Elijah Robertson (1752 - 1797)

Born 1752 in Brunswick, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Maclin) Robertson — married 1780 in Brunswick, Virginia, USA

Descendants

Died 14 Apr 1797 at about age 45 in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Captain Elijah Robertson served with Washington District Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Elijah Robertson is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A097145.

Elijah Robertson were born in Brunswick Co., Va in 1752. When very young, Elijah and brother James' parents, who were originally thought to be from Scotland, about the beginning of the year of 1769 they determined to move to the western field of settlement that had about this time been explored by their countryman and neighbor, Daniel Boone, and made corn this year on the Holston River, known as Watauga, near the present town of Knoxville. About the year 1780 a small colony moved to the present site of Nashville on the Cumberland River.

Elijah Robertson's Revolutionary War service was with volunteer bodies of troops maintained locally for constant service. No records of them were regularly submitted.

"Elijah and Sarah (Maclin) Robertson were married presumably where he and her parents resided in the part of North Carolina which is now Tennessee. They all resided in the settlement on the Watauga River in present East Tennessee. He did not remove to the Cumberland River settlement, now Nashville, until 1783. Their daughter, Elizabeth, presumably their oldest child, was born 12 March 1783. It is assumed that they were married about 1782. They were probably married at the Watauga settlement. Records show that Sarah (Maclin) Robertson's father, William Maclin, was in Nashville in 1783."

Elijah Robertson, was a contemporary and neighbor of Andrew Jackson and of his early associates

It is presumed that all his children were born in Davidson CO., Tenn,. at his plantation home near Nashville. His home is said to have been near "The Hermitage," the home of Andrew Jackson, and that their plantations adjoined.

i.Elizabeth, was born 12 Mar 1783.

ii.Matilda "Patsey" Robertson was born 1784

iii.Sterling Clack, was born 2 Oct 1785

iv.Eldridge Blount was born in 1786

v.James was born 1788

It is possible, however, that he and she were laid to rest in the family graveyard of her father, William Maclin..., about where Christ Church now (1928) stands, at the corner of Broad and McLemore Streets in Nashville."

ELIJAH ROBERTSON died in Davidson Co., Tennessee in 1797, leaving a will in which he gives the names of his children who were then living and also in the will provides that BENNETT & ROBERT SEARCY shall assist his wife and James Robertson in dividing the estate among them.

WILL OF ELIJAH ROBERTSON

Tenn., Davidson Co., Nashville, Clerk of County Court. From Photostat of original will....

I Elijah Robertson of Davidson County & State of Tennessee do make ordain this my last Will and Testament, in the following manner (To wit). It is my Will and desire that, [1221] James Robertson, Salley Robertson my wife, Bennet Searcy & Robert Searcy are hereby authorised, to make an Equal division of all my Estate, both real and personal, and divide equally as it can be, as to quantity, quality land situation amongst all my Children, namly, [12241] Elizabeth [12242] Patsey [12243] Sterling [12244] Eldridge and [12245] James to them their heirs and each of their heirs forever, taken into consideration what I have already given to them.

It is my Will also that all my sons are to enjoy & have a double portion of my Indian Lands, and my Daughters are also to have a double portion of the money or negroes due me from Col. William Cocke, to them their heirs &c.

It is my wish and desire that my wife Salley Robertson have and enjoy the Lands and plantation that I now live on near Nashville, during her natural life it is also to be observed that the timber on the tracts is not to be destroyed more than necessary requires it, And it further to be observed, that at the time the division of my Estate amongst my children, that my wife Salley Robertson, is to have an Equal share with my children of all such property as shall be divided, to her, her heirs forever. I also wish that Judge John McNairy, have the direction of the education of my son [12243] Sterling, and wish him to have as liberal education as the circumstances will admit of. I appoint, my wife Salley executrix & [1221] James Robertson Bennet Searcy and Robert Searcy executors to this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other or former Wills by me made. In Testimony I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 17th February, 1797.

E. Robertson

Signed Sealed & declared to be the last will and Testament of said [1224] :Elijah Robertson in presence

Val. Sevier

B Searcy Juratt.

All Exchs. Qualified.

State of Tennessee Davidson County Court July Sessions 1797 Bennet Searcy A Subscribing witness Proved on Oath the Execution of the within to be the Act and Deed of [1224] Elijah Robertson and the same With Probate is Registered Verbatim in book No. 4 page 76 August 3d 1797 Andrew Ewing.

DRAPER MANUSCRIPTS

In the Draper collection of manuscripts..., [there] are numerous references to Elijah Robertson and his widow.

Dr. Lyman C. Draper, 11 Mar 1844, wrote that he had seen Elijah Robertson's widow (Draper MS. 3XX25). His notes of that interview include the following with his notation, "From Mrs. Col. Elijah R. & son." (The notes in parentheses are mine. WCH)

"Col. Elijah Robertson died near Nashville, 14th April 1797 (aged) about 45 during the seige (1776)—then upon the north fork of Holston—Emigrated to the Cumberland country in 1783. Two or three times rep (resente)d the county (Davidson) in the N. C. Legislature." (Draper MS. 315204).

Having been aged "about 45" when he died, 14 Apr 1797, he was born about 1744. This corroborates the information in sketch by his grandson. [If 1224 Elijah Robertson died in 1797 at the age of 45, as his widow said, his birth year was 1752, not 1744. TR]

Fort Caswell was the place where "he lived at Wotaga during the seige." All the Watauga settlers gathered there. Fort Patrick Henry was "upon the north fork of Holston." It was at site of present city of Kingsport. The Indian allies of the British government attacked both these places at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. Elijah Robertson participated in their defense.

The "Adventurer" and flotilla of boats with the family of James Robertson and others began its memorable voyage to the Cumberland settlement from Fort Patrick Henry in 1779.

Elijah Robertson followed his brother, James, to the Cumberland settlement four years later, in 1783, as stated by his widow to Dr. Draper.

Elijah Robertson was a captain in the campaign of 1776, during the Revolutionary War against the Cherokee Indian allies of the British. Jacob Beeler of Sullivan Co., Tenn., in his pension statement, 22 Aug 1832, stated that he was associated with Capt. Elijah Robertson in the Cherokee campaign. (Draper MS. 2DD439) .

He was later colonel, commanding the militia of Davidson Co., then in "The Territory South of the River Ohio." Brigadier Gerd. Daniel Smith was Secretary of the Territory and was acting Governor in absence of Gov. Blount. The following letter is among the Draper MSS. (4XX7). Note: Original link is unavailable but this is top level for Draper Manuscripts: https://www.archives.gov/nhprc/projects/catalog/draper-manuscripts-0

Sources

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed November 28, 2016), "Record of Elijah Robertson", Ancestor # A097145.
• Colonel Harlee's Notes on Elijah Robertson
• Draper Manuscript Collection

Acknowledgement

• https://rutherfordtnhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Pioneers-before-1800.pdf
• Revolutionary War Soldiers for NC and SC, Data provided by the website Carolana.