The History of Nathan Robertson and His Descendents

 

Contributor: Hal Beumer - El Cajon, CA
email: beumer at alum.mit.edu
Note: Replace "at" with @ , this is done this way to foil spam robots which gather e-mail.

The History of Nathan Robertson and His Descendants

When Nathan and Robert Robertson came to Indiana it was but a territory - it not having been admitted into the Union as a state until the year 1816, Dec 16. Indiana Territory was organized in the year 1800. (page 1)


Nathan Robertson had two brothers, William and Robert. Robert came with Nathan to KY, and thence to Clark County, IN, where he died at a good old age. William - the other brother - went from Maryland to Georgia when that state was first settled - sometime before Nathan and Robert came to KY and his brothers never heard from him afterward, as there were at that time no railroads and but few mail facilities. (page 3)

Nathan Robertson lived 20 miles from Annapolis, MD near the Concregig River. Crossed the Allegheny Mountains to KY with seven children, with their goods on two old horses - one horse died on the way - no home prepared at end of journey. Nothing but forest and wild animals. What courage!! (page 4?)

Robert Robertson, Sr. brother of Nathan Robertson, Sr., was a drinking man and always remained in poverty. His sons were Nathan, Samuel and Robert. Nathan was a staunch Baptist. His wife's name was Annie. They had a daughter Polly, who first married a Mr. Robert Lowry and after his death she married Nay[sic]. Her daughter's daughter, Mary Jane, married Eli Wells (a cousin of my husband - Merit Wells). The first funeral my father (Aquilla Robertson) remembers of was his great uncle Robert Robertson in Clark County. The first wedding he ever attended was that of his cousin Amos Robertson, the son of his Uncle Robert, brother of Middleton. (page 4?)

In 1787, Robert and his brother Nathan with their families emigrated to KY, taking the long roundabout route southwest through Virginia to the Cumberland Gap, thence over the Wilderness Road to Bourbon County, near Paris, KY. Their belongings were carried on pack horses as no wagons could traverse the Wilderness Road. Of the two old horses with which Nathan started, one died on the way. Men, woman and children of necessity since there were but two horses made most of the journey on foot., as did thousands of other home seekers in the twenty years between 1775 and 1795. They traveled hundreds of miles over mountain and river, through mud and through forest with no place to sleep at night save by an open campfire. Besides the difficulties of the trail and the hardships of rain and cold, the fear of attack by the Indians was always present. Where the danger was greatest, the travelers could not even have the comfort of the campfire.It was customary for families to make the journey in parties, since travel over this route was so difficult and dangerous. Going to KY, people usually waited on the Block House on the Holston until a large enough company had assembled to make it safe to proceed through the gap and over the wilderness road. That they found friends at the journey's end seems fairly certain, since the Tucker's who lived in the same hundred in MD came to KY in 1785 and were already settled in the neighborhood to which the Robertson's came.

Nathan married Miss Elizabeth Speaks of Maryland in 1771. He, with his family and brother Robert and family, moved from Frederick County (near Frederickstown) MD to Bourbon County, KY (near Paris) in the year 1787, the year the Northwest Territory was organized. They brought their household goods on pack-horses across the Allegheny Mountains - there being no railroads nor even a wagon road at the time. Nathan and Robert Robertson, and their families, left KY in the year 1799 or 1800 and came to the Territory of Indiana, and settled three miles north of Charlestown in Clark County. (page 1)


Source: The History of Nathan Robertson and his Descendants by Mourincie R. Wells (1894)


The Land of Winding Waters

Darius Robinson came from Ky when he was 11, his parents living two years near John Work's Mill. Moving to Jefferson County, they settled for one year on a farm owned by Jacob Trumbo, moved to Coffee Creek and entered 160 acres of land. Darius' brother joined Captain Norris' Rangers and did duty for about one year at Solomon Deputy's blockhouse at Coffee Creek. After his short stay at Coffee Creek, where he married Nellie Wilson, Darius moved on to Cana.

At one time when Darius was hunting, he saw a panther. He shot at the panther but only wounded it. Before he could reload, the panther had attacked him. And then as he described it, "the fun began". With the aid of an axe and his dog, he succeeded in killing the wounded panther. "From tip to tip", he said, "it measured nine feet."

