John Robearts of Northampton

~• may be the nephew or son of Edmond Roberts of Northampton
~• not to be confused with John Roberts (signed: John Robers) husband of Brakey Roberts (Cornell)

first appearances in the LDRC records

U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 for David Feaster Pennsylvania Churchville North and Southampton Reformed Church Register 1737-1820 (in and around page 47 of 360, where the baptism of Jannetje is recorded... John doesn't seem to be a member of the LDRC at that time.)

Spelling of name

John signed his name " John Robearts " note the use of an unusual double vowel sequence "ea".

Location of farm

Bucks County tax records indicate that John lived in Northampton township, the last record of this being in 1789 when we see a split entry between what he was to pay and what his estate was to pay. This suggests that he died that year.

John Roberts of Northampton in Bucks County Tax records

• John is in the following Northampton township Tax records
  • 1779 tax assessment
  • 1781
  • 1783 = Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 for John Roberts (90 some acres)
  • 1786
    • land owned grows to 186 acres. He is still in Northampton
  • 1789 (see timeline) = his death occurred that year ?
• John was born before the 1750s, maybe well before • birthdate unknown: but as he died c. 1789 we might assume that he may have been too old to serve in the Revolution. This opens the possibility that he had a SON named John, a John Jr. who we see in the rolls of Northampton... It could be either way... Look at Rosters of units serving in the Revolution ~• 'Roberts' appears 16 times. A few are repeats, but there is only one John Roberts of Northampton listed Be careful not to confuse with John Roberts of Warwick.

• the 1790 1st US Census is of interest. It shows: 2-2-5-1 for the John Roberts of Northampton (pg 13 of 87)
and

ongoing research

1. a Johannes Robearts (sic) married Jannitje (sic) Bennet at Reformed Nether Dutch Church,Southampton,Bucks,Pennsylvania on 13 Feb 1766
   1. "Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2XQ-HW1 : 11 February 2018), Johannes Robearts and Jannitje Bennet, 13 Feb 1766; citing Reformed Nether Dutch Church,Southampton,Bucks,Pennsylvania; FHL microfilm 20,338.

Death

~• when John's estate starts to be taxed we can assume he has died:

1. year=1789 John Roberts taxed 1£ / 15s / 8d
2. year= 1791 John Roberts taxed 0£ 1s 2d but his estate is taxed 0£ 17s death
3. year=1793 only John Roberts' estate is taxed 0£ 17s 1d

Conclusion: John died between the 1790 census and the end of 1791

Discussion

1. We know that if James Roberts is his son then James' age is at least 25 in 1790... but, we don't see a James in Northampton area in the 1790 census. Is he married yet? His oldest known Caroline was born c. 1791 (Caroline Bothwell)
2. One John Roberts served in some capacity in the Revolution. How does he fit in to the family structure?
3. Who is Mrs. John Roberts?
4. I've been helped by SEPAfran@aol.com Fran Waite

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May be John Roberts of Southampton who died in 1789

research

son named in bequest of

*5.328. Henry Lymbacker, Northampton Twp.

• *March 2, 1793. Proved April 16, 1793.
• Wife Elizabeth and Friend and neighbor Gerardus Wynkoop exrs. Wife's Brother's son Henry Hillbrandt and his *Bro. John and sisters Elizabeth, Mary and Diana.
• Henry Lymbacker Roberts.
• Land adj. John Bennett, William Cooper, Paul Blaker, Richard Leedom and Achilles Blaker.
• Wits: Henry Wynkoop, Henry DuBois

Are the Bayleys a related family by marriage?

• 7.65. Edward Bayley, Lower Makefield Twp., yeoman. "Now eighty-six years of age." (search Edward BAILEY)
• 1 mo.-7-1798. Codicil dated 10 mo.-22, 1803. Proved April 15, 1805.
• Wife Ann, son Samuel and sons-in-law John Roberts and David Watson exrs.
• Son Thomas. Daus. Mary Johnson, Martha Johnson, Letitia Roberts,
• Elizabeth Buckman, Hannah Yardley, Tamar Watson and Mercy Bayley.
• Son-in-law Abner Buckman.
• Gdsn. Edward Buckman.
• Land adj. John Brown, Jesse Palmer.
• Wits: William Linton, John Linton, Is. Hicks, Thomas Ross.
  • probably not : look at https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/113324342/family?cfpid=40... where John Roberts' father is Evan Roberts
• 6.487. Margaret Dumont, Northampton Twp., "advanced in years."
• March 9, 1801. Proved September 16, 1803.
• Sons Gilliam Cornell and John Cornell exrs. Son Abraham Cornell.
• Daus. Phebe wife of Cornelius Cornell, Cornelia wife of William Bennett, and Mary Cornell.
• Wits: Elias Dungan, Elizabeth Dungan, Rachel Dungan
• Conelius and Phebe

~• Who is this Ann Roberts (Hibbs) of Northampton township? Perhaps the daughter-in-law of John ROberts dec'd of Northampton?

• 9.77. Benjamin Hibbs of Northampton Twp.

5-9 mo.-1815. Proved October 23, 1815.

• Desires wife, three sons and dau. Mary to live together and have the farm until son William comes of age, "Which will be one year from the 24th of third month next", when wife shall have choice of one room in the house where we now live, and use of kitchen and family fire, during widowhood, also choice of furniture and $100 a year during lifetime paid by sons Benjamin and James $40 each and William $20;
• rest of personal estate divided between sons.
• Devises to four March daus. Ann Roberts, Elizabeth Cooper, Sarah Mitchell, and Susan Heston, £100 each, with interest annually, during life times, and afterward the principal to their respective ch., to be paid by said 3 sons.
• Devises to dau. Mary Hibbs 200£, to be paid within year after his December; to sons Benjamin, James, and William Hibbs all lands and residue of estate, Benjamin to have the homestead of 55 acres, bought of Thomas Hutchinson and valued at $4350.00 exclusive of Twining's mortgage. James to have 50 acres tract bought of Jonathan Schofield and valued at $3500.00, and William the 35 3/4 acres bought of John Baylor and valued at $1950.00, all subject to their payment of above bequests. Appoints wife Sarah Hibbs and son Benjamin Hibbs exrs. Wits: Joseph Worstall and Edward Hicks.