
When his son John was married 1764-12mo-14, he was shown as of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. A Thomas Roberds is buried at Merion and is listed as a Revolutionary War veteran. There are records of other Thomas Roberd(t)s who were immigrants in the early 1700's, or who otherwise made themselves known, including one runaway servant of 1720.
This Thomas was living in Wapping, London, England where he was indicted for stealing 3 pair of stockings and a silk handkerchief, value 10 shillings, the goods of John Sherwill; and a shift and 3 aprons, value 2 shillings, the goods of Hannah Cousins, on the 17 SEP 1718. It appeared that he had washed the goods and hung them up in the yard to dry, and that the Constable going to Church late, about 11 at night to search for and met the prisoner with the goods wet upon him, which he ordered to be tried the next day, and then came and owned them. Was there with the prisoner, but he got away. The Jury found him guilty to the value of 10 d. transportation.
Trial date: 14 OCT 1719, verdict: Part(ial) guilty: sentenced to transportation at Session of Gaol (Jail)Defendants home: St. John at Wapping (located between Gun Dock and Bell Dock at Wapping Old Stairs lead form St. John directly to Thames River). Wapping was one of the poorest districts in London, a haunt of prostitutes and petty criminals, living alongside those who earned a precarious living from the docks.
Ref. History of St. Peter's Parish, London
St. John at Wapping was located on Church Street in 1617 - Stepney in 1694 - St. George in the East in 1727. It was gutted during the "blitz" in WW-II. The church tower remains and a small church was built on the ruins. The parish united with St. Peters Parish (London Docks) on the North side of the Thames River, west of the old city.
Transported on the prison ship "Susannah & Sarah" where he was received on board 23 OCT 1719 bound for Maryland, Capt. Peter Wills; Mate, John Lux. They were approximately 182 days at sea landing at Annapolis 23 APR 1720. It is said that he was a bonded servant who ran away but I don't have any details on that or how he got from Annapolis to Philadelphia. We do know that when one of the sons was married he lived in Bromley Township. None of this is proven, to date.
Family links:
Children:
Walter Roberds (1734 - 1830)*
John Roberds (1740 - 1797)*
Freeman Roberds (1745 - 1804)*
*Point here for explanation
Burial:
Merion Cemetery
Philadelphia
Philadelphia County
Pennsylvania, USA
Created by: Roberds
Record added: Aug 16, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial# 40758416
