Jeffrey Robertson III (1737 - 1812)

Born 15 Jan 1737 in Henrico County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Martha (Norvell) Robertson — married 1757 in Henrico, Virginia

Descendants

Died 2 Feb 1812 at age 75 in Buckingham County, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Jeffery was born in 1737 in Henrico County. Virginia. He is the son of Jeffrey Robertson II and Judith Mills (Tanner) Robertson .

He married c1757, Sarah Norvell, b. 9 Sept. 1730, Hanover Co., VA., d. 7 Sept. 1812, Cumberland Co., VA., dau. of George and Sarah Norvell (William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. 20 (1st Series), p. 222). Sarah's father was vestryman for the Bruton Parish Church, Williamsburg, VA (Source unknown, unconfirmed).

According to the autobiography of Jeffrey's son, Norvell Robertson (see link below), Jeffrey probably settled first in Buckingham Co. working as an overseer until about 1778. However, land records in Cumberland Co. appear to be telling us that Jeffrey did own some land on Muddy Creek in Cumberland by 1769, which he sold to his parents. And in 1774, Jeffrey bought land in Cumberland Co. from Thomas Holland, on Soak Arse creek. Most likely this is where Jeffrey lived until about 1824, when he moved to Buckingham Co. to live with his daughter Rhoda Gannaway.

No will is known for Jeffrey. If he wrote one, it may have been lost in the Buckingham County courthouse fire in 1869. At least three of his children, Rhoda, Norvell and Jeffrey, are confirmed with other records. Another daughter, Mary Robertson Shows, has been removed as a child of Jeffrey and Sarah because her profile shows her born in South Carolina in 1760 and married there in 1787. Those dates and places are inconsistent with Jeffrey's history. There could easily be other children, yet unidentified.

He passed away in 1812. His obituary was published 17 Apr. 1812 in "The Richmond Enquirer", p. # 3: "Died on the 2nd inst. at the residence of Mrs. Rhoda Gannaway, in the county of Buckingham, Mr. Jeffrey Robertson Sr. in the 75th year of his age". An article in "The Virginia Historical Society" Magazine (Vol. 37, p. 322) states Jeffrey died in the home of his daughter, Rhoda Robertson Gannaway.

Confusion with Other Jeffrey Robertson's

The several Jeffrey Robertson's are often confused. This profile previously included the prefix "Capt". That has been removed as there is no evidence that the subject Jeffrey held such a title. The William & Mary Quarterly (Vol. 22, Series 2, p. 62) states Jeffrey Robertson held the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army but the Jeffrey referred to was most likely the son of Tirey (Tyree) Robertson Sr.

