Posted on: Pike County, Al Query Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Al/Pike/12088 Surname: Roberts, Walther ------------------------- Hi Annette, Let me preface this by stating that much of what I'm about to share concerning the 2nd, 3rd and 4th sons of John A. Roberts is not proven, but is speculation based upon my observations of the records. I am wide open to other suggestions and evidence. Also, may the board please forgive me if this post is too long! I think it is possible that your Thomas was brother to the John W. you spoke of, and they were sons of John A. and Margaret Roberts. I also believe that John A. did have a brother named William. I believe that both John A. and William Roberts came to Russell Co., AL, around 1840. William may have soon died, and his widow and entire family went to Georgia by 1850, following one of the sons-in-law. All of William's children were born in SC. John's children were born in GA. I believe that my John A. was the one listed in Burke Co., GA, for 1820, 1830 and 1840. The 1840 census showed an incomplete household and I then picked them up in the 1840 Russell Co., AL census. It was almost as though they were in transit, with some remaining behind for some reason. They arrived in Russell Co. about 1840, but had removed to Pike Co, AL by 1850. By 1853, John Sr., had moved to Santa Rosa Co., FL. John W. was a proven son of John A., and he was born in 1814 in GA. He married Nancy Fortune in Russell Co., and settled in Pike Co, as did his sister, Margaret, who married Jesse Hyatt. Then, the three Roberts men who settled in Coffee Co., Thomas, 1818, Daniel 1822, William H., 1822, were all born in GA. Thomas and Daniel married the Garrison sisters. The next PROVEN child of John, Sr. was Margaret, born in 1824, so you see there was a wide space between John A. and Margaret, definitely allowing space for those three in Coffee Co. Common given names of their children link those three to each other, as well as to their possible father - John A. Thomas used the same names for his sons as did father John A., including one named William H. (See the list below). More facts: In the Russell County Marriage Book, a Dan Roberts was given as the bondsman for a marriage in 1842. John A. Roberts was also living there at the time. My gg-gf, George Walther who married John A. Roberts' daughter, Nancy, applied for a homestead in 1853, in Santa Rosa Co., FL. In an affidavit, William H. Roberts swore that he had known George Walther since 1843, which would have placed them both in Russell Co. where John A. Roberts lived. That is also the approximate year that William, Thomas and Daniel moved from Georgia to Alabama, according to the birthplaces and ages of their children. Census for John A. Roberts, who was in the 1850 Pike Co., AL census: 1820 Burke Co., Georgia 3 males, under 10 1 female, under 10 1 male, 16-18 1 male, 16-26 1 female, 16-26 Was this an extra couple, and maybe a child or two is theirs? 1 male, 26-45 1 female, 26-45 John A. and wife? 4 female slaves This census matches John A.'s family, up to that date, if Josiah was born after the census was taken: 1830 Burke Co., Georgia 1 male, 0-5 2 females, 0-5 Nancy and ? 1 male, 5-10 1 female, 10-15 ? 1 male, 10-15 1 female, 30-40 The mother 1 male, 15-20 2 female slaves 1 male, 40-50 father 1 male slave 1840 Burke Co., Georgia John A. Roberts???? 1 male, 10-15 1 female, 10-15 1 male, 15-20 1 female slave 1 male, 40-50 Are these two 1840 Roberts the same John A. Roberts? I think so. The 1840 Burke Co. John is missing some of the 1830 family members. 1830 Burke and 1840 Russell match better than the 1830 Burke and the 1840 Burke censuses. Could maybe the mother be pregnant, with the child born in 1840 and they sent her on ahead of time in order for the baby to be born after her move? I believe there was a brother of John A. already living in Russell County. 1840 Russell Co, Alabama John A. Roberts 1 male, 0-5 1 female, 0-5 1 male, 5-10 1 female, 10-15 3 males, 10-15 1 female, 15-20 1 male, 40-50 1 female, 30-40 1 male, 60-70 (a father of John or Margaret?) The Children of John A. Roberts John A. Roberts, b. 1786/1788, South Carolina, d.aft 1860, Santa Rosa, Co., FL & Margaret _?__, b. abt 1800, Georgia, d. aft 1860 (Margaret may have been a second wife, and not mother of all these children). Children and spouses: John W. Roberts, b. 1814, Georgia, d. abt 1889, Pike Co. AL & Nancy I. Fortune,b. 13 Jun 1824, South Carolina, d. 5 Apr 1915, Pike Co. AL m. 1 Jan 1843, Russell Co., Alabama Thomas? Roberts, b. 1818, Georgia, & Elizabeth Ann Garrisson, b. 12 Oct 1825, Georgia and settled in Coffee Co., AL Daniel? Roberts, b. 1822, Georgia, d. 1864, Coffee Co., Alabama (Did he die in the Civil War?) & Martha A. Garrisson, b. 6 Mar 1824, Georgia William H.? Roberts, b. 1822, Georgia, d. 1857/1860, Coffee Co., Alabama & Elizabeth Anderson?, b. 1834, Georgia This wife could be in error. Margaret A. Roberts, b. 1824, Georgia & Jesse Hyatt, b. 1805, South Carolina m. 26 Aug 1840, Russell Co., Alabama and settled in Pike Co., AL. Sarah C. Roberts, b. 1825, Georgia & James Rhodes, b. abt 1829, North Carolina m. by 1849 Nancy Roberts, b. 1828, Georgia, d. 1880/1896, Santa Rosa Co., Florida & George Walther, b. 11 Sep 1818, France, d. 23 Jun 1901, Santa Rosa Co., Florida m. 21 Nov 1844, Russell Co., Alabama Josiah Roberts, b. 1830, Georgia Absalum A. Roberts, b. 1833, Georgia, d. 21 Aug 1862, Knoxville, Tennessee & Martha (He died in the Civil War). Windham W. Roberts, b. 1835, Georgia Francis Marion Roberts, b. 1839, Georgia, d. 15 Oct 1864, Barrancas, Pensacola, Florida (He died in the Civil War, of consumption). Martha L. Roberts, b. 1840, Alabama Thomas J. Roberts, b. 17 Aug 1842, Russell Co., Alabama, d. 21 Jan 1923, Escambia Co., FL & Catherine Lewis, b. 1849, Georgia, d. aft 1909 (I realize there is already a possible son named Thomas, but this wasn't unusual in those days. They would use a different middle name).