Source: The Land of Winding Waters, published by Our Heritage, Inc.

History of Coffee Creek Baptist Association

The parents of Jesse W. Robinson immigrated from KY about 1819 and located in the western part of Jennings County, IN. Jesse at that time being some twelve or fifteen years of age. When about twenty-four years old he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Scott and not long after, was baptized and received into the fellowship of Coffee Creek Church, his wife being already a member.

He was subsequently licensed to preach at Coffee Creek, and ordained to the ministry in 1837, the ordination of John Hill occurring at the same time. Elder Robinson enlisted actively in ministerial duties, and though uneducated, was quite a popular preacher. He remained in the Association but a few years - as he moved to Jackson County; but continued in the ministry through life. It was largely through his efforts that Liberty Association was organized in 1847; and he was a leading man in that body and prominent in all denominational work in that vicinity. He died in 1863 or 1864 - his wife and several children surviving him.

History of Coffee Creek Baptist Association , J.C. Tibetts, Elm Street Printing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio 1883 pages 184,185

History of Coffee Creek Baptist Church

Coffee Creek Baptist Church was organized at the home of Thomas Hill , on Coffee Creek, the first Saturday in May 1822, with the following as charter members: Thomas Hill, Sr., Mary Hill, William Whitsitt, Nancy Blankenship, John Hopkins, Zilpha Hopkins, Nathan Robertson, Ann Robertson, Patsey Peoples, Nancy Johnson, Betsey Bennett, Betsey Burnett, Polly Roberts, Sally Scott, Ann McCroara, Ann Pritchard, Ann Wilkerson, Polly Hudson, Hannah, Earl and Susan Hill.

The council was composed of messengers from Union, Vernon, Harbert's Creek, White River, Scaffold Lick and Graham Churches. Isiah Blankenship was moderator and Wm. C. Branwell was clerk. Immediately after the council adjourned, the church organized for business with Elder Thomas Hill, Sr. for moderator. At this first business meeting, Thomas Hill, Jr. united with the church and was baptised the next day retaining his membership until his death in 1875.

Thomas Hill was the first pastor and served until 1838 when old age compelled him to resign. Thomas Hill, Jr. was then called and served for nearly twenty eight years, his being the longest pastorate the church has ever had. Since that time, the church has had as pastors William B. Lewis, T.B. George, W.E. Speak, William Gillaspy, Alex Connerly, William B. Lewis, again, Aleen Hill, J. M. McGuire, Lott Randolph, W.C. Golden, J.O. Burroughs, B.T. Purviance, S.E. Hamilton, C.D. Stevens, Charles H. Overman, William H. Carson, A.J. Croy, C.T. Mitchell and the present pastor C. C. Thomas.

The church has ordained eight Ministers, Thomas Hill, Jr., Zachariah Bush, J.W. Robinson, John Hill, Charles Snowden, William B. Lewis, U.M. McGuire and B. P. Purviance.

The first building was a hewn log house built in 1822. In the fall of 1834 abrick Church 30 x 34 feet was erected near the site of the old one. In July 1986, this building was torn down and removed to Paris crossing and the present building was dedicatedin July 1887. The church was repaired and rededicated in November 22nd 1908, during the pastorate of S.E. Hamilton.

Coffee Creek church was a member of Silver Creek Association until 1827 when messengers from several of the churches met and formed a new association called Coffee Creek, of which this church is known as the mother church. At this time the country was but sparsely settled and churches were widely separated. A missionwas established on Neil's Creek and also at Six Mile, now Hayden. The Neil's Creek branch was discontinued after Lancaster Church was organized in 1859. First Marion was organized in 1849.

