The Robertson family is one of the oldest and most distinguished families of Scotland, claiming the distinction of being the oldest Scottish family of royal descent, being the descendants of Malcolm, the children of Duncan. Thus the clan's official name is Clan Donnachaidh, meaning literally the children of Duncan. For a short but good history of the family I have provided a link to the Official Clan Donnachaidh Website (just follow thier history link). Many notables in American history have links to the family including Virginia's Patrick Henry. Our Robertson family, through Hugh's marriage to Susannah Ligon, can trace it's roots to Charlemagne and beyond. See the pedigree charts located on the main page and follow the Ligon line. Individual entries are reached from the pedigree by clicking on the person's name in the chart. Although we have yet to show Hugh's ancestry to Duncan -- we can show his and Susannah's children's lineage back to Duncan!
Our first known and assumed immigrant ancestor is Hugh Robertson who according to his personal testimony and Bible pages presented in Buckingham County, Virginia Superior Court in connection with his Revolutionary War Pension Application was born on 9 October 1750. We have not identified his ancestry or place of birth yet. Family tradition believes Hugh to have been born in Scotland, and stories seem to suggest that his father was Cole Robertson. Hugh named his first born son Cole and indeed there was a Cole Robertson who served in the Revolution from Virginia. Unfortunately we have not been able as yet to find much information on Cole or any document directly naming Hugh's parentage. It seems that there is a connection between Hugh and other Robertsons in the Cumberland and Buckinham area before him. There is a John Robertson in Cumberland who would be of an age to be a brother to Cole and it is possible that Nicholas Robertson of Buckingham was a cousin. These connections at this point are only specualtion or educated guesses as we have no records to establish this as yet.
Hugh married twice. First to a lady named Jemima (Hugh did not give her last name in his Bible pages or in testimony in court.) Jemima and Hugh were married on 17 Aug 1777 according to an entry in Hugh's Bible (pages located at the Library of Virginia.) They had three children: Cole born 29 Dec. 1780; Elizabeth C. born 16 January 1783; and Camel born 25 May 1784 (all born in Cumberland County, Virginia.) Second Hugh married Susannah Ligon daughter of William Ligon and Elizabeth (Edy) East. The marriage license was obtained 1 January 1787 in Cumberland Co., VA and the marriage was performed 4 Jan 1787 in Powhatan Co., VA by Parson Sanderson. Source of information: Rev. War Pension application Roll 2061 LVA testimony given by Suan Robertson and John Ligon her brother in Buckingham Superior Court on 11 Feb 1839 and 12 Mar 1839 respectively and bible pages in hand of Hugh Robertson stating "We was married the 4th of January 1787."
Hugh and Susannah moved the family to Buckingham County, Virginia about 1800. They had eleven children: Edy (Ede) born 8 Oct 1787; William born 18 Mar 1789; Anna born 5 Jan 1791; Atwood born 21 Jul 1793; Richard born 4 Oct 1795; Nancy born 1796; Sally born 24 Sep 1797; John born 8 Mar 1800 (first child born in Buckingham County); Thomas born 13 Nov 1802 (my 2nd great-grandfather); Hugh born 16 Jun 1806; and last Susannah born 24 Jan 1809. I have information on some of the descendents of their children, but would love to hear from anyone who can add to my information.
Hugh was a tailor by trade. He "enlisted for the term of one year in the year 1775-1776 as a soldier in the revolutionary war in Capt. Joseph Carrington's Co. of Infantry for one year in the stated service after that term expired he enlisted with Capt. Charles Harrison's Artillery, after that term ended he immediately enlisted at Camps landing near Norfolk in Virginia in Capt. Pearce's unit of artillery for three years which was attached to Colo. Charles Harrison's regiment of artillery in the line of the state of Virginia on continental solier's enlistment " from the deposition given by Hugh Robertson 19 Sept 1820 in Buckingham Co., Superior Court in regards to his Revolutionary War Pension Application. Rev. War Pen. & Bounty Land Warrent Appl. Files 1800-1820 Roll 2061 LVA
My line is the line of Thomas Robertson. Thomas married three times. First to Elizabeth Connor who was the aunt of Capt. William Jackson Connor. Second to Martha Ann Spencer (my line) and last to Mary Harvery. Mary is the only one whose grave we have been able to identify. She is buried at the old house formerly owned by my great-grandfather, Thomas J S Robertson in Buckingham County, Virginia. Her grave marker only reads "Grandmother Mary Robertson." I descend from Thomas through his son Thomas Jonathan Spencer Robertson, whose daughter, Minnie, was my grandmother. Thomas JS Robertson was, according to his grandson Howard, the strongest man in Buckingham County. It has been said that he could lift and carry a keg full of nails as if it were nothing, and that whenever there was trouble the sheriff came for Thomas to back him up. Apparently nobody wanted to have to wrestle with Thomas! (Maybe that is were my son Daniel gets his wrestling talent.) |
