Debra, just a couple of answers to your questions: Was it ever part of Westfalen or Prussia later? It was and is part of Westfalen, Westfalen is a cultural area in North Western Germany. There never was a state that covered all Westfalen. Up to the Wiener Kongress Salzbergen belonged to the Oberstift Münster, then it became part of the Kingdom Hannover. Hannover became part of Prussia in 1866. Now it is Niedersachsen. If you look at a map you will see that it is situated just north of the border to Nordrhein-Westfalen. There are a number of  Robers people who seem to have originated in Vreden, Westfalen before  coming to the USA. The origin of almost all Robers is in that area Kreise Borken, Coesfeld, Steinfurt, Emsland. Do you happen to know the parish for Bexten? Bexten is part of Salzbergen. As far as I know there is no place like Bexten in the Coesfeld area. Brigitte