During the first years of the church there was a strong opposition to paying a regular salary to the pastor, what was given him was known only to the donor and the pastor. Later the plan of stated salary was adopted and the first record was $30 for one fourth time. Objection was also made to the taking of collections on Sunday and the church finances were to be raised by appointing a committee to ascertain the number of male members of the church and the amount of taxable property held by each and assess each one in proportion to what he was worth. While it was the duty of the male members to pay to the church finances, the did not object and really hoped that the sisters would feel it a privilege to aid in so laudable an enterprise.
The deacons were exempted from bearing any part of the salary (how times have changed). Numerous cases of discipline are recorde. Indeed almost every business meeting someone was called before the church for disorderly conduct, neighbors quarrels, using profane language, drinking to excess, domestic troubles, not attending church services and the young people for frolicing, the latter term not fully defined.
The first organ was purchased in 1886. Coffee Creek was one of the first churches to contribute to the cause of missions and also furnished the first missionary in Southern Indiana, Thomas Hill, Jr., who gave many years of his early ministry to the mission work.

Discords and divisions have occurred, yet the church has been abundantly blessed. At one time, the membership reached 225, but removals, deaths, etc., have reduced the number until the present resident membership is about 80. Mrs. Orah Hopkins is the great-grand-daughter of the first pastor, Thomas Hill, Sr., and Mrs. Malita Malcomb is the oldest living member having united with the church in 1864.

Source: History of Coffee Creek Baptist Church , The Hoosier Journal of Ancestry, IV-1 - a reprint of an Article from The North Vernon Newspaper of 18 May 1922
Contributed by Hal Beumer


Comment from Hal Beumer

My ancestors (my gr gr gr grandparents Simeon and Ann Robertson and my gr gr gr gr grandparents Nathan and Ann Robertson) both attended Coffee Creek. My gr gr grandfather Darius Robertson was born in Jennings County in 1832. I have no idea where Nathan and Ann were in the period between 1837 and 1846. I do know that Nathan and Ann came to Iowa in 1846. Nathan Robertson died Nov. 22, 1847 aged 72y 6m 25d in Agency, Wapello County, IA and that Ann Robertson was alive, aged 82 in 1856 and was living with son Samuel Robertson. Son Simeon lived nearby as did former d-in-law Abigail Whitman Robertson Kitterman, the widow of son John Logan Robertson (John Logan Robertson married 5 Oct 1836 Abbegail Whitman in Jennings County, IN).

Nathan and Ann Robertson were listed as members of the Coffee Creek Baptist Church in May 1822

Nathan Robertson May 1822 - Mar 1837
Ann Robertson May 1822 - Mar 1837

Polly Robertson Jul 1827 - Jul 1830
Samuel Robertson Aug 1827 - Jul 1830
Simeon Robertson Sep 1827 - Aug 1828
Ann Robertson Sep 1827 - Aug 1828
Simeon Robertson Jun 1832 - Aug 1834
Ann Robertson Jun 1832 - Aug 1834
Jesse Robinson Oct 1832 - Apr 1839
Nancy Robinson Oct 1832 - Apr 1839
Nancy Robinson Aug 1857 - Jun 1872



Robert R.? Robertson

Born: __ ___ 1742 in ____ County, Maryland

Died: __ ___ ____ in _____ County, _______

Buried:

Married:

(1) Rachael _________ __ ___ ____

 

Rachael ______

Born: __ ___ 1740 in _________ County, ________

Died: __ ___ ____ in _____ County, _______

Buried:

 

Notes:

- Note - Children based on tentative group sheet by Richard Parker

- Children 1 thru 6 recorded in 1776 Maryland Census. 7 and 8 are guesses by Richard Parker based solely on Bourbon county marriage records ?

- Zachariah died Vermillion County, IL

- 1776 Family in Frederick County, MD

- 1792 - 1796 Robert, Sr in Bourbon County, KY

- 1800 - 1809 Robert, Sr in Franklin County, KY

- 1800 - Nathan, Daniel, Zachariah in Pendleton County, KY?

Children:

 

1. Zachariah 6 May 1762 - 16 Jan 1839

2. Mary 6 Aug 1764 - __ ___ ____

3. Daniel __ ___ 1768 - __ ___ ____

4. Susanna __ ___ 1772 - __ ___ ____

5. Samuel __ ___ 1774 - __ ___ ____

6. Nathan __ ___ 1775 - __ ___ ____

??7. Robert, Jr. __ ___ ____ - __ ___ ____

??8. James __ ___ ____ - __ ___ ____

 

Notes: (all marriages in Bourbon County, KY unless otherwise specified)

- 1. Zachariah married 15 May 1786 Mary Smith (m. Frederick County, MD)

1. Zachariah married __ ___ ____ Elizabeth Jones

- 2. Mary married __ ___ ____?

