The Roberts Family -- Surname Saturday

The below posting is from Sharon and Vernell Roberts of Minnesota. Sharon and I were in contact many years ago because the below Roberts line connects into my Schrambling family. She prepared a nice newsletter complete with several photos, and she has allowed me to post her information here, in hopes of locating other descendants.

Descendants of Eliakim and Margaret Bullock Roberts

Eliakim Roberts, a Welsh immigrant, enlisted in the NY Militia in the 1812 War at Pittstown (now known as Monroe) Ontario County and served at Camp Greenwich. He was honorably discharged at Albany, NY about January 1, 1815 per War of 1812 Widow Pension Records.

Margaret was born Margaret Bullock who married Eliakim Roberts in Canajoharie on either 17 Feb 1814 or 10 Dec 1820 per an 1812 War Pension Record received from the National Archives this week. Eliakim died in Sodus, Wayne County, NY on August 1830 or 1837.

Margaret Bullock married Eliakim Roberts on December 10, 1820 in Canajoharie, New York by a Rev. George B. Miller. Margaret is the daughter of Reuben and Anna Bullock formerly of Duchess County. Reuben and Anna Bullock moved to Canajoharie in 1811 where they farmed near the town of Canajoharie.

There is a note that states that there were “two witnesses that testify that they were present at the marriage of ELIAKIM and MARGARET BULLOC on 10 Dec 1820 and one witness testified he was present at funeral of said soldier. (signed) JOHN SHERMAN, July 15, 1871.”

Her residence (1871) listed is Wilna, Carthage Co, NY. Margaret's maiden name was Bullock and her family was associated with the Baptist Church of Ames just outside of Canajoharie, New York.

The Bullock family has a website that features the undocumented 16 children of Reuben and Ann Bullock whereby a Peggy (Margaret possibly) is listed who married a Roberts according to the extensive Bullock Family website: http://users.stargate.net/~qecpaul/history/bullockhistory.htm#APP. 

Children of Margaret and Eliakim Roberts:

Andrew Brounell Roberts, 18 Mar 1820, married Hester L, 28 Oct 1824 moved to Rock Co Wisconsin – 1870 census.

Hiram Roberts, 13 Aug 1825, married Catherin Scramling, abt. Dec 14, 1828 movd to Ionia, MI – 1870, 1880, 1900 census

Erastus Roberts, abt. 1826 (listed in a family sheet from an 1863 Bible)

Eliakim Roberts Jr., abt. 1829, married Mary – 1850, 1860, Eliakim Roberts held office on the City Board for Canajoharie, Montgomery County, New York.

William Roberts, 1828

Samuel Roberts, unknown

According to the 1812 Widow Pension Record, Eliakim died on either 11 Aug 1829 or 10 Aug 1830 in Williamson, County of Ontario.

Census records show Margaret living in Canajoharie, Montgomery County, NY from 1830 to 1870 living next to her mother, Anna Bullock, her brother, Hiram Bullock and with her children; Andrew, Hiram and Eliakim Jr. Margaret applied for the War of 1812 Bounty Land in July of 1856. 

Margaret moved with unknown family to Wilna, Carthage, Jefferson County, NY in 1871 whereby she began to apply for the War of 1812 Widow Pension Request of $18.00 which continued with appeals until 1877.

There was a letter sent to the Carthage Post Office inquiring about her in 1883 but did not find her. Margaret’s sister, Diantha Guthrie, was listed as a witness for the pension paperwork and it is possible she lived with that family but it is uncertain.

It is unknown where she is buried nor the placement of Eliakim Roberts.

Per 1812 War Widow Pension Request notes on master copy No. 680, Margaret lived in Wilna, Carthage, Jefferson Co NY during the process of rejections and appeals for Eliakim's pension.

Original application received on March 28, 1871, rejected on 17 July 1871 due to marriage date issues, letter of appeal by John Fulton of Carthage, NY, reopened case on Sept 19, 1872, rejection reaffirmed on 24 Sept 1872, Case before Circuit Court on 5 April 1878, and a letter to postmaster of Carthage to contact Margaret Roberts on 15 May 1883.

