Jim Hair
May 20, 2002
Hey Mike:
I haven't sent you any mail before but my brother David has forwarded me all the communications that the two of you have had. This is just a quick cut and pasting from a tree I'm doing using Ancestry.com's downloadable software. This is a work in progress. I read somewhere that it is good genealogical practice to confirm facts with at least 3 sources whenever possible. I am currently in the process of doing just that. In fact, I discovered the information on Robert Richford Roberts, while doing in depth confirmation of info regarding his father, Robert Morgan Roberts. You'll see that Robert Richford is Mary's great uncle and therefore was not in the direct pedigree I was researching. More on Bishop Robert Richford Roberts later.
However, I am 90% convinced that this is our Mary Roberts, and 90% convinced that all my other facts are correct. I leave it open for someone to prove me wrong.... but think there is only 10% chance anyone can. I have found a great deal of info, but a great deal of that is unconfirmed except by other unconfirmed sources. I believe that finding true confirmable documentation of these facts will be the most time consuming of my research. It is at this point a hypothesis, based on some facts, but needing to be proven.
Keeping that in mind, it is my pleasure to share with you the general information I have found. I'll try to keep it brief, but still get the bulk of the pedigree established. You have mentioned in your emails with Dave, how much you have enjoyed researching the Hair Line (no pun intended), I feel the same way about the Roberts Line, so far. It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't delved into it, but as you said, you get to feel as if you know the individuals personally. The dates, and the facts, are only what most people see. But I now see the people. Like Mary Shannon, a girl who married at 17, and spent the next 25 years of her life in non-stop pregnancies and births, all the time, while raising the older children. And Mary Richford who was 16 and spent 25 years in continuous pregnancies also. And who so desperately wanted to give her husband a son to carry on the Roberts name and her maiden name, as was the Quaker custom at the time that after losing two children named Robert Richford Roberts, still named a third by that name. And the famous, and my favorite so far, the bishop R.R. Roberts. Enough of this digression, I promised to keep this brief.
NB My interjections are in parens and are marked -JH.
Mary Roberts was born 23 Aug 1796 in the Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
She was the daughter of:John Roberts who was born 13 Jan 1763 in Frederick County, Maryland; and died 20 Jan 1812 in Westmoreland Co, Pa. He is buried in Deeds Cemetery, Westmoreland County, PA, located about 4 miles south of Ligonier in a grove of trees on private property; now abandoned and maintained by the Historical Society.
And Mary Shannon who married John 1786 in Ligonier, Pa. Mary was born 6 Jan 1769 in Pennsylvania, and died 6 Mar 1833. (I don't have anything more on Mary Shannon yet but you will recognize the Shannon name as solid old Westmoreland stock...-JH)
Some notes for John:
Event: Militia: Beginning ABT 1780
Event: Moved 1785 Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland Co., PA
Occupation: Farmer Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland Co., PA
Religion: Methodist Episcopal Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland Co., PA
John and Mary (Shannon) Roberts had the following children:
Thomasb. 3 May 1787
Sarahb. 18 Aug 1788
Samuelb. 16 Feb 1790 m. Bet. 1810 - 1815 Martha Critchfield d. 15 Aug 1833
Elizabethb. 1 Feb 1792 d. 24 Jun 1816
Robert Richford Robertsb. 11 Jun 1793 d. 22 Jul 1844
Charlotteb. 19 Jan 1795 d. 25 Jan 1866
Maryb. 23 Aug 1796 m. Matthew Hare
Johnb. 24 Jun 1798
Shannonb. 3 Dec 1800 d. 17 Jan 1856 burial: Zion's Church Cemetery
Westmoreland Co, PA
Lewisb. 13 Sep 1802
James Quinnb. 21 Jun 1804
Rebeccab. 2 May 1805 m. 30 Jun 1825 Crawford County, Indiana,
spouse: Jacob Kellams (nine children, have more info...) d. 12 Jun 1841
Georgeb. 9 Dec 1806 m. Lawrence Co., IN d. 27 Dec 1841 Lawrence Co., IN
Estherb. 17 Apr 1808
Thomasb. 12 Feb 1812
Marthab. 16 Sep 1812 (Martha's birth date doesn't quite seem correct when viewed in light of John's death date, could be correct though re: Thomas' birth date above... -JH)
All the above were born in the Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland Co.
John Roberts' Father:
Robert Morgan Roberts
b. 1743 Cecil County, MD
m. 1762 Kent County, MD Spouse: Mary Richford
d. 28 Feb 1801 in Mercer Co., PA
Burial: Stevenson Cemetery, Salem Twp., Mercer County, PA
Mary Richford
b. 1746 Georgetown Crossroads, Kent County, MD
m. 1762 Kent County, MD Spouse: Robert Morgan Roberts
d. 1796
Burial: Greenville, Mercer County, PA
Robert Morgan Robert and Mary (Richford) Roberts had the following children:
John ROBERTS (the John above, see info there...-JH)
Thomas ROBERTS b. 1764 d. 3 May 1804
Bishop Robert Richford ROBERTS b. 2 Aug 1778 (have more...-JH)
Sarah ROBERTS
Mary ROBERTS
Elizabeth ROBERTS
Esther ROBERTS
Lewis_or_Louis ROBERTS
Priscilla ROBERTS
Nancy ROBERTS
Sophia ROBERTS
(I have a ton of info on Bishop R.R. Roberts and info on all the children above, to keep this letter short I have omitted the info...-JH)
Some notes for Robert Morgan Roberts:
Note: Robert Morgan Roberts was a Rev Sol. He was also a member (documented) of the All Souls Church of England in MD. His father was a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal, Earleville, N Sassafras Parish, MD as was his father. (John Roberts was also a Rev Sol.). E. A. Davis
Event: Militia-Beg BETWEEN 1775 AND 1783 MD Alleged to have fought at Germantown and Brandywine, and to have been at Valley Forge
Event: Moved 1785 to Donegal Twp., Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland Co., PA
Religion: Methodist Donegal Twp., Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland Co., PA
Will: 06 DEC 1800 Crawford Co., PA
Will, Registered Mar 30, 1838, Geo. LeFevre Register.
