The Roberts Family

There are two theories I have read concerning the early generations of this line of the Roberts family. Both begin with John "Issac" Roberts and agree that he was born between 1690-1700. The first version places him as the father of Reuben Roberts and the second as the grandfather. Given the distance in ages between John and Reuben, either theory is possible.

Both will be discussed briefly. Based on what I have read for all practical purposes, it is reasonable to indicate John Issac as the progenitor of this line of the Roberts family (for now). The connection to Reuben is a matter of preference until evidence surfaces to confirm one or the other.

ELLIS B. ROBERTS was born in Birmingham, England and died in 1770 in Orange Co., North Carolina. This variation states that the three brothers (Theory 1 above) arrived together between 1750-1770 and settled in the areas where they died. The children of Theory 2 become the children of Ellis instead. There is actually nothing of any consequence to support either theory at this point.

1. REUBEN ROBERTS was born 4 January 1743/4 in Manchester, England and died 2 August 1841 in Warren Co., Tennessee. He married MARY MILLIE ASHER in August 1785, probably in Orange Co., North Carolina. She was daughter of CHARLES ASHER, SR. and was born about 1759 in Orleans, France and also died in Tennessee.

Reuben is first found in records in the Court of Common Pleas, Orange Co., North Carolina in 1752 (age 18). He first enlisted in the Continental Army in April 1775 and served in various units through to the close of the war. He moved his family to Washington Co. near Elizabethon around 1791. Five years later (1796) Washington Co. became the state of Tennessee. In 1802 he removed to Anderson Co. near Clinton and then in 1811 to Warren Co. near Ashbury.

Children of REUBEN ROBERTS and MARY ASHER are:

2. JAMES M. ROBERT was born 29 December 1793 in Washington Co., North Carolina (later Tennessee). He died 14 April 1844 in Asbury, Warren Co., Tennessee. He married (1) ELIZABETH TUNNELL 1815 in Anderson Co., Tennessee, daughter of WILLIAM TUNNELL and MARY MAYSEY. She was born 5 April 1785 in Fairfax Co., Virginia and died in 1830 in Asbury, Warren Co., Tennessee. He married (2) MARTHA ALLISON 1833 in Warren Co., Tennessee. She was born around 1790 in North Carolina.

Sergeant James M. Roberts served in Colonel William Tunnell's Regiment in the Creek Indian War and the War of 1812. Following the later war, he married the daughter of Colonel Tunnell in 1815. James made his Will on 12 March 1844.

Children of JAMES ROBERTS and ELIZABETH TUNNELL are:

Children of JAMES ROBERTS and MARTHA ALLISON are:

3. WILLIAM PARKER ROBERTS, SR. was born 18 April 1827 in Warren Co., Tennessee and died 10 June 1863 at Murfreesboro. He married LUCY BLACKBURN about 1853 in Warren Co., Tennessee. She was the daughter of JOHN & SARAH (?) BLACKBURN, and was born 14 March 1836 in Warren Co., Tennessee, and died 19 September 1880.

Family tradition states that William had been advised not to enter into any service in the Civil War by his Uncle. He enlisted anyway on 18 November 1861, serving in the Confederacy with Company B, 22nd Battalion, Tennessee Infantry. On an occasion when he was at home on leave (in 1862), he spoke with the same Uncle and told how he had regretted enlisting. He was critically wounded on 1 January 1863 on the 2nd day of the Battle of Murfreesboro and died in the military hospital on 10 June never having returned home.

Children of WILLIAM ROBERTS and LUCY BLACKBURN are:

4. JOHN PHILLIP ROBERTS was born 16 April 1854 in Warren Co., Tennessee and died 17 September 1924 in Conner, Carroll Co., Arkansas. He married LOUISA JANE DUNLAP 13 October 1876 in Campaign Switch, Tennessee. She was the daughter of DAVID CARSON DUNLAP and VICY HUNT, born in 1861 in Blount Co., Tennessee.

Around 1881 John removed to Carroll Co., Arkansas near Conner. He was a farmer, school teacher, store owner and operated a rural post office.

Children of JOHN ROBERTS and LOUISA DUNLAP are:

6. DAVID CARSON ROBERTS was born 11 February 1879 in Campaign Switch, Tennessee and died 1949 in Berryville, Arkansas. He met ORA MAYS, daughter of WILLIAM MAYS and MARY ANN LANINGHAM, while stationed at Fort Smith. She was born 21 November 1900 in Huntsville, Arkansas and died 28 October 1981 in Springdale, Arkansas.

David attended the Arkansas Medical School and Tulane in Louisiana and was a General Practitioner. In September 1918 he enlisted in the Medical Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant, but was discharged one month later.

Child of DAVID ROBERTS and ORA MAYS is: