Joseph Roberds

Note about date of birth

Biography for Joseph Roberds was printed in Wilmington Journal Thursday, May 16, 1872 written by Rev James Roberds. There was typo which had Joseph's birth date as 4 February 1776, the biography is in "History of Clinton County" with the birth date as 4 February 1766 which is the correct date. The biography has Joseph, "died in the month of July, 1863, in the ninety-eighth year of his age" which figures to 1765 (off one year). In the 1860 census at Grant County, Indiana it was recorded that Joseph Roberds was age 94 which figures to born 1766 - he died 1763 which would make his age 97. Rev James Roberds mistakenly wrote that Anna Randall died in 1850 and thought that she married Joseph Roberds in 1788 which would make Joseph age 22 as was written - also a marriage in 1788 as he thought and death in 1850 would would figure to having " lived in great harmony for about sixty-two years".

Also there are two different birth dates for Anna (Randel) Roberds. Her marker in Lower Walnut Creek Cemetery, Grant County, Indiana has "Anna wife of Joseph Roberds died Nov. 27, 1846 aged 77y.9m.10d." which calculates her birth date to 17 Feb 1769.Joseph Randel's children's births are all recorded Bush River MM, Newberry, South Carolina and has "Ann Randel their daughter born the 9th day of the 10th month 1773".

Discussion

I have 2 autosomal DNA matches with descendants of Freeman Runyon, one from descendant his son Phineas Runyon and the other from descendant his son John Runion. Ancestry.com's ThruLines indicates from my Runyon autosomal DNA matches that Isaac Runyon 1738-1821 and John Runyon 1740-1807 are siblings to my Martha Runyon.

I also have DNA matches with DUNN, DRAKE (they are RUNYON ancestors of Martha Runyon) and many RUNYON DNA matches. I have NO DNA matches with WILLIAMSON family from Bucks county, PA. - David Roberds

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The following is from the History of Clinton County, Ohio: The biography of Joseph Roberds was written by his grandson, Rev. James Roberds. (son of Elias Roberds). Joseph, or, as he was generally called, "Squire" Roberds, was an early, well-known and much-respected citizen, being one of the first Justices of the Peace and the second Sheriff of Clinton County. He was born in Union District, South Carolina [should be Bucks county, Pennsylvania], on the waters of Broad River, on the 4th day of February, 1766. At the age of twenty-two years, he was married, in his native state, to Anna Randall, with whom he lived in great harmony for about sixty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Roberds were members of the Society of Friends, but their marriage was not consummated according to the custom and rules of that society. This violation of rules in that day was regarded as far more serious matter than at present. The transgression, if one it was, was brought before the meeting, and no satisfactory acknowledgement being made for it, the offending parties were "disowned." Some years afterward, Mrs. Roberds attached herself to another branch of the Christian Church and remained a member in good standing until her death; but Mr. Roberds, although holding sound religious views, and having and experimental knowledge of sins forgiven, never afterward became a member of any religious society.

In 1804, Mr. Roberds left South Carolina, on account of slavery, and took up his residence in Ohio. His way West was through the States of North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky, by the Cumberland Gap, the Crab Orchard, near Danville, and Lexington, Ky., to Cincinnati. Much of the country through which they came was sparsely populated, and the residue, with slight exceptions, was an out and out wilderness, broken by a succession of lofty mountains and interspersed by deep and rapid streams, which they generally had to ford in the absence of bridges, ferries or even canoes. His first settlement north of the Ohio River was on the Little Miami, near Waynesville, Warren County, a place where many emigrants made short stops for the purpose of viewing the country before locating. At this place it is supposed that he tarried long enough to raise a summer crop. In 1805, he removed to a point on Lytle's Creek, about three miles below where the town of Wilmington now stands. At this place, he raised his second crop in Ohio. The following spring, having purchased a small tract of land in the green wood, on the south side of Cowan's Creek, he removed to it and commenced an improvement. His cabin and other buildings stood about forty rods nearly due east from the present residence of Thomas Curtis.