In the name of God, Amen, I Robert Roberts, Plantationer, on the wattersof Shenango, being weak of body, but thanks to the Lord, of a good and perfectmemory, Revolking all others, appoint this to be my last will and testament. To my beloved son, John I bequeath 5 S. lawful money, to my beloved sonThomas, I bequeath 5 S. lawful money, To my dear son Robert I bequeath fiveshillings, to my dear son Lewis I bequeath five shillings, to my dear daughterSarah after what debts I am owing is paid, and funeral expenses cleared off, Ileave my place and whatever I pocess. to my daughter Mary I leave fiveshillings, to my beloved daughter Esther I leave five shillings, to my deardaughter, Precilla I leave five shillings, to my dear daughter Ann I give one cow, to my dear daughter Sophia, I leave a cow, otherwise five pounds intrade to be paid when she is eighteen.
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presenceof the said testators, in presence of us.
December the 6th 1800.
Thomas McClellan
Jacob Gurwell
__Robert Roberts______(Seal)
Mary Richfords' parents: Thomas and Esther Richford
Robert Morgan Roberts' father:
John Roberts, Jr.
b. 15 Nov 1707 Cecil County, MD; d. 1761; Will: 15 MAY 1754 Cecil Co., MD
m. 1743Spouse: Dorothy Newbanks
(Dorothy Newbanks is currently my best information on his spouse, I have found an alternate, Sarah Morgan, and that would seem likely do to the naming convention mentioned earlier, it may be that there was 2 marriages, but all this I have to confirm...-JH)
(So far I have only Robert Morgan Roberts as a child of John Roberts, Jr. But this doesn't seem likely, it just requires more investigation on my part...-JH)
John Roberts, Jr.'s father:
John Roberts, (Sr.)b. About 1677 in Wales
Religion: Church of England St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Church, North Sassafrass Parish, Earlville, Cecil Co., MD
Immigration: ABT 1700 Cecil Co., MD
Marriage 1
Spouse: Debra
Marriage 2
Spouse: Judith
Married: AFT 1712
Marriage 3
Spouse: Unknown
I actually have information linking John Roberts, Sr. to Robert Cadwallader in Wales. The descendants of Robert Cadwallader took Roberts as a surname. No surnames were used in earlier times in Wales, but a name reflected a given name and a place of family origin. The info I have is one of those British ancestral files that trace the line back BC to Noah, at least. This particular one traces the Roberts line to Priam, father of Helen, of Troy. This may or may not be confirmable, I did find some supporting information, but at this point, I'm falling back and trying to support all info up to John Roberts, Sr. of Wales.
I have been intrigued by Mary Roberts since I first saw your "Descendants of Matthew Hair and Mary Roberts". I think because as you had mentioned there seemed to be a dead end in ships records as far as Old John Hair was concerned, and I have always wondered why Matthew moved to the Laurel Hill area. I had and still have a theory that it concerned Mary Roberts... an inheritance perhaps, or an illness and a need to be near her family. I hope to answer some of the questions I have.
The Roberts family moved to Westmoreland, from Cecil Co. MD. Cecil Co. is the northern and eastern area around the Chesapeake Bay. Moses Fream and family also followed the trails along the Conemaugh from Maryland to the Boswell area. I have a theory that the Hair's did likewise and that further research beyond what we know of Old John should be directed to archives in Maryland. The Chesapeake Bay is the closest natural harbor to the area of the early Hairs in Pennsylvania.
I am sending you a map of early Cecil County showing an area marked as Hairs. I have added the red to the letter H. I also highlighted the O in Oldham, which was bishop Robert Richford Roberts' wife's maiden name. The map was done by someone who was obviouslyvery familiar with the area, and it may be coincidence that his name was Griffith, but I take it to be a support for my theory.
I am delving into records in Maryland, and find them refreshingly complete, in-depth, and available compared to my searches in Pennsylvania, but at this time I am concentrating on the Roberts Line, and not actively searching for Hair records.
I hope this gives you some insight into my research on the Roberts Line. Rest assured that I will document and verify as much information as I can, and will clearly identify allegations and speculations. This as you know will take some time, but I will share with Dave and yourself exclusively. I'm sure that it goes without saying that you will not pass along this information prematurely, there seems to be an overabundance of misinformation on the genealogical internet sights already, and I can't see supporting any, by releasing this information that someone may take as gospel and base other research on.
I will leave you with a web site that you will enjoy concerning the bishop Robert Richford Roberts. I have a lot of information on him, but he is a truly famous character and information is readily available. I will share more later.
I would also like to thank you for the work you put into investigating the Hair line. It has been my inspiration, and I'm glad that your work was my introduction to genealogy. I compare all others to it and question those that have no sources or notes, and that contain errors like someone having children older than them. I hope that my investigation can be confirmed and documented as well as you have done in yours.
I was very surprised to learn that my cousin Carl's wife Linda was a Caldwell. She is a very remarkable woman, who takes very good care of Carl, and one can tell that they are very much in love. While visiting them, I noted the involvements between the Caldwell's and the Hairs throughout history. Since I'm divorced, I told Carl and Linda that on my next trips out there, I would actively seek a Caldwell girl, because they seem to be the true soul mates of the Hairs. Linda replied that there were plenty of good Caldwell women available out there... ha!
-Jim Hair email
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