- 3. Daniel married __ ___ ____?

- 4. Susanna married __ ___ ____?

- 5. Samuel married 3 Apr 1794 Rebecca Jameson

- 6. Nathan married 20 Jul 1797 Anna Leach (30 Jul 1796?)

- 7. Robert married 18 Oct 1798 Mary Laughtean

- 8. James married __ Apr 1795 Mary Calmeas

Nathan Robertson

Born: __ ___ 1775 in ____ County, Maryland

Died: __ ___ ____ in _____ County, _______

Buried:

Married:

(1) Anne Leach 20 Jul 1797 Bourbon County Kentucky

 

Anne Leach

Born: __ ___ ____ in _________ County, ________

Died: __ ___ ____ in _____ County, _______

Buried:

 

Notes:

- Note - Children based on tentative group sheet by Richard Parker

- Children 10 and 11 are questionable

- Children 2 thru 7 born in KY

- Sarah d. Jennings County and buried in Coffee Creek Baptist Church Cemetery

- Jesse Wells died in Jackson County, IN

- Louise died in Jennings County, IN

 

Children:

1. Samuel __ ___ ____ - __ ___ ____

2. Sarah __ ___ 1799 - 27 Jun 1835

3. Darius __ ___ 1801 - __ ___ ____

4. Jesse Wells Robinson 30 Oct 1803 - 22 Oct 1855

5. Maria __ ___ ____ - __ ___ ____

6. Louise __ ___ ____ - __ Sep 1840

7. Simeon __ ___ 1802 - __ ___ ____

?? 8. Elisha __ ___ ____ - __ ___ ____

?? 9. John Logan __ ___ ____ - __ ___ ____

??10. Elizabeth __ ___ ____ - __ ___ ____

??11. Humphrey M. __ ___ ____ - __ ___ ____

 

Notes: (all marriages in Jennings County, IN unless otherwise specified)

- 1. Samuel married __ ___ ____ Polly ______

- 2. Sarah married __ ___ ____?

- 3. Darius married 21 May 1827 Eleanor Wilson (m. in Jefferson County)

3. Darius married __ ___ ____ Susan _______

- 4. Jesse Wells married 24 Jul 1823 Nancy Scott

- 5. Maria married 31 Aug 1823 John Musselman

- 6. Louise married 16 Mar 1826 Aaron Scott

- 7. Simeon married 1 Sep 1824 Ann Welbourne

- 8. Elisha married 10 Sep 1829 Louisa Thornton

- 9. John Logan married 5 Oct 1836 Abbegail Whitman

-10. Elizabeth married 24 Jan 1843 Henry Dixon

-11. Humphrey M. married 28 Nov 1833 Martha Brandon

Simeon Robertson

Born: __ ___ 1802 in ____ County, KY

Died: __ ___ ____ in _____ County, _______

Buried:

Married:

(1) Ann Welbourne 1 Sep 1824 Jennings County, IN

 

Ann Welbourne

Born: __ ___ 1803 in _________ County, KY

Died: __ ___ ____ in _____ County, _______

Buried:

 

Notes:

 

Children:

 

1. James __ ___ 1827 - __ ___ ____ (alive 1850)

2. Darius 1 Mar 1832 - 27 May 1903

3. Simeon E. __ ___ 1835 - __ ___ ____ (alive 1850)

4. William J. __ ___ 1837 - __ ___ ____ (alive 1860)

5. John M. __ ___ 1841 - __ ___ ____ (alive 1850)

6. Cyrus I. __ ___ 1844 - __ ___ ____ (alive 1850)

7. Elizabeth __ Jun 1850 - __ ___ ____ (alive 1850)

 

Notes:

- 2. Darius married 2 Apr 1857 Catherine Ferguson (Mahaska County, Iowa)