From the spring of 1806 to 1810, he appears to have engaged industriously in opening his land to the sun, erecting buildings and cultivating crops. Early in 1810, Clinton County was created. At first it was divided into three townships - Chester, Vernon and Richland. To each township was given the election of three Justices of the Peace. The first election for filling that office in Clinton County was fixed by Judges Hughes and Hickson for April 21, 1810. Mr. Roberds' residence was included in Richland Township. Mr. Roberds, Absalon Reed and William Venard were returned as elected for Richland. In 1813 Mr. Roberds was elected to the same Office. April 3, 1813, he was appointed by the County Commissioners Collector of the State revenue and county tax for Clinton County. April 8, 1814, he was re-appointed by the Commissioners to the same office. At the election on the second Tuesday in October, 1814, he was elected Sheriff of Clinton County, succeeding Jonathan Harland, the first Sheriff of Clinton County, who, having served two terms, was ineligible to re-election. In 1816, he was re-elected to the office of Sheriff; his term expired 1818, and he in turn became ineligible to re-election. His successor in office was Joel Woodruff. On the second Tuesday in October, 1819, Mr. Roberds was elected County Commissioner for Clinton County. At the same time, the electors of Union Township, which had been created in August, 1813, elected him to the office of Justice of the Peace for that township.

Early in 1818, an action of ejectment was brought against Mr. Roberds for the 100 acres of land on which he lived, including the fifty acres purchased in 1805 or 1806, and fifty acres adjoining, which he had acquired afterward. The same suit embraced several of his neighbors, who like Mr. Roberds, had purchased lands in survey No. 625, and had paid for them in full, supposing that they had an unimpeachable title. All had purchased their lands of one Samuel G. Martin, an early settler in the neighborhood, who had purchased fairly enough, but had not paid the purchase money, and now was unable to pay it. The suit in the Court of Common Pleas went against the tenants at the October term, 1818; it was appealed to the Supreme Court, where it was decided in the same way. In 1822, application was made to the court for pay for the improvements made on the land. The court recognized the validity of the claims and appointed three commissioners to value these improvements.

On the first Monday in April, 1821, he having previously removed from Union Township to Wilson's Branch, north of where Sabina now is, he was elected Justice of the Peace for Richland Township. At the spring election in 1824, and again in 1827, he was re-elected to the office of Justice of the Peace for Richland Township. At the annual October election in 1822 he was re-elected to the office of County Commissioner, and again re-elected in October, 1826, to the same office. His last term as County Commissioner expired in the fall of 1829, and his last term as Justice of the Peace in the Spring of 1850 [I believe this should read 1830 - ELR], Esquire Roberds was now old. From this time, it is believed he declined further service. In the fall of 1833, Esquire Roberds removed to Indiana and settled near Jonesboro, Grant County. In 1850, his wife died. He died in July 1863, in the ninety-eight year of his age.

Parents:

Freeman Roberds (1735 - 1804)

Martha Runyon Roberds (1735 - ?)

Spouse:

Anna Randel Roberds (1769 - 1846)

Children:

Mary Roberds Harper (1790 - ____)

William Roberds (1794 - 1869)

Martha Roberds (1795 - 1865)

Sarah Roberds Adamson (1797 - 1855)

Nancy Roberds Hillman (1798 - 1864)

Elizabeth Roberds (1800 - 1800)

Lydia Roberds Adamson (1800 - 1843)

Joseph Roberds (1802 - ____)

Phebe Roberds Harper (1804 - 1875)

Elias Roberds (1807 - 1895)

Thomas Roberds (1809 - 1891)

Phineas Roberds (1810 - 1890)

Mary Rachael Roberds Adamson (1812 - 1878)

Isaiah M. Roberds (1814 - 1882)

Benjamin Roberds (1817 - 1841)

Siblings:

Joseph Roberds (1766 - 1863)

Benjamin Roberds (1775 - 1861)

Thomas Roberds (1780 - 1831)

Phineas Roberds (1782 - 1836)

Created by: David Roberds

Record added: Aug 06, 2009

Find A Grave Memorial# 40329441