Hiram and Catherine Roberts

According to the 1860 Census, it lists Hiram Roberts (born August 1823 in New York) and his wife, Catherine Martin Scramling (born 1828), with children as:

Emmagene ­born 1851
Evelyn – born 1853

Charlotte – born 1855

Addison – born 1856

Nathan – born 1859 (died young) and Rosalie (died young) Then the Civil War began in 1861, whereby 

Hiram served as a cook. He returned to find that the two youngest children had died. Marlene wrote of a “Rosalie” as being born in New York. She could have been born after the 1860 census and she and Nathan had died by the time he returned home. Then the family moved to Ionia, Michigan by 1870 per 1870 Census. They had the following children:

• Hiram J. – born 1871 (aka Manley or Mannie?)
• Benjamin F. ­born 1873 Mother, Catherine had died by the 1880 Ionia, MI Census. A family member writes that she died when the boys were 7 and 9 years old. Catherine had worked very hard in a factory making heavy paper bags made to hold flour. Her fingers would bleed from the sharp edges and paste. (Possibly, Arkle and Smiths Flour Sack Company, Canajoharie, NY) Family story has states that Hiram was a“real Welsh man, a dude, a prim, as he did very little hard work.” He remarried and had a war pension of $30.00 monthly which came every 3 months so that was a great day. He died when he was around 60 years old and buried in Lyons, Michigan (13 Nov 1903 – actually 77 years/3 months).

Hiram and Achsah Roberts (2^nd wife)

Hiram is listed on the 1900 Ionia MI Census. Hiram is listed with his 2^nd wife, Achsah Giles Krieble, her adult son, Alvin H Krieble with his children; Alta and Robert. Hiram’s daughter, Charlotte, married Alvin H Krieble, which is the son of Achsah and 1^st husband Moses Krieble.

Addison and Emma Jane Roberts

There is a story of Addison walking with the mule barges down the early canals (Clinton's Ditch in New York) and was away from home for days. Addison's family was originally from Canajoharie, NY where his mother, Margaret (Bullock) Roberts was a widow as her husband, Eliakim Roberts (an 1812 War veteran) had died leaving her with 4 confirmed children (6 unconfirmed). 

Addison known as “Ed” and Emma had 4 children as follows:

Grace

 Hiram Edward

 Frank V

Clayton Alan

Emma Vernon was born Jan.10, 1864 near Mankato. She grew to womanhood there and was married Nov. 25, 1886 to Addison Edward Roberts. On July 6, 1896, they came to Inman Township in a covered wagon and located on a farm which has been the family home ever since.

Mrs. Roberts was a kindly woman and early in her married life, during the rugged pioneer days, she became well known for miles around for her tender and capable care of the sick. She left her home at all hours of the day and night and in all sorts and conditions of weather to help anyone who needed her.

Mr. Roberts died in September 1939 and her only daughter, Mrs. Grace Edin, died in 1938. Surviving are three sons ­Hiram of Parkers Prairie; Clayton at home and Frank of Inman; also twelve grandchildren and several great grandchildren. She also leaves one brother, Edward Vernon, of St. Peter.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 23 from the Belmont Funeral Home in Henning at one o'clock, the Rev. E.E. Anderson of the Methodist church officiating. Interment will be in the Inman cemetery beside her husband.

Benjamin and Eliza Roberts

Benjamin F. Roberts traveled to Le Seur County, MN where he is listed as "Rowing Boat." We know that the Vernon family would vacation at Lake Emily and maybe this is how Eliza and Benjamin met? It also could be that Emma Jane (Vernon) and husband, Addison Roberts, introduced them as well.

They both married sisters, Emma Jane and Eliza Vernon.

Eliza and Benjamin Roberts had a daughter, Bertha, in 1897.

They lived in a small house in Kasota, Le Seur County, MN, where Benjamin died in a kerosene fire as he attempted to start the stove with it and lived 10 days. He died at 30 years old. He was employed at the Stone Quarry according to his obituary in the Mankato Free Press on Dec. 15, 1902

St. Peter Herald on Dec 19, 1902.

BENJAMIN ROBERTS 

Benjamin Roberts, who was seriously burned on December 1st, was taken to St. Joseph's hospital in Makato where he died last Sunday morning, aged about 32 years.

The funeral was held at the Baptish Church in this place, Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Deceased leaves a wife and a little daughter to mourn his loss. The members of the local Workmen Lodge of which he was an honored member, attended to his body. Deceased was comparatively, a young man and highly respected by all who know him. The HERALD with the general public sympathies with the bereaved mother and daughter.

Eliza and Bertha moved to Ionia, Michigan to live with Hiram J (aka Manley) as shown in the 1910 and 1920 Fairplaine Township, Montcalm County Census reports. Eliza after she lost her daughter, Bertha, in 1927 in Michigan.

She came to live with her sister, Emma Roberts approx. in 1931 as her obituary states in the St. Peter Herald. She spent 17 years with Emma at the Inman Township homestead. Eliza died September 11, 1948, carried by train to her final resting place beside her husband, Benjamin in Kasota Hill Cemetery in Kasota, MN.