Sources

• Cumberland County, Virginia Deed Book 4, p. 360; 23 October 1769, Edward Walton of Cumberland Co. to Jeffrey Robinson of same, 200 acres on waters of Muddy Creek adjoining Simon Gentry, Martha Hughes, Jesse Meador, and John Pleasants. No wit. No dower. Note: Same land was sold by Jeffrey Jr. (actually Jeffrey III) to his father, Jeffrey Robinson Sr. (Jeffrey II), of Chesterfield Co., 21 July 1771 (Cumberland Co. DB 4, p. 480).
• Cumberland County, Virginia Deed Book 5, p. 145; 22 February 1773, Jeffrey Robertson and Judith his wife of Chesterfield Co. to Robert Scruggs of Cumberland Co., 100 acres on Muddy Creek, being ½ the land adjoining John Pleasants to the north and west, Jehu Meador to the west and Robert Scruggs to the east. Judith relinquished dower 24 October 1774. No wit. Note: Robert Scruggs and wife Tabitha sold this land to William Fraser 22 February 1776 (Cumberland DB 5, p. 398).
• Cumberland County, Virginia Deed Book 5, p. 184; 23 August 1773, Jeffrey Robinson of Chesterfield Co. to Simon Gentry, 100 acres adjoining Simon Gentry and Meador. No wit. No dower.
• Cumberland County, Virginia Deed Book 5, p. 259; 27 March 1774, Thomas Holland of Halifax Co. to Jeffrey Robinson of Cumberland Co., 300 acres on Soak Arse Creek adjoining Alexander Trent, Joseph Hull Jenkins, Laurence Anderson, Maurice Langhorne and George Keeling, part of 400 acres willed to me by my father John Holland. Wit: John Lee, Nathan Chaffin, Francis Flippen.
• Cumberland County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1816, FHL Film 7849104; Jeffrey Robertson is recorded annually from 1782-1816. His son, Jeffrey Jr. is recorded from 1795-1816.
• Cumberland County, Virginia Deed Book 6, p. 142; 26 May 1783, Jeffrey Robertson and Sarah, his wife, of Cumberland Co., to George Anderson, land on both sides of Soak Arse Creek adjoining Alexander Trent, George Keeling and Jeffrey Robertson, part of land purchased by Jeffrey of Thomas Holland, a son of John Holland. No wit. Sarah Robertson relinquished dower.
• Cumberland County, Virginia Court Orders, 1767-1787, by Roger G. Ward, p. 120, OB p. 355, 23 June 1783, Sarah Robinson wife of Jeffrey Robinson relinquished dower on sale to George Anderson [Jeffrey Robertson III].
• Chesterfield County, Virginia Will Book 3, p. 519; 16 December 1784, Will of Jeffrey Robertson (Jr.), ...Item I give and bequeath unto my son Jeoffery Robertson one negro boy named Jerry to him and his heirs forever...
• Cumberland County, Virginia Court Orders, 1767-1787, by Roger G. Ward, p. 153, OB p. 87, July 1786, Joel Meggs appointed surveyor from Horn Quarter Road and the Church Road to Ham Church with hands of Martin Richardson, Ann Saunderson, Beverly Dial (?), Andrew Edwards, Henry Tapscott, John Jefferson, Alexander Trent, Samuel Atkinson, Tabitha Jones, Jeffrey Robinson and John Minter Jr.
• Cumberland County, Virginia Deed Book 7, p. 431; 7 December 1795, Jeffrey Robertson of Cumberland Co. to Joseph Hull Jenkins, 4 ¼ acres on north side of Soak Arse Creek, part of tract whereon Jeffrey Robertson now dwells, adjoining George Anderson, Mill Branch, Joseph Hull Jenkins. Wit: Jeffrey Robertson Jr., Ann Robertson, Cary Harrison. No dower.
• Cumberland County, Virginia Deed Book 7, p. 503; 25 December 1796, Edward Robinson to Jesse Meador, 176 acres bounded on north by Cartersville Road adjoining John Baughan, east by John Southall and Jesse Meador, south by Creed Haskins. Wit: John Baughan, Daniel Sanderson, Jeffrey Robinson. No dower.
• 1810 Federal Census, Cumberland County, Virginia; Jeffrey Robertson; 5m <10, 2m 10-16, 1m 16-26, 1m 26-45, 1f 10-16, 1f 16-25, 1f 26-45; Jeffrey Robertson Sr., 1m 10-16, 1m 16-26, 1m >45, 1f 16-26, 1f >45
• Cumberland county, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1816-1836, FHL Film 8182141; Jeffrey Robertson Sr. is recorded annually from 1816-1822. Jeffrey Robertson Jr. is recorded annually from 1816-1824. In 1824, Jeffrey Jr.'s estate was taxed, indicating he had died c1823/4.
• 1820 Federal Census, Cumberland County, Virginia; Jeffrey Robinson Sr., 1 male 10-15, 1 male >45, 1 female 16-25, 1 female >45, 4 slaves; Jeffrey Robinson Jr., 3 males <19, 2 males 10-16, 1 male 16-18, 1 male >45, 14 slaves.
• Buckingham County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1811-1826, FHL Film 7862491; Jeffrey Robertson is recorded in 1824 and 1825 but not taxed (due to age). He is not recorded after 1825.
• http://robisonandblythe.org/showmedia.php?mediaID=3917&medialinkID=4911 (Autobiography of Norvell Robertson)

Acknowledgements

• Thank you to Michelle Bairfield for starting this Wikitree profile on 7 Oct 13.
• Thank you to George Speed for supporting this Wikitree profile on Monday, January 6, 2014
• Thank you to Allan Thomas for supporting this Wikitree profile on Saturday, March 15, 2014.
• Research of the late Angus